Asian Soil Research Journal

Experiments were carried out in the Nursery of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia State during 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons to determine  the effect of NPK fertilizer on the growth performance of three selected crops, Zea mays, Abelmoschus esculentus and Vigna unguiculata grown on a derelict kaolin mined soil. The experiment comprised of treatment pots which has three rates of fertilizer on the kaolin soil each (kaolin soil +NPK (40 kg), kaolin soil + NPK (30 kg) and kaolin soil + NPK (20 kg) kaolin soil with zero treatment (Control 2) and a control 1(un-mined) soil, it was replicated three in Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Parameters assessed include Plant height (cm) and the number of leaves weekly for six (6) weeks. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p< 0.05. The result obtained showed that growth performance of the test crops was positively affected by NPK treatment based on the quantity applied with the highest recorded height (16.50) and the number of the leaf (11.27) in Kaolin mined soil combined with 40 kg of fertilizer when compared with the control. Plant height obtained with various fertilizer treatments were in the order: 16.50>15.99>14.65 and 11.27>10.20>9.01 for the number of leaves. The result of the macro element levels in the plants showed that the nutrient uptake and accumulation were enhanced by both NPK fertilizer and the quantity added with the highest level of nutrient on the plants obtained in Kaolin soil combined with 40kg of NPK fertilizer. The study showed that kaolin mined degraded soil can be put into good use with the appropriate concentration of fertilizer treatment, thus putting more degraded land under agricultural production and ensuring food security is developing country like Nigeria. The study further suggests a sensitization program for farmers on the appropriate concentration of inorganic fertilizer to be applied to their farmers to avoid pollution.

Aims: To evaluate the effect of compost application whether irradiated or not in addition to recommended mineral fertilization on growth and nutritional status of Valencia orange trees.

Study Design: The design of the study is a randomized complete block design. The study was done on five-years-old Valencia orange grown in a loamy sand soil.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in El-Shrouk yard -Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road through five successive seasons 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Compost irradiation was done at the National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority.

Methodology: In addition to mineral fertilization, four main treatments were applied to Valencia orange trees, T1 three years application of non-irradiated compost, T2 four years application of non- irradiated compost, T3 and T4 similar to T1 and T2 while irradiated compost was applied. Shoot length and thickness, leaf number and area were calculated. Leaf N, P and K% as well as Fe, Mn, Zn and total chlorophyll content were measured.

Results: Data revealed that application of compost especially irradiated form in combination with chemical fertilizers has a positive effect on vegetative growth of Valencia orange trees in addition to leaf content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc and total chlorophyll. Four years application of compost regardless irradiation was superior to three years application. Combination of irradiated compost and four years application gave the highest values for the previously mentioned parameters.

Conclusion: Addition of compost to chemical fertilizers improved the vegetative growth and nutritional status of Valencia orange trees. Irradiation of compost increased its efficiency that might reduce the time of application. Also, using compost, particularly in the newly reclaimed soil, greatly increase water and mineral fertilizers use efficiency, which in turn lead to saving in irrigation water and fertilization nutrients.

The main sources of water are rain, surface and ground water. These resources are contaminated due to human activities. Clean water is basic need at every step of life, it also ensures the good health. The main objective of this study was to access the quality of ground water in Faisalabad city. From different hospitals of the Faisalabad water samples were collected to estimate their physiochemical parameters. The physiochemical parameters such as (color, taste, odor, pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) were analyzed and their values were compared with the standard values given by the World Health Organization. In majority of the colonies some parameters were found within permissible parameters of above standard such as pH and total hardness. But in few colonies EC and TDS values deviated with reference to the recommended values. On the completion of data physiochemical parameters of ground water, statistical analysis was applied. Statistical analysis was carried out to evaluate the significant different between means of samples.

The effect of elemental sulfur on some chemical soil properties and wheat grown was studied by two performing experiments, under high terrace soils of northern region of the Sudan. First experiment (incubation experiment) was executed to quantify the rates and application time of elemental sulfur to be applied in the field experiment. It consisted of five rates of elemental sulfur (0, 165, 330, 495 and 660 kg sulfur feddan^-1) and five application times (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks). In the second experiment (field experiment), two wheat varieties (Wadi Elneel and Debeira), three sulfur rates (0 kg S feddan^-1, 495 kg S feddan^-1 and 660 kg S feddan^-1) and three application times (0, 5 and 7 weeks) were arranged in split plot design with four replications. Wheat varieties were assigned to the main plots and the combination of the rates and time application to the sub plots. Results obtained from the incubation experiment indicated differences in soil pH among treatments. Application of elemental sulfur decreased soil pH in each of the two experiments. The effect of elemental sulfur on wheat grain yield and the other studied yield components was not limited the plant height and the 1000 seeds weight. The nitrogen content of the plant tissue was affected by the applied elemental sulfur. Application of 495 kg sulfur feddan^-1, 6 weeks before sowing gave the lowest soil pH (7.8) and the least available phosphorus compared to other treatments.

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) to saline water irrigation under soilless and traditional techniques. A special fertigation technique with two different salinity levels (1 dS m^-1 and 4 dS m^-1) of water was used under different soilless media, namely, perlite, gravel, and pozzolana as inert media, in addition to traditional techniques. Results showed that among the three soilless substrates, perlite medium produced the highest total yields with larger fruit sizes. Furthermore, the perlite medium enabled significant savings in water, compared to gravel (-15%) and pozzolana (-20%). Moreover, the results corroborated the existing knowledge on the tolerance of tomato to brackish water irrigation, since there was no significant difference in yield of plants grown in the soil irrigated with water with salinity levels of 1.1   dSm^-1 and 4-5  dS m^-1. Plant biometric data revealed a better and quicker development of plants grown in the soilless media compared to those grown in the soil, even in the case of freshwater irrigation.