Abstract:
The experiments were conducted in 2013 cropping season at the University of Education
Winneba, Faculty of Agriculture research field in Mampong Ashanti in the forest
transitional zone of Ghana on the Bediase series (FAO/ UNESCO : Chromic Iuvisol) to
evaluate the effectiveness of three livestock manures and soil in acidulating Togo rock
phosphate to release phosphorus, assess phosphorus release capacity of phosphate rock –
animal manure compost on the growth of lettuce and soil chemical properties. The
composting materials used were: Togo Rock Phosphate, soil, poultry manure, cattle
manure and pig manure. The treatments used were; sole composting material, RP +
composting material 1:2, RP + composting material 1:3. A complete randomized design
(CRD) with 3 replicates was used. The study established that composting phosphate rock
with animal manure significantly released phosphorus. The peak of P release was
observed on the 63rd day, with the highest release occurring in RP + PM 1:3. Best
performance of P release between the treatment ratios were in the order 1:3 > 1:2 > sole
materials. While best performance of P release between the composting materials were in
the order poultry manure > pig manure > cattle manure >soil. It was established from the
study that phosphocompost application significantly affected the growth and yield of
lettuce and N, P and K uptake. Treatment RP + PM 1:3 gave significantly (p < 0.05)
higher values throughout the growing period than the other amendments and the control
in plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, plant weight and N.P and K uptake.
However, all the amended soils were significantly (p < 0.05) better in influencing lettuce
growth than the control. The application of the phosphocompost increased the soil
organic matter content, available P, K, CEC, total N, soil pH, organic carbon,
exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na), percentage base saturation and decreased
exchangeable acidity. It is concluded that composting rock phosphate with animal manure improved the P releasing ability of rock phosphate as well as leaf length and yield of lettuce. The fresh and dry weights of lettuce were also better in amended soil than control
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of CROPS AND SOIL SCIENCE, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES, University of Education, Winneba in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (M.PHIL) IN SOIL SCIENCE in the UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA.
MAY, 2017
