SOIL NUTRIENTS, SOIL FERTILITY AND SOIL MANAGEMENT

SOIL FERTILITY AND MANAGEMENT

Objectives: The students should be able to:
1. Explain the meaning of soil fertility a nd a fertile soil.
2. Outline the various methods of soil fertility management.
3. State the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Soil fertility is the capacity of the soil to supply mineral nutrient elements to crop. The nutrients must be
in adequate amounts and in suitable proportions to enhance crop production. A fertile soil ie that which
contains adequate nutrient elements required by crops.

2.1
Characteristics of a Fertile Soil
1. High cation exchange capacity
2. Good water holding capacity
3. Adequate humus contents
4. Good granular (Spheroidal)
5. Easily tilled (good workability)
6. Essential elements available in required forms and amount.

Sometimes, a soil may not be able to produce good crops even if it is fertile. This is because of the
inability of the soil to make nutrients available to the crops in the right amount.

This can happen because of several factors such as:

(a) Too much acids or bases in the soil.
(b) Poor soil structure.
(c) The proportion of the different soil particles present in the soil (Texture).
(d) Climatic factors such as amount of rainfall and temperature.
(e) The nature of the clay lattice.
(f) Cation exchange capacity of the soil.

Methods of Soil Fertility Management

There are several methods that can be used to maintain the fertility of the soil. They include bush
fallowing, cover cropping, rotation cropping, application of organic and inorganic fertilizers.

1.
Bush fallowing
This is the practice of leaving a farm-land uncultivated for a period of time. This is to allow the soil to
regain its lost nutrients in natural form. For instance, leaves from the shrubs and herbs drop and dcray
thus adding manure to the soil.

Advantages
1. It can effectively maintain soil fertility in areas with low pressure on land.
2. It protects the soil against erosion.
3. Fallen leaves decompose to increase organic matter content of the soil.
4. Evaporation of soil water and leaching of minerals are reduced.
5. There is also a build up of living organisms in the soil which arc useