Background: Utilization of palm mill liquid effluent and bat guano as organic fertilizer was initiated in year 2019 and 2020. The palm oil mill effluent and bat guano were used to produce compost and was tested on maize and soil properties in Asaba, Delta State. Methods: The compost was applied at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 ton/ha and replicated four times in randomized complete block design for two years. Plant height, leaf area, stem girth were assessed at maturity whereas yield parameters and soil chemical properties measured at harvest. Data collected were analysed with analysis of variance and means separated with Duncan’s multiple range test at 5% level of probability. Result: Compost significantly increased maize yields and soil properties. The 10 t/ha gave the highest dry matter yield (22.1±2.71 and 36.2±7.47 t/ha), weight of 1000 grains (324±41.0 and 364±63.3) and grain yield (5.2±1.04 and 6.4±1.61 t/ha) in both years, respectively. It also, had the highest soil pH value, organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus. The palm mill liquid effluent and bat guano mixtures have the potentials to be used as organic fertilizer for maize production.

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Background: Amendment of soil fertility through regular nutrient assessment is a necessary intervention for sustainable crop production. Ovu, is a sub-clan in Delta State, Nigeria which comprised of: Ovu-Inland, Okoemaka, Ekpan, Urhodo, Okoroke and Oviorie that are mostly farmers without the knowledge of their soil fertility. The study investigated soil fertility status of Ovu Sub-Clan. Methods: Cassava, oil palm and plantain farms were randomly selected in the six community and 118 representative soil samples were taken. Soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus content of soil and exchangeable bases were measured. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Parker’s nutrient index was used to compare the fertility level. Result: The cassava, oil palm and plantain farms were slightly acidic mean values of 6.4±0.38, 6.5±0.31 and 6.4±0.30, respectively indicating slight acidity. Organic carbon was low to high while total nitrogen was high except at Okoemaka that was moderate (0.19±0.04%). Available phosphorus content was low to medium while exchangeable potassium and calcium were medium to high, exchangeable magnesium was low to medium. Nutrient index showed that soil pH was moderate and while total nitrogen was high.

In West Africa, little attention has been given to the rapid propagation of sweet potato with much dependence on the use of tuber part as seed. This study thus investigated the propagation and establishment of a different number of nodal segments of sweet potato vines in soil and soilless system under the influence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). Cut vines (double and single nodal explants) from growing sweet potato plants were planted in the following substrates; Topsoil, Cocopeat, and Cocopeat + 5 g AMF (4 kg each fertigated with 250 g poultry manure). The experiment was conducted twice (March to July and August to December 2021). The experiment was a 2 (nodal explants) x 3 (substrates) x 2 (periods) factorial arranged in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The agronomic and yield parameters were collected and analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of significance. At 4 Weeks after Planting (WAP), the number of new leaves produced by the nodal explants was insignificant. At 8 WAP, the number of nodes produced differed significantly among substrates and ranged from 17.67±0.42 (cocopeat) to 20.17±0.42 (cocopeat+5g AMF). Number of tubers produced differed significantly between planting periods and ranged from 3.28±0.41 (March to July) to 5.06±0.41 (August to December). For efficient vine rooting, planting of single node vines of sweetpotato in cocopeat substrate fertigated with poultry manure and AMF between the August to December period of the year is thus recommended.

Experiment was conducted in Delta State University, Asaba Campus during the early and late seasons of 2016 to monitor the response of sweet maize and soil chemical properties to compost. The compost was formulated with rice husk and cowdung at a ratio of 7:3. The compost was applied at 0 (control), 5, 10 and 15 t/ha to 15kg soil per polythene bag. The soil was analyzed to determine the initial nutrient content. The bags were arranged in a completely randomized design in three replicates and maize variety Sammaz 37 was used. Four seeds were sown and later thinned to one stand two weeks after sowing. Plant height, leaf area, stem girth, dry mater, weight of green ear and weight of dehusked green ear were measured. Soil samples were collected after harvest for post harvest soil analysis. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were separated with Duncan Multiple Range Test at 5% level of probability. Results revealed that treated plant had outstanding performance than untreated, 15 t/ha of compost had higher plant height (144.5±7.3 and 146.8±16.6 cm), stem girth (8.3±0.43 and 8.6±0.47 cm), leaf area (247.5±41.5 and 148.8±30.3 cm 2), dry matter (2.9±0.82 and 3.2±1.0 t/ha), weight of green ear (0.24±0.04 and 0.30±0.01 kg) and weight of dehusked green ear (0.16±0.03 and 0.16±0.4 kg) in both seasons respectively. It also had higher soil chemical properties. Therefore, the compost could be recommended at 15 t/ha in the study area.