Soil and nutrients losses under different management practices in Ghana
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| Authors: | Samuel Ayodele Mesele1, Bright Kofi Amegashie2, Charles Quansah2, James Kehinde Adigun3 1Department of Soil Science and Land Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria 2Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana 3Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria |
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| Abstract : | Integrated soil nutrient management is required to increase and sustain agricultural productivity. Assessment of soil, organic matter and nutrient losses was carried out in a 3-year integrated maize cropping system in Ghana. The treatments: no-till (NT), minimum tillage (MT), conventional tillage (CT) and soil amendments (Control, NPK, poultry manure and their combination), were arranged in a factorial design. The results showed soil loss to range from 0.140-4.907 Mg ha–1 in the order of NT < MT < CT < Bare. Soil loss reduction over the Bare was 88% by ½ Rates of NPK+PM, 87% by PM and 85% by NPK. Soil depth reductions in NT and MT were 92% lower than in CT. The loss of organic matter ranged from 47.6 kg ha–1 to 120.70 kg/ha and was in the order of Bare > CT > MT > NT. Nutrient losses followed the same trend. Losses in soil organic matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na under tillage x soil amendments interactions were higher in the CT and bare plots. NT and MT, which were recognised as conservation tillage systems, amended with combination of organic and mineral fertilisers were found as better options in minimising soil quality degradation. |
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| Keywords : | soil productivity, conservation agriculture, soil erosion, nutrients management | ||||||||
| Language : | english | ||||||||