International Invention Journal of Agricultural and Soil Science (ISSN: 2408-7254) Vol. 3(5) pp. 68-78, November, 2015
Available online http://internationalinventjournals.org/journals/IIJAS
Copyright ©2015 International Invention Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on
Selected Soil Properties after Harvesting Maize at
Antra Catchment, Northwestern Ethiopia
Habtamu Admas Desta
Samara University, Department of Natural Resources Management, Ethiopia
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
Soils in Ethiopian highlands have low levels of plant nutrients due to its removal by erosion and
leaching by high rainfall. One of the major constraints for crop production in the study area is improper
nutrient management. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate effects of organic and
inorganic fertilizers on soil fertility of Nitisols in Antra catchment. The study was conducted for two
consecutive years using maize under rain fed conditions. Soil samplings were undertaken twice: before
planting and two years after harvesting maize. Experimental treatments included factorial combinations
of three rates of N (0, 60 and 120 kg N ha-1), compost (0, 5 and 10 t compost ha-1) and S (0, 15 and 30 kg
S ha-1) fertilizers which were laid out in RCBD with three replications. In comparison to the initial soil,
results showed that integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers improved soil total
porosity, pH, OC, total N, CEC, available P and S by 31.8, 0.9, 58.1, 20.0, 3.1, 29.8 and 38.9%,
respectively but decreased bulk density by 26.1% in 0 - 30 cm soil depth.. Plots treated with 10 t
compost and 30 kg S ha-1 had revealed the lowest bulk density and the highest total porosity while
combined application of 120 kg N, 10 t compost and 30 kg S ha-1 showed the highest total N, available P
and S. The highest OC and CEC were recorded in plots treated with 60 kg N and 10 t compost ha -1.
Generally, integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers improved plant nutrients and soil
fertility. From this study, it is possible to conclude that incorporating compost with inorganic fertilizers
for maize improves plant nutrients for small-scale farmers of the study area.
Keywords: Initial soil, Integrated nutrient management, Leaching, Nitisols, Plant nutrients.
INTRODUCTION
Soil fertility declines rapidly in cultivated lands through
leaching, soil erosion and crop harvest (Mbah and
Onweremadu, 2009). Tropical smallholder farming
systems lack sustainability due to nutrient leaching, lack
of fertility restoring inputs and unbalanced nutrient
applications (Ajayi et al., 2007). About 86% of the
countries in Sub-Saharan Africa lose more than 30 kg of
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) per
hectare (ha-1) per annum (Henao and Baanante, 2006)
and nutrient depletion can be particularly high in
countries with high population densities such as Ethiopia
(Johannes, 2000). Declining soil fertility is the most
widespread, dominant limitation on maize yields and
sustainability of maize-based cropping systems in
eastern Africa (Kumwenda, 1996) including Ethiopia. On
the contrary, the requirement of nutrients has increased
too many folds with the adoption of improved technology
for obtaining higher yields per unit area (Jayathilake et
al., 2006).
Soil fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa has seldom been
considered a critical issue by development communities,
which until very recently have focused primarily on other
biophysical constraints such as soil erosion, droughts
and need for improved crop variety (World Bank, 1995;
Crosson and Anderson, 1995) where Ethiopia in general
and the study area in particular are part of this critical
problem. No matter how effectively other conditions are
remedied, per capita food production will continue to
decrease unless soil fertility depletion is effectively
addressed (Roland et al., 1997). Therefore, the need
to take appropriate measures to check decline in
soil productivity is urgent and vital as it has serious
Habtamu 69
implications on future food demands of the ever
increasing human population scenario (Tamiru, 2009).
Some of the appropriate measures to be taken include
the application of organic matter (OM) such as compost
and use of integrated organic and inorganic fertilizers.
Various studies in Ethiopia have also shown the
importance of OM in improving soil productivity (Wakene
et al., 2001). Organic matter can serve as an alternative
practice to mineral fertilizers (Naeem et al., 2006) by
improving soil structure (Dauda et al., 2008) and
microbial biomass (Suresh et al., 2004). Although,
compost is one source of OM and often viewed as a
conspicuous measure to improve soil fertility by
increasing soil organic carbon (OC), total N, sulfur (S),
P, soil aggregation, plant available water and total
porosity (Carine et al., 2006; Esawy et al., 2009), its
sources such as cow dung and crop residues have been
declined from time to time mainly due to their demand
for domestic energy consumption and removal for animal
feeding in the study area. In addition, use of compost is
also limited due to lack of awareness and technical
know-how, its high labor demand for preparation, its
requirement in large quantities due to low nutrient
contents and slow release as well as its tediousness for
transporting to crop fields in the study area. For
instance, Jones (1971) found that annual applications of
7 - 8 ton per hectare (t ha-1) farm yard manure (FYM)
are needed to maintain a 1% soil OM level in sandy top
soils at Samaru, Nigeria which indicated a need for bulk
application of OM to soils.
Due to the continuous increase in the cost of
inorganic fertilizers, application of inorganic fertilizers is
becoming difficult to be afforded by small and marginal
farmers (Jayathilake et al., 2006) including those of the
study area as low soil fertility is one of the main
constraints affecting the growth of food crops. Such high
prices of inorganic fertilizers together with limited supply
of organic inputs, therefore, call for a combined use of
these two sources of plant nutrients because the sole
application of either organic or inorganic fertilizers on
nutrient depleted soils can hardly increase crop yields in
the tropics (Wakene et al., 2007). To sustain high crop
yields without deteriorating soil fertility, it is important to
work out optimal combination of inorganic fertilizers and
OM in cropping system (Rekhi et al., 2000) as the
interaction of organic and inorganic fertilizers improves
the absorption, distribution and function of another
nutrient (Orkaido, 2004). Furthermore, the affordable,
resilient, renewable and low cost sources of plant
nutrients from OM supplement and complement
chemical fertilizers (Jayathilake et al., 2006). Roland et
al. (1997) ascribed that adequate soil fertility for
sustained crop yields can be obtained with the combined
use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Similarly, Heluf
(1999) reported that integrated use organic and
inorganic fertilizers are pertinent enough to improve
plant nutrients under the Ethiopian conditions.
Although an integrated nutrient management is an
option to alleviate soil fertility problems (Wakene et al.,
2007) and builds ecologically sound, socially acceptable
and economically viable farming systems (Gruhn et al.,
2000), its application has not been more practiced in
nutrient depleted soils held by small scale farming
systems of Antra catchment. Moreover, low soil fertility
concomitant with low use of organic and inorganic
fertilizers could be the greatest constraints for increasing
soil productivity in farming systems of the catchment.
Research on soil fertility and nutrient depletion measures
were not also conducted in the study area. Hence, the
objective of this study was strived to investigate the
effects of integrated application of organic and inorganic
fertilizers on selected soil physicochemical properties
two years after harvesting maize.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Description of the Study Area
The study was conducted at Antra catchment, located in
Chilga District of North Gondar Zone in Amhara National
Regional State (ANRS) (Figure 1). The catchment is
situated at about 60 km west of Gondar city and 760 km
northwest of Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia).
Geographically, the catchment lies at 120 32’ 16’’- 120 35’
20’’ N Latitudes and 370 03’ 58’’- 370 06’ 23’’ E
Longitudes with an area of 62.68 km 2 (6280 ha) and
elevations ranging from 1910 and 2267 m.a.s.l.
Soils of Antra catchment are Nitisols which are deep,
well-drained, red, tropical soils. Weathering is relatively
advanced but Nitisols are far more productive than most
other red tropical soils which are predominantly found in
level to hilly land under tropical rain forest or savannah
land (FAO, 2006). According to the ratings proposed by
different authors, the soils of the study area are clay
loam in texture, strongly acidic in its pH with very low
available S, low available P, medium OC and total N,
high cation exchange capacity (CEC) and percentage
base saturation (PBS), and dominated by high
exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), and
affected by iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) toxicity for
crop production such as maize.
The experiment was undertaken during the summer
rainy season at Antra catchment which is characterized
by unimodal rainfall pattern occurring from May to
October (Figure 2). According to the weather data
recorded at Aykel Meteorological Station (3 km from
experimental site), the ten-year (2004 - 2013) total
average annual rainfall for the study area was 1237 mm.
Annual mean minimum and maximum temperatures
were 13.6 and 23.70C, respectively. According to
Bationo et al. (2006), Antra catchment is characterized
by sub-humid zone (one or two rainy seasons with
annual rain fall of 800 -1500 mm in the tropics).
Economic activities of local community in the study
area are primarily mixed farming system that involves
70 Int. Inv. J. Agric. Soil Sci.
Figure 1. Location map of the study area
Figure 2. Mean monthly rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures of the study area (2004 - 2013)
crop production and animal husbandry. The watershed is
suitable for the growing of large variety of crops such as
cereals, oil seeds, pulses, etc. Crops mainly of maize,
teff, barley, millet, potato, leguminous plants and oil
seeds are grown in rotation with rain fed. Land
management systems for the cultivation of such crops at
the catchment include terracing, repeated contour
plowing, application of chemical fertilizers, weeding and
so on for better yield. However, there is no the practice
of fallowing due to high population pressures where land
is used intensively and over cultivated. The intense and
prolonged use of land for cultivation makes soils more
susceptible to erosion and plant nutrient depletion and
thereby reduction in the yields of crops such as maize.
