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Field Assessment of Influence of Organic Fertilizers on Microbial Profile and Sustainable Maize Production in a Flood Plain in Nigeria

Received: 15 May 2020    Accepted: 2 June 2020    Published: 17 July 2020
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Abstract

The stabilization and utilization of organic fertilizers in flood plain for sustainable agriculture in the tropics was studied in field experiment conducted at Etinan wetland soil (EW) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria in the tropics during two cropping seasons (C. S.) to study the effects of two composted and stabilized organic fertilizers (poultry droppings, PD and cow dung, CD) on the microbial density and structure, soil properties, growth and yield of corn (Zea mays) according to standard procedures. The two treatments plus control, (the unfertilized plots) were arranged in a randomized block design with two replications giving three main plots; poultry manured plots (PM), cow manured plots (CM) and the control plots, C, which were sectioned into nine subplots on which was a total of 81 mounds on the study site. Results showed that PD and CD (450 gm2=4500 kgha-1) incorporated into the EW produced higher mean microbial density (Total heterotrophic bacterial counts, THBC=log 7.636 and 8.64, total actinomycetes counts, TAC=log 6.57& 6.62, diazotrophic bacterial counts, DBC=log 5.35 & 5.50 and total fungal counts, TFC=log 5.38 & 5.45 cfug-1) in both fertilized plots during the 1st & 2nd C. S respectively than in the control with 6.62 & 7.49, 5.59 & 5.52, 5.44 & 5.54, 4.5 & 5.49 cfug-1 of THBC, TAC, DBC and TFC respectively. It was also shown that PD and CD application into EW produced higher physicochemical properties, nutrient salts, compared to the C. Growth/yield of the test crop, Zea mays were increased in the PM followed by CM compared to C in the EW during both C. S. Using the mean difference of two years, plants of PM had highest grain yield (4.16±0.16t t/acre) compared to (2.84±0.31t/acre) and (0.09±0.23t/acre) of CM and C respectively. The effects of one time application of the organic fertilizers (without reapplication on the 2nd C. S) indicated higher crop harvest index, H. I. (0.63 and 0.64) of treatment plots compared to 0.19 and 0.20 of the C. Therefore, utilization of PM to soils is recommended for sustainable crop production especially maize in the flood plain and in the tropics as a whole. It is also recommended that the CD could serve as a suitable substitute in the absence of PD. Wetland soils in the tropics should be converted from the hitherto wasteland to useful and sustainable arable lands with the utilization of stabilized and composted organic fertilizers.

Published in Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology (Volume 6, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11
Page(s) 27-34
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Organic Fertilizers, Maize Plant, Sustainable Production, Heterotrophic Bacteria, Flood Plain

