167-9 Effects of Cocoa Pod Husk Ash and NPK Fertilizer on the Yield of Sweetpotato and Distribution of Potassium Forms in an Ultisol of Southeastern Nigeria.

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soil Mineralogy
See more from this Session: Symposium--Soil Potassium Tests and Their Relationship to Plant Availability and Native Mineralogy: I
Monday, November 3, 2014: 3:30 PM
Long Beach Convention Center, Room 203A
Share |

Abiola Lucia Akinmutimi, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Nigeria
Abstract

The single effects of cocoa pod husk ash (5 tons per hectare), NPK (15-15-15) and their combinations were evaluated on the distribution of potassium forms and yield of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam) in an Ultisol in Southeastern Nigeria. The treatments were: 5 tons/ha of Cocoa pod husk ash (A), 200 kg/ha of NPK Fertilizer + 5 tons/ha of Cocoa pod husk ash (B), 300 kg/ha of NPK Fertilizer + 5 tons/ha of Cocoa pod husk ash (C) 200 kg/ha of NPK Fertilizer (D), 300 kg/ha of NPK Fertilizer (E) and No treatment –Control (F).

 Saleable tubers of sweetpotato were significantly (P<0.05) higher in plots treated with 200 kg of NPK fertilizer combined with 5 tons/ha CPHA, followed by treatment with 300 kg/ha of fertilizer combined with 5 tons/ha of CPHA. 200 kg of NPK fertilizer combined with 5 tons/ha CPHA is therefore recommended. Total K, water soluble K, exchangeable K, difficultly exchangeable K and K reserve ranged from 0.07-0.27 cmol/kg with means of 0.54, 0.07, 0.12, 0.13 and 0.22 respectively. Soils treated with 5 tons/ha of cocoa pod husk ash were highest in status when compared to soils treated with soils treated with NPK fertilizer. Cocoa pod husk ash is therefore recommended as a good soil amendment for enhancing soil potassium in southeastern Nigeria Ultisol.

Key words: Cocoa pod husk ash, NPK fertilizer, yield, sweetpotato, potassium forms

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soil Mineralogy
See more from this Session: Symposium--Soil Potassium Tests and Their Relationship to Plant Availability and Native Mineralogy: I