Treatments and Experimental Design
The field experiment was conducted for two consecutive
cropping seasons by rain fed. Fertilizer types used were
compost, mineral N and S as main factors, and P
was applied uniformly for all plots as a basal. Improved
Habtamu 71
maize variety of Bako hybrid (BH-540) was used as a
test crop.
The experiment was factorial combinations of three
-1
rates of compost (0, 5 and 10 t ha ), N (0, 60 and 120
-1
-1
kg N ha ) and S (0, 15 and 30 kg S ha ) fertilizers.
Treatments were laid out in randomized completed block
design (RCBD) in a factorial arrangement and replicated
three times. Urea was used as a source of N fertilizer
and gypsum as S fertilizer. Compost was prepared from
local materials, and applied before one month of maize
planting by considering recommendations suggested by
Fernandez et al. (1995) who reported that 3 - 9 t manure
-1
ha which is recommended for replenishing nutrients
removed by crop harvest in Sub-Saharan Africa and 5 t
-1
compost ha for humid areas of ANRS (ANRS Bureau of
Agriculture, 2013). A uniform rate of 20 kg P ha-1 was
also applied uniformly for all plots as a basal.
Soil Sampling and Analysis
Soil sampling and analysis were done twice: before
planting (initial) and two years after harvesting maize.
Before planting of maize, six kilograms of composite
surface (0 - 30 cm depth) soil samples were collected
from three replications in acidic (pH 4.53) cultivated land
of Nitisols (FAO, 2006) based on slope in 2012. Soil
samples were collected by augur from thirteen subsamples in each of the stratifications/replications and
thoroughly mixed before delivering to the Laboratory
Centers.
Samples were also collected from experimental field
two years after harvesting maize in 2014 from the same
depth in four rows and twelve sub-samples inside the net
area of each of the 81 plots using augur and composite
into 27 samples (one kg for each composite). Such initial
and after harvest samples were air dried and ground to
pass through a 2 mm sieve for soil parameters except
for total N and OC which were passed through 0.5 mm
sieve to analyze their physicochemical properties.
Analyses of all parameters were carried out at Bahir Dar
Soil Testing and Fertility Improvement Laboratory Center
except particle density which was analyzed at Amhara
Design and Supervision Works Agency Soil Laboratory
Center based on their standard procedures.
Texture was analyzed using Bouyoucos hydrometer
(Day, 1965). Bulk density (ƥb) was determined from
undisturbed soil samples using core samplers (Rowell,
1994) while particle density (ƥs) was measured by
psychnometer method (Barauah and Barthakulh, 1997).
Total porosity was also calculated from the values of ƥb
and ƥs as: 𝑓 = 1 −
ƥb
ƥs
100.
Soil pH was measured in 1: 2.5 soils to potassium
chloride (KCl) solution (Chopra and Kanwar, 1976). Total
N was determined by micro-Kjedahl method (Jackson,
1958) while CEC was extracted with 1 M NH4OAc at pH
7 (Okalebo et al., 1993). Organic carbon was determined
by Walkley and Black method (Walkley and Black, 1934)
whereas available P was analyzed by extraction with
Bray II method (Bray and Kurtz, 1945) using 0.03 M
NH4F and 0.10 M HCl solution. The exchangeable Ca,
Mg, K and sodium (Na) were extracted with 1 M NH4OAc
at pH 7 by which exchangeable Ca and Mg in extracts
were
analyzed
using
atomic
absorption
spectrophotometer, while Na and K by flame photometer
(Chapman, 1965; Rowell, 1994). Organic carbon was
determined by chromate acid oxidation method (Walkley
and Black, 1934) and available S by Turbidimetric
method (Kowalenko, 1985).
Statistical Analysis
Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics
mainly of percentages so as to compare and contrast the
selected soil physicochemical properties before and after
integrated nutrient management option was undertaken.
Correlation analysis was also employed so as to see the
relationships among soil parameters.
RESULTS AND DISCUSION
Initial Soil Properties and Composition of Compost
The results for soil laboratory analysis which were done
before planting of maize are presented in Table 1.
