Improving the Fertilizer Value of Cattle Manure for Sustaining Small Holder Crop Production in Ghana

Fening, J. O.; Ewusi-Mensah, Nana; Safo, E.Y.

doi:10.3923/ja.2010.92.101

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…A decreased C/N of maize stover co-composted with Calliandra calothysus Meisn green manure because of C dissipation observed during the composting process, in accordance to results reported elsewhere [9,33,59,63].…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Organic Materials Used In The Studysupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Generally, pH values situated between 6 and 8 are indicative of mature compost [62]. Immature compost with low pH values contain higher concentrations of phytotoxic organic acids with the risks of adversely decreasing crop germination and plant growth [33]. This could be the case of the maize stover co-composted (pH=5.37) with Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn green manure, itself of low pH value (=5.56).…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Organic Materials Used In The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They are also causes of health risks and environmental hazards [23]. On the other side, numerous investigators have demonstrated the advantages of combining organic residues, animal manure or inorganic fertilizers as well as vermicomposting and the use of effective microorganims on soil physical, chemical and microbiological conditions [10,12,23,26,[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Yield Responses of Maize (Zea maysL.) and Successive Potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) Crops to Maize Stover co-compostedwith Calliandra CalothyrsusMeisn Green Manure

Salvator

Chantal

Nijimbere

et al. 2021

IJASRE

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The present investigation aimed at evaluating the effect of Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn green manure on the quality improvement of maize (Zea mays L.) stover compost. To that end, two field experiments were installed with maize (Zea mays L.) and a successive potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop, which was specifically set up to investigate the potential residual effects of tested organo-mineral fertilizers. The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop did not receive any fertilizer, either organic or mineral. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replicates. The basic experimental plot was 1.6 m wide and 3 m long (4.8 m²). Treatments under evaluation were: T1=Control, T2=Maize stover co-composted with mineral fertilizer, T3=Maize stover co-compost with Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn green manure; T4=Farm manure+45-60-30; and T5=Maize stover co-composted with Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn green manure+45-60-30. Evaluated parameters were grain yields, root biomass, above-ground biomass, Harvest Index, and Root/Shoot ratio for maize (Zea mays L.). Potato yields were categorized into small size (< 35 mm), medium size (35-65 mm) and big size tubers (> 65 mm). Significant effects (p < 0.001) of tested fertilizer treatments were observed for maize grain yields (GY), above-ground biomass (AGB), and root biomass (RB). No effect (p > 0.05) of fertilizer treatments could be noticed on the harvest index (HI=0.31-0.38) or R/S ratio (0.079-0.088). For the successive potato crop, a significant effect (p < 0.001) of tested treatments was only observed for the seed-oriented medium size tubers (MST) potato yield. Overall, the most relevant observation of the maize experiment is that treatments T4 and T5 gave higher and equivalent grain and biomass yields. From there, we derive that maize stover co-composted with Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn green manure could be a sound substitute to farm manure. Additionally, the potato experiment highlighted the residual effects of the T3 treatment, statistically equivalent to that of T2. Consequently, we advise that the effects of compost-based organo-mineral fertilizers on crop yields should be evaluated beyond a single seasonal crop, in order to fully catch their residual fertilizer potentials.

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Section: Characteristics Of the Organic Materials Used In The Studysupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Characteristics Of the Organic Materials Used In The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Yield Responses of Maize (Zea maysL.) and Successive Potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) Crops to Maize Stover co-compostedwith Calliandra CalothyrsusMeisn Green Manure

Salvator

Chantal

Nijimbere

et al. 2021

IJASRE

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“…Associated impediments to food security also include high rates of organic matter decomposition, soil erosion and intensive leaching of nutrients beyond rooting zones (Barus, 2016). Though the use of inorganic fertilizers is clearly positively related to increased agricultural productivity (Cameron, Di, & Moir, 2013), their continuous use can have detrimental effects on soil quality, such as soil acidification and subsequent reductions in crop yield (Gilbert et al, 2014;Cameron, Di, & Moir, 2013;Mulvaney, Khan, & Ellswort, 2009;Fening, Ewusi-Mensah, & Safo, 2010;Ogunwole et al, 2010). Furthermore, the production of chemical fertilizers often incurs environmental consequences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of CO2 Emission From Rice Husk Biochar and Cowdung Manure Co-compost Preparation