References
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[3] S. R. Imadi, K. Shazadi, A. Gul and K. R. Hakeem, Sustainable crop production system, In: K. Hakeem, M. Akhtar, (Edition), Plant Soil and Microbes, Springer: Cham Publishers, 2016, pp 103-116.
[4] P. K. Mohapatra, Environmental Microbiology, New Delhi: International Publishing House PVT Limited, 2008.
[5] M. U. Imelda, V. E. Oshodeke and U. S. Akpan, “Determination of phosphorus fixing capacities and residual values of soils of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria”, Merit Research Journals, 2 (8), pp 96–103, 2014.
[6] I. C. Vinhal-Freitas, D. R. Wanger, A. S. Ferreira, G. F. Correa and B. Wendling, “Microbial and enzymatic activity in soil after organic composting”, Revista Brasileira de Ciencia do Solo, 34, pp 757-764, 2010.
[7] J. Mercola, “How organic farming prevents the use of fertilizers”, Articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archives/2013/07/…fertilizer.aspx.Retrived on 2nd July 2016.
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[9] J. Traunfeld, “Soil amendments and fertilizers fertilizing guidelines included by plant groups”, An Agricultural Extension Service Report submitted to the University of Maryland on April 2013, pp. 1–8.
[10] K. Cenciani, S. S. Freitas, S. A. M. Critter and C. Airoldi, “Enzymatic activity measured by microcabrimetry in soil amended with organic residues” Brazilian Science, Solo, 35, pp1167-1175, 2011.
[11] G. P. Robertson and P. M. Groffman, “Nitrogen transformation”, In: Paul, E. A. (ed.), Soil Microbiology, Biochemistry and Ecology, New York: Springer, 2007, pp 341-364.
[12] O. M. Agbogidi and C. G. Okonmah, “Growth and yield of maize as influenced by organic manure type in a Niger Delta Environment”, International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 15 (1), pp 818- 824, 2012.
[13] R. R. Sokal, and F. J. Rohlf, Biometry: The Principal and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research, 2nd ed. USA: W. H. Freeman Company, 1981 pp 32.
[14] S. Jilani, “Municipal solid waste composting and its assessment for reuse in plant production”, Pakistan Journal of Botany, 39 (1), pp 271–277, 2007.
[15] S. S. Malik and R. C. Chauhan, “Impact of organic farming in enhancing the soil microbial pool”, In: Singh, M.; Singh, R. B. & Hassan, M. I. (eds.). Climate Change and Biodiversity: Proceedings of Igu Rohtak Conference held on January 1, 2014.
[16] L. Mandic, D. Djukic, I. Beatovic, J. Zoran, M. Pesakovic and V. Stevovic, “Effect of different fertilizers on the microbial activity and productivity of soil under potato cultivation”, African Journal of Biotechnology, 10 (36), pp 6954–6960, On online at http:www.academicjournals.org/AJB, 2011.
[17] Z. Zhen, H. Liu, N. Wang, L. Guo, J. Meng, N. Ding, G. Wu, and G. Jiang, “Effects of manure compost application on soil microbial community diversity and soil micronutrients in a temperate crop land in China”, PLOS One, 9 (10), pp 108555, 2014.
[18] I. B. Okoroafor, O. E. Okelola, O. N. Edeh, V. C. Emehute, C. N. Onu, T. C. Nwaneri, and G. I. Chinaka, “Effect of organic manure on the growth and yield performance of maize in Ishiagwu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria”, Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 5 (4), pp 28–31, 2013.
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    Christiana Utibe Etuk, Matthew Albert Ekpo. (2020). Field Assessment of Influence of Organic Fertilizers on Microbial Profile and Sustainable Maize Production in a Flood Plain in Nigeria. Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology, 6(3), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11

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    Christiana Utibe Etuk; Matthew Albert Ekpo. Field Assessment of Influence of Organic Fertilizers on Microbial Profile and Sustainable Maize Production in a Flood Plain in Nigeria. Front. Environ. Microbiol. 2020, 6(3), 27-34. doi: 10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11