According to the initial soil laboratory test results, the soil
is clay loam in texture, moderate in total porosity, very
low in pH, low in OC, in total N, available P and S but
high in CEC. These low contents of available S, total N,
OC and other nutrients could be attributed to the effects
of intensive and continuous cultivation that may
aggravate OM oxidation and their consequent
leaching/erosion. Similarly, Saik et al. (1998) and
Negassa and Gebrekidan (2003) revealed that
cultivation of land results in the reduction of OC and total
N. The low contents of available P might also be due to
its fixation problem with metallic cations.
Compost is a source of various nutrients which could
be resilient in the soil that might be due to the effects of
nutrient rich raw materials that were used as sources for
its preparation. Compost was prepared from
decomposable materials of home residues, weeds and
grasses, leaves of trees, ashes, cow dung, sheep and
poultry manures, and top soil in pits with the size of 1.5
m length, 1.5 m width and 1 m depth. According to
Roland et al. (1997), average total N contents of the
refused compost, cattle manure, chicken manure,
leguminous tree leaves and leguminous cover crops
were 2, 0.7, 4.8, 3.3 and 3.9% while P contents were 7,
1, 18, 10 and 7 kg t-1, respectively. The prepared
compost is acted as a store house of plant nutrients
which was rich in OC (18.5%), total N (0.83%), available
P (650.7 ppm) and S (17.8 ppm), CEC (94.4 cmolc kg-1),
72 Int. Inv. J. Agric. Soil Sci.
Table 1. Selected physicochemical properties of the experimental soils before planting maize
Parameters
-3
Bulk density (g cm )
-3
Particle density (g cm )
Total porosity (%)
pH
OC (%)
Total N (%)
Available P (ppm)
Available S (ppm)
-1
CEC (cmole+ kg )
-1
Exchangeable Ca (cmole+ kg )
Exchangeable Mg (cmole+ kg-1)
-1
Exchangeable K (cmole+ kg )
-1
Exchangeable Na (cmole+ kg )
PBS (%)
exchangeable Ca (47.1), Mg (26.7), K (2.5) and Na (0.4
cmolc kg-1), respectively as well as NH4+ (332.1) and
NO3- (259.6 ppm) with C: N ratio of 22:1 which could be
emanated
by
microbial
activities
during
its
decomposition. Therefore, using high rates of compost in
agriculture might have potentials for developing an
alternative fertilizer as it improves soil fertility status by
supplying plant nutrients and improving physicochemical
and biological properties of the soil.
Effects of Integrated Application of Compost and
Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil Physical Properties Two
Years after Harvesting Maize
Differences were observed between the initial and post
harvest soils by the effects of integrated application of
organic and inorganic fertilizers on bulk density (Table
4.1). Bulk density decreased two years after harvesting
maize from the initial (pre-planted) soil. The lowest bulk
density (0.88 g cm -3) was recorded in plots treated with
fertilizer integrations of nil rate of N, 10 t compost and 30
kg S ha-1 fertilizers that showed a decrease of 26.7%
from the initial soil that indicated some management
options for controlling soil from its loss by wind erosion.
In this study, a significant (P ≤ 0.01) negative correlation
(r = -0.54) was observed between bulk density and OM.
Analogous to OM, there was also highly significant (P ≤
0.001) and negative correlations (r = -0.66, -0.77 and 0.75) between bulk density and total N, available P and
S, respectively two years after harvesting maize (Table
2). This decrease in bulk density two years after
harvesting maize might be due to the increase in OM by
the effects of high doses of compost application which
improved soil aggregates by increasing pore spaces and
structures. These results are in consistent with that of
Tilander and Bonzi (1997), Sylvia et al. (1999) and
Weber et al. (2007) who corroborated that organic inputs
Mean values
1.2
2.4
47.8
4.53
1.6
0.15
4.8
2.9
32.6
9.9
2.1
0.6
0.2
41.6
contributed to improve soil structure/aggregation and
decreased soil bulk density, and thus increased the
percentage of pore spaces and as a consequence, soil
water infiltration and water holding capacity. Similar
findings were also reported by Mbah and Onweremadu
(2009) who explained that additions of OM significantly
decreased bulk density, increased total porosity and
aggregate stability.
However, total porosity in the soil was increased with
the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers two
years after harvesting maize (Table 2). The highest total
porosity (63%) was recorded in plots treated with
combined fertilizer rates of nil N, 10 t compost ha-1 and
-1
-1
30 kg S ha followed by treatments of 120 kg N ha , 10
-1
-1
t compost ha and 15 kg S ha which showed an
increase of 31.8% compared to the initial soil. There was
also significant (P ≤ 0.01) and positive correlation (r =
0.55) between total porosity and OM two years after
harvesting maize which might be due to the fact that OM
improves soil aggregate stability, structure and pore
spaces for air and water circulation. Furthermore, highly
significant (P ≤ 0.001) and strong positive correlations (r
= 0.63, 0.74 and 0.76) were observed between total
porosity and total N, available P and S, respectively
(Table 3) which might be due to the effect of OM in
increasing such nutrients (store house of N, P and S),
and improving soil aggregate stability and pore spaces.