Thomas¹,

Adiku²,

Atkinson³

et al. 2019

JAS

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Composting of animal manure had been considered a sustainable alternative method for recycling organic waste. However the process involved had been associated with greenhouse gas emission (CO2, N2O and CH4) which play an active role in global warming. This study evaluated CO2 emissions from biochar-manure co-compost production. Biochar (from rice husk) and manure were mixed in a ratio of 3:1 v/v to achieve a range of different co-compost mixtures. The treatments and controls in triplicates of 18 units were arranged in a complete randomize design. All treatments were incubated at around 28 oC and turned every two days for 2 weeks, and later five days for 39 days. CO2 production in the compost bins was measured by trapping the evolved gas in 5M NaOH. Total CO2 emissions varied over time with higher rates at the beginning of the composting process. Within the first 7 days, total CO2 emissions (587 mg/m2) from cow dung alone was not significantly different from cow dung plus biochar (506 mg/m2). At the latter stages of the composting process, CO2 emission from cowdung and biochar mixture was less than from the other treatments.

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“…C. odorata, Panicum maximum and Pueraria phaseoloides were also found to be important nutrient sources for composting and maintenance of soil fertility in Ghana (Quansah et al, 2001). In addition, crop residues such as maize stover were found to improve the fertilizer value of cattle manure (Fening et al, 2010). The composting of industrial by-products such as cocoa pod husk, coconut coir, and sawdust and rice husks has only been the subject of a few research studies (Ahenkorah and Halm, 1976;Ofosu-Budu et al, 2009;Agyarko and Aseidu, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of soil amendments for urban horticulture in the savannah and forest areas of Ghana

A¹,

Atuah²,

Banful³

et al. 2015

J. Soil Sci. Environ. Manage.

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The search for suitable alternatives to loam, manure and sand based growing media in Ghana has generated a substantial body of literature on potential amendments akin to the peat based media in developed countries. The objectives of this study were to review literature on potential soil amendments in Ghana, determine the reasons for farmer choice of amendments and determine factors influencing farmer adoption of these amendments. Document review and survey were the main methods used in data collection. The review of literature indicates that the research and discourse on soil amendment over the last two decades have largely been limited to land management and nutrient recovery from waste. Although these have largely been reported as successful, they have not addressed the quality issues of soil amendments as finished product for application in specific production systems. As the amendments are not standardized, farmers adopt varying application rates based on their own experiences. Barriers in the use of amendments were found to be the technology to collect, funds to purchase and labour employment. The agro-ecology and the farmers' level of education largely determined the use of particular amendment. The study found wide scale acceptance and adoption of sawdust based poultry litter by urban vegetable farmers, hence the co-composting of sawdust and poultry manure would be the best option that can be developed and standardised for application in urban horticulture. Future research in soil amendment should therefore focus on net N mineralisation, stability indices and the responses of vegetable and ornamental plants to different ratios of co-composting of sawdust and poultry manure.

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Improving the Fertilizer Value of Cattle Manure for Sustaining Small Holder Crop Production in Ghana

Cited by 12 publications

References 6 publications

Yield Responses of Maize (Zea maysL.) and Successive Potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) Crops to Maize Stover co-compostedwith Calliandra CalothyrsusMeisn Green Manure

Yield Responses of Maize (Zea maysL.) and Successive Potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) Crops to Maize Stover co-compostedwith Calliandra CalothyrsusMeisn Green Manure

Evaluation of CO2 Emission From Rice Husk Biochar and Cowdung Manure Co-compost Preparation

Use of soil amendments for urban horticulture in the savannah and forest areas of Ghana

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