Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Relation of yields of soybean and maize to sulphur, zinc, and copper status of soils under intensifying cropping systems in the tropical savannas of north-east Nigeria

Author(s):

Joshua D. Kwari ¹, Alpha Y. Kamara ², Friday Ekeleme ^2*, Lucky O. Omoigui ²

Recieved Date: 2008-09-02, Accepted Date: 2008-12-07

Abstract:

Deficiencies of sulphur (S), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are becoming prevalent under intensifying agricultural systems in north-eastern Nigeria. They are manifest in the partial or lack of response by crops to NPK fertilizers leading to a reduction in crop quality and yields. Data were collected on the initial available S, Cu and Zn contents of some samples from 0-15 cm depth from farmers’ compound fields (64) and bush fields (73) in 30 communities across three agro-ecological zones in north-east Nigeria. These were related to the grain yields of soybean and maize varieties from demonstration trials to assess if they are yield determinants of these crops. Available S content (range 5.10-18.49 mg kg^-1) was moderate to medium status in over 80% of the fields within the region. This content significantly influenced yields of soybean (P = 0.0245) and maize (P = 0.0415) in bush fields in the Southern Guinea savanna (SGS) and maize (P = 0.0074) in compound fields in Sudan savanna (SS), thus indicating S was a determinant of the performance of these crops. Nearly all fields were deficient in Zn with a range of 0.002-1.47 mg kg^-1. This had a significant effect on maize yields in compound fields (P = 0.0376) in SGS and in bush fields (P = 0.0090) in SS. Also available Cu content was deficient (range 0.001-0.274 mg kg^-1) in over 83% of the soils and had a significant effect on soybean yields in compound fields (P = 0.0455) in SGS. The soils in north-east Nigeria were moderate in S but deficient in Cu and Zn and may require the application of NPK fertilizer containing these micronutrients for the cultivation of maize and soybean.

Keywords:

Copper, micronutrients, sulphur, zinc

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2009
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 129-133

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