On the other hand, highly significant (P ≤ 0.001) and
very strong negative correlation (r = -0.99) was observed
between total porosity and bulk density in this study
which might be due to the fact that as OM increases, soil
aggregation and pore spaces increases while bulk
density and compaction/sealing decreases by increasing
the total porosity of the soil. These results were
supported again by Sylvia et al. (1999) who elucidated
that OM contributes for improving soil structure or
aggregation, water infiltration and water holding
capacity.
Habtamu 73
Table 2. Effects of integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on selected soil physical properties two years
after harvesting maize
Bulk density (g kg-1)
N and S ( kg ha-1)
N
S
0
0
15
30
0
60
15
30
0
120
15
30
0
1.27
1.15
1.11
1.22
1.16
1.18
1.14
1.19
1.25
5
1.24
1.05
1.09
1.07
0.99
1.1
1.05
0.99
1.25
Effects of Integrated Application of Compost and
Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil Chemical Properties
Two Years after Harvesting Maize
This experiment indicated that pH was affected by
integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers
which was increased with the application of high doses
of compost compared to the initial soil. The highest pH
(4.57) was observed in plots treated with 10 t compost
ha-1 and nil rates of chemical fertilizers that gave a slight
increase (0.9%) from the initial soil. However, the lowest
pH (4.37) was recorded in plots treated with high doses
of N fertilizer (120 kg N ha-1) and reduced by 3.5% which
might be due to the acidifying effect of ammonium
sourced fertilizer (urea) that oxidized and liberating H+
ion with NO3- leaching/crop uptake as well as H+ release
of the crop roots to the soil solution. There was also
significant (P ≤ 0.05) and positive correlation (r = 0.46)
between pH and OM two years after harvesting maize
(Table 4.3). This positive association and increase in pH
might be due to the effects of compost decomposition
with the release of basic cations and organic anions
(OH and HCO3 ) that would raise soil pH by substituting
+
3+
+
acid cations (H , Al , Fe 3 , etc) in the soil colloidal
surfaces and its acidity neutralizing effects.
These results are in line with that of Johannes
(2000) and Sarwar et al. (2010) who reported that
compost has librated alkaline substances and cations
such as Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ which increase CEC and pH level
and counteract soil acidification. Achieng et al. (2010)
also elucidated that retention of crop residues on land
has the potential to increase soil pH. However, opposite
results were reported by Wakene et al. (2005) who
stated that addition of OM especially FYM into tropical
soils enhanced the development of soil acidity from the
release of organic acids (H2CO3 and HNO3) into soils
over years.
Soil pH was reduced with increasing N fertilizer
Parameters
Total porosity (%)
Compost ( ton ha-1)
10
0
5
0.91
39.9
49.4
1.01
53.1
58.0
0.88
56.5
55.5
0.98
46.1
55.2
1.0
50.6
61.2
1.02
46.2
55.1
0.89
52.3
55.9
0.91
47.3
59.3
0.93
50.0
49.6
10
61.8
57.9
63.0
61.6
59.7
58.0
62.1
61.9
62.0
which might be due to the nitrification of ammonium to
nitrates that exacerbate the acidity levels of cultivated
fields by liberating H+ ion. This was ascribed by Abreha
(2013) who noted that application of N fertilizers
aggravated soil acidity through the activity of soil
microorganisms that convert ammonia cations into
nitrates with subsequent releases of H+ cations as a
byproduct and NO3- leaching. Lungu and Dynoodt (2008)
also reported that application of ammonium based
fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate
and urea aggravated soil acidity. This rise in soil acidity
diminishes P intake by crops, raises the concentration of
toxic ions in soils and inhibits crop growth that
jeopardizes future food security (Johannes, 2013).
However contrasting findings were reported by Edwardo
et al. (2013) who noted that different functional groups,
that are part of soil OM pools (e.g., carboxylic groups),
can release H+, thereby creating a more acidic
environment.