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    AMA Style

    Christiana Utibe Etuk, Matthew Albert Ekpo. Field Assessment of Influence of Organic Fertilizers on Microbial Profile and Sustainable Maize Production in a Flood Plain in Nigeria. Front Environ Microbiol. 2020;6(3):27-34. doi: 10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11,
      author = {Christiana Utibe Etuk and Matthew Albert Ekpo},
      title = {Field Assessment of Influence of Organic Fertilizers on Microbial Profile and Sustainable Maize Production in a Flood Plain in Nigeria},
      journal = {Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology},
      volume = {6},
      number = {3},
      pages = {27-34},
      doi = {10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.fem.20200603.11},
      abstract = {The stabilization and utilization of organic fertilizers in flood plain for sustainable agriculture in the tropics was studied in field experiment conducted at Etinan wetland soil (EW) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria in the tropics during two cropping seasons (C. S.) to study the effects of two composted and stabilized organic fertilizers (poultry droppings, PD and cow dung, CD) on the microbial density and structure, soil properties, growth and yield of corn (Zea mays) according to standard procedures. The two treatments plus control, (the unfertilized plots) were arranged in a randomized block design with two replications giving three main plots; poultry manured plots (PM), cow manured plots (CM) and the control plots, C, which were sectioned into nine subplots on which was a total of 81 mounds on the study site. Results showed that PD and CD (450 gm2=4500 kgha-1) incorporated into the EW produced higher mean microbial density (Total heterotrophic bacterial counts, THBC=log 7.636 and 8.64, total actinomycetes counts, TAC=log 6.57& 6.62, diazotrophic bacterial counts, DBC=log 5.35 & 5.50 and total fungal counts, TFC=log 5.38 & 5.45 cfug-1) in both fertilized plots during the 1st & 2nd C. S respectively than in the control with 6.62 & 7.49, 5.59 & 5.52, 5.44 & 5.54, 4.5 & 5.49 cfug-1 of THBC, TAC, DBC and TFC respectively. It was also shown that PD and CD application into EW produced higher physicochemical properties, nutrient salts, compared to the C. Growth/yield of the test crop, Zea mays were increased in the PM followed by CM compared to C in the EW during both C. S. Using the mean difference of two years, plants of PM had highest grain yield (4.16±0.16t t/acre) compared to (2.84±0.31t/acre) and (0.09±0.23t/acre) of CM and C respectively. The effects of one time application of the organic fertilizers (without reapplication on the 2nd C. S) indicated higher crop harvest index, H. I. (0.63 and 0.64) of treatment plots compared to 0.19 and 0.20 of the C. Therefore, utilization of PM to soils is recommended for sustainable crop production especially maize in the flood plain and in the tropics as a whole. It is also recommended that the CD could serve as a suitable substitute in the absence of PD. Wetland soils in the tropics should be converted from the hitherto wasteland to useful and sustainable arable lands with the utilization of stabilized and composted organic fertilizers.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Field Assessment of Influence of Organic Fertilizers on Microbial Profile and Sustainable Maize Production in a Flood Plain in Nigeria
    AU  - Christiana Utibe Etuk
    AU  - Matthew Albert Ekpo
    Y1  - 2020/07/17
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11
    T2  - Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology
    JF  - Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology
    JO  - Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology
    SP  - 27
    EP  - 34
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2469-8067
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.fem.20200603.11
    AB  - The stabilization and utilization of organic fertilizers in flood plain for sustainable agriculture in the tropics was studied in field experiment conducted at Etinan wetland soil (EW) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria in the tropics during two cropping seasons (C. S.) to study the effects of two composted and stabilized organic fertilizers (poultry droppings, PD and cow dung, CD) on the microbial density and structure, soil properties, growth and yield of corn (Zea mays) according to standard procedures. The two treatments plus control, (the unfertilized plots) were arranged in a randomized block design with two replications giving three main plots; poultry manured plots (PM), cow manured plots (CM) and the control plots, C, which were sectioned into nine subplots on which was a total of 81 mounds on the study site. Results showed that PD and CD (450 gm2=4500 kgha-1) incorporated into the EW produced higher mean microbial density (Total heterotrophic bacterial counts, THBC=log 7.636 and 8.64, total actinomycetes counts, TAC=log 6.57& 6.62, diazotrophic bacterial counts, DBC=log 5.35 & 5.50 and total fungal counts, TFC=log 5.38 & 5.45 cfug-1) in both fertilized plots during the 1st & 2nd C. S respectively than in the control with 6.62 & 7.49, 5.59 & 5.52, 5.44 & 5.54, 4.5 & 5.49 cfug-1 of THBC, TAC, DBC and TFC respectively. It was also shown that PD and CD application into EW produced higher physicochemical properties, nutrient salts, compared to the C. Growth/yield of the test crop, Zea mays were increased in the PM followed by CM compared to C in the EW during both C. S. Using the mean difference of two years, plants of PM had highest grain yield (4.16±0.16t t/acre) compared to (2.84±0.31t/acre) and (0.09±0.23t/acre) of CM and C respectively. The effects of one time application of the organic fertilizers (without reapplication on the 2nd C. S) indicated higher crop harvest index, H. I. (0.63 and 0.64) of treatment plots compared to 0.19 and 0.20 of the C. Therefore, utilization of PM to soils is recommended for sustainable crop production especially maize in the flood plain and in the tropics as a whole. It is also recommended that the CD could serve as a suitable substitute in the absence of PD. Wetland soils in the tropics should be converted from the hitherto wasteland to useful and sustainable arable lands with the utilization of stabilized and composted organic fertilizers.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

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