Assessment of Soil Fertility Management Practices under Small Holder Systems in Kafin Madaki Area Bauchi State

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the soil fertility management practices under small holder systems in Kafin Madaki area, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Farmlands managed under long fallow, medium fallow and combine fertilizer and household waste were carefully selected during reconnaissance survey. Topographic view shows that both of the farmlands are nearly level and well drained. The farmlands are used in the cultivation of maize, millet, beans, groundnut and beniseed during rainy season and grazing of ruminant animals during dry months. Each of the farmland was divided into 3 grids and within each, a total of 3 surface samples (0-10cm depth) were taken using stratified random sampling. The samples taken from a grid were thoroughly mixed to form a composite sample. A portion of the 9 composite samples were taken to laboratory for routine analysis. Mean difference and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were tested. The result shows that among all variables tested only TN and AP shows significant difference. However, the mean values of the positive variables (such as clay, N, P, Ca, Mg, ECEC, and total bases) were both higher in magnitude in soil managed under combine fertilizer and household waste. Conversely, the mean magnitudes of the negative variables (such as sand, Na, and exchangeable acidity) are higher in short and long fallow system while the optimum variable (such as pH) is at its optimum in the former. Increase in TN, AP and other positive variables in combine fertilizer and household waste management system is an indication of increased in fertility quality, and it may be attributed to the type of inorganic fertilizer (NPK 20-15-15 and NPK 15-15-15) and the bulk of organic materials been applied. Therefore for sustained agricultural productivity and food security, management of soil fertility based on the combine application of fertilizer and household waste is recommended.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n26p107