Organic carbon in the soil was increased two years
after harvesting maize with the application of organic
and inorganic fertilizers (Table 2) whereby the highest
(2.53%) was recorded in plots treated with 60 kg N, 10 t
-1
compost and 30 kg S ha that indicated an increase of
58% from the initial soil. This increase might be due to
the high application of compost with high OC contents
and root residue decomposition of plants grown
luxuriously by such high rate of compost and medium N
fertilizers. These results are consistent with that of Lie et
al. (2010) and Xueli et al. (2012) who reported that the
application of OM in combination with inorganic fertilizers
exerted greater influence and linearly increased soil OC
levels. Gentile et al. (2010) also observed an increase in
soil OC content after three years of OM application in
Kenya, and Adiku et al. (2009) also revealed OC
depletion caused by cultivation without OM application in
Ghana. Besides, Kumwenda (1996) stated that fertilizer
use efficiency is often low in tropical soils because of
74 Int. Inv. J. Agric. Soil Sci.
declining level of OM where the proportion of locally
produced OM must be increased to maintain it and halt
the downward spiral of soil fertility.
Furthermore, these results are analogous to that of
Soh et al. (2012) who indicated that plant residue
applications of 12.9 t OM ha-1 per year significantly
increased the surface soil (0 - 15 cm) OC stocks, i.e., 3.5
-1
- 3.8 and 1.7 - 2.1 t OC ha at clayey and sandy sites,
respectively. Gitari and Fresen (2001) also revealed that
in central highlands of Kenya, long term trials have
shown a decline in soil OC, and the decline had been
greatest when no inputs were applied and minimized
when a combination of inorganic fertilizer and manure
were used.
There was also an increase in CEC with the
integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers
whereby the highest (33.6 cmolc kg-1) was recorded in
plots treated with the integrations of 60 kg N, 10 t
compost and 30 kg S ha-1 and showed an increase of
3% from the initial soil. This increase in CEC might be
due to the effects of compost (being a negatively
charged colloidal site and store house of basic cations)
and root remains of luxuriously grown crops. These
results are in agreement with that of Sarwar et al. (2010)
who found that cations such as Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ were
produced during compost decomposition. Besides,
Sharma et al. (1990) suggested that the use of animal
manures might have made soil more porous and
pulverized, allowing better root growth and development,
thereby resulting in higher CEC. Positive correlation (r =
0.13) was observed between CEC and OM in this study
(Table 3) which might be due to the fact that OM is the
reserve for basic cations and thereby increasing the
CEC of the soil.
In this study, organic and inorganic fertilizer
interactions effect was observed on total N in soils two
years after harvesting maize. The highest total N
(0.18%) was observed in plots treated with fertilizer
-1
combinations of 120 kg N, 10 t compost ha and nil rate
of S that gave an increase of 20% from the initial soil.
There was also a positive association (r = 0.35) between
total N and OM (Table 3). This increase and positive
correlation of total N to OM might be triggered due to the
effects of decomposition of compost (N mineralization),
synergic effect of N and compost fertilizers for vegetative
growth, and root remain accumulations (storing N) as a
result of high dose of N and compost fertilizers as well
as none S fertilizers (no H2SO4 and H+ release of
gypsum during its decomposition) that encourage
bacterial population in soils.
These increase in soil total N are supported by and
observed in many studies of different authors: Palm et
al. (1997), Abdallahi and Dayegamiye (2000) and
Andrien and Tran (2001) who stated that a synergy
between OM amendments and N fertilizers that
was attributed to improvements in soil properties and
N availability from such fertilizers which stimulate
crop growth such as maize. Johannes (2000) and FMA
(2003) also indicated that typical bio-waste compost
contains approximately 1.4% of N on a dry matter basis
although about 10 - 15% of N is available in the first year
and approximately 40% after four years. However,
Vanlauwe et al. (2002) reported that OM with N content
above 2.5, and lignin and polyphenol contents less than
15 and 4%, respectively, can be expected to release
nutrients immediately and therefore be applied directly to
the soil.
Available P was affected by the integrated
application of organic and inorganic fertilizers whereby
the highest (6.23 ppm) was observed in plots treated
with high doses of N and compost fertilizer interactions
(120 kg N, 10 t compost ha-1) and nil rate of S that
revealed an increase of 29.8% from the initial soil. There
was highly significant (P ≤ 0.001) and strong positive
correlation (r = 0.73) between available P and total N.
Analogous to total N, positive association (r = 0.30) was
also shown between available P and OC two years after
harvesting maize (Table 3). The increase and positive
association between available P and OC two years after
harvesting maize might be due to the synergitic effects
of high doses of compost and N fertilizers as
decomposition, and mineralization of P from compost by
organic acids and its solublization from adsorption sites
by phosphatase enzyme, blocking and chelating effects
of compost on acid causing cations, raising in soil pH
and residual effects of accumulated root remains of
luxuriously grown plants. Similarly, María, et al. (2014)
indicated that soil OM had a positive effect on available
P.
These results are also in parity to that of Erich et al.
(2002), Myungsu et al. (2004), Ano and Ubochi (2007)
and Jen et al. (2008) who found that application of
compost can enhance the availability of P and even fixed
P can be made available to plants after solubilization by
soil microorganisms, rise in soil pH and complexation of
soluble Al and Fe by organic molecules. However, this
experimental result was opposite to the report of Abreha
(2013) who elucidated that low available P was occurred
in plots received high N fertilizer which could aggravated
the acidity of soil (H+ release of nitrification) and thereby
increase P fixation. However, the release of P from
compost is slow as elucidated by Johannes (2000) by
which about 13 - 17% of P is available in the first year of
its application.
There were great variations in available S between
soils of the initial and two years after harvesting maize
by the effects of integrated applications of organic and
inorganic fertilizers. The highest available S (4.03 ppm)
was recorded in plots treated with fertilizer interactions of
high doses of N, compost and S fertilizer rates (120 kg
N, 10 t compost and 30 kg S ha-1) and showed an
increase of 38.9% relative to the initial soil (Table 2). In
this study, highly significant (P ≤ 0.001) and strong
positive correlation (r = 0.77) was also observed
between available S and OC. Similarly, available S was
highly significantly (P ≤ 0.001) and positively associated
Habtamu 75
Table 3. Selected soil chemical properties after maize harvest in response to integrated application of organic and inorganic fertiliz ers
N and S
-1
(kg ha )
N
0
60
120
Ph
S
0
15
30
0
15
30
0
15
30
0
4.51
4.51
4.5
4.51
4.47
4.38
4.37
4.42
4.44
5
4.46
4.45
4.46
4.43
4.42
4.43
4.42
4.43
4.4
Total N (%)
10
4.57
4.47
4.4
4.39
4.42
4.45
4.43
4.48
4.46
0
0.12
0.12
0.13
0.13
0.13
0.13
0.13
0.14
0.13
(r = 0.63) with available P two years after
harvesting maize (Table 3). Such increase in
available S might be due to the release of S
nutrient from compost decomposition by soil
micro-organisms
(S
oxidizing
Theobacillus
bacteria) and the synergic effects of N, S and
compost fertilizers for OM accumulation especially
in the forms of root remains of luxuriously grown
plants as well as sulfate release from
oxidation/decomposition of gypsum. These results
are supported by Zhihui et al. (2007) who reported
that OM application increased S contents of soils
and up to 98% of total soil S may be present as
organic S compounds. James et al. (1982) also
revealed that the amount of S in manure on a dryweight basis can vary from 0.45 - 0.7% which can
be emanated from OM decomposition and/or S
mineralization.
In general, integrated application of organic
and
inorganic
fertilizers
improved
soil
physicochemical properties. Locally available OM
such as compost is a rigorous source of plant
nutrients which were approved by this experiment
5
0.13
0.14
0.14
0.14
0.14
0.13
0.14
0.15
0.14
Av. P (ppm)
10
0.14
0.15
0.14
0.15
0.15
0.13
0.18
0.16
0.14
0
5.23
5.35
5.31
5.35
5.45
5.42
5.42
5.26
5.35
5
5.26
5.70
5.44
6.07
5.7
5.70
5.61
5.96
5.88
Parameters
OC (%)
Compost (ton ha-1)
10
0
5
5.79 0.10 1.80
5.96 1.69 2.23
6.05 1.86 1.84
5.79 1.82 1.92
5.88 1.84 1.89
5.44 1.84 1.87
6.23 1.80 1.76
5.96 1.89 1.92
6.14 1.91 1.84
CEC (cmol+kg-1
Av. S (ppm)
10
1.83
1.82
1.95
1.89
1.86
2.53
1.94
2.07
1.88
and par with different authors. Wakene et al.
(2007) elucidated that integrated nutrient
management is an option to alleviate soil fertility
problems as it utilizes available organic and
inorganic nutrients for sustainable agricultural
production and productivity. Aspasia et al., (2010)
also revealed that combined use of NPK and FYM
increased soil OC, total N, P and exchangeable K
by 47, 31, 13 and 73%, respectively compared to
the sole application of NPK fertilizers. According to
the reports of Vanlauwe et al. (2001) and
Tayebeh, et al. (2010), when one applies compost
along with chemical fertilizers, compost prevents
nutrient losses and consequently, integrated use
of inorganic fertilizers and compost improved the
efficiency of chemical fertilizers and crop
productivity as well as sustain soil health and
fertility. Similarly, Tchale and Sauer (2007)
indicated that the productivity of poor smallholder
farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa can greatly be
improved by the combined uses of organic and
inorganic based sources of fertilizers.
The beneficial effects of combined use of
0
2.91
3.59
3.73
3.26
3.56
3.62
3.53
3.65
3.70
5
3.73
3.76
3.76
3.76
3.85
3.82
3.76
3.82
3.91
10
3.67
3.82
3.91
3.79
3.79
3.88
3.82
3.9
4.03
0
31.4
29.9
31.9
23.5
31.9
29.9
30.8
31.7
31.1
5
29.6
29.3
30.8
30.5
33.1
31.9
31.1
30.5
29.7
10
29.6
29.5
31.9
29.8
28.3
33.6
29.3
24.4
31.6
organic and inorganic nutrients on soil fertility and
crop yields have been repeatedly shown in field
trials (Roland, et al., 1997). Highly productive soils
with supplemental fertilizer, lime, manure and
proper choice of disease free, high yielding
varieties are apt to have higher OM contents than
comparable less productive soils due to the
amounts of root and top residues to be returned to
soils. Combination of OM and mineral fertilizers
provides ideal environmental conditions for crops
as OM improves soil properties while mineral
fertilizers supply plant nutrients which are limited
(FAO, 2000 ; Vanlauwe et al., 2006). Ayeni and
Adetunji (2010) also reported that integrated
application of poultry manure and NPK fertilizers
was more effective in increasing nutrient
availability and crop yield than the sole application
of any of fertilizer materials. Furthermore, Teklu et
al. (2004) indicated that integrated use of FYM and
inorganic fertilizers greatly improved soil quality,
leading to sustainability.
Organic matter such as compost application
is also affordable and less risky soil nutrient
76 Int. Inv. J. Agric. Soil Sci.
management practices which sustains cropping system
through better nutrient recycling, improved soil structure
and water holding capacity (Makind, 2007; Adejumo et
al., 2010). Tiwari et al. (2002) also elucidated that
application of OM in fertilization schedule improved OC
status and available N, P, K and S in soils which sustain
its health. Similarly, significant improvements were
observed in soil total N, OC, available P and CEC by
using organic amendments (World Bank, 1995). Ezekiel
(2010) also reported that OM increases available
moisture content of soils, moderates soil acidification,
improves soil bulk density, increase buffering capacity
against drastic change in pH, complexing A13+ and thereby
reducing its toxicity, improves soil aeration and beneficial
microbial activities as well as CEC of the soil. Zhihui et al.
(2007) also indicated that compared to the control, longterm application of high amount of FYM increased OC,
total N and S contents by 63, 50 and 37%, respectively.
Furthermore, low soil OM content has been implicated
for poor soil structure, low N availability, poor soil
aeration and high soil compaction (María et al., 2014).
CONCLUSIONS
Soils of the study area are clay loam in texture, strongly
acidic, low in its plant nutrients and fertility status. Since
plant nutrients are critical elements for crop production, it
is very important that supplying them to the soil and
keeping them available for crops. The use of organic
fertilizer sources for improving nutrients and increasing
crop production on sustainable basis has become
imperative as the cost of inorganic fertilizers is high. In
this experiment, application of compost and inorganic
fertilizers improved some of the soil physicochemical
properties. There was a decrease in bulk density but
increase in total porosity, pH, CEC, OC, total N, available P
and S two years after harvesting maize due to the
combined effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers in
general and nutrient release of compost and crop root
remains in particular. Moreover, this experiment
indicated that integrated soil fertility management
involving the use of combined organic and inorganic
fertilizers is a feasible approach to overcome soil fertility
constraints. Hence, the need to efficiently use both
organic and inorganic fertilizers to sustain soil fertility
and crop production has been recognized and advisable
to the poor small-scale farmers due to the positive
interactions and complementarities between them.
Consequently, integrated use of inorganic fertilizers and
recycled OM such as compost can improve soil fertility
for resource poor farmers who suffered in nutrient
depletion problems of the study area.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thanks to the Ministry of Education, staff members of
Bahir Dar Soil Testing and Fertility Improvement Center
for their financial, logistic and technical supports during
the analysis of soil samples. Acknowledgement also
goes to the Amhara National Regional State Agriculture
Bureau and Council Office for their logistic and moral
supports.
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How to cite this article: Habtamu AD (2015). Effects of Organic and
Inorganic Fertilizers on Selected Soil Properties after Harvesting Maize
at Antra Catchment, Northwestern Ethiopia. Int. Inv. J. Agric. Soil Sci.
Vol. 3(5): 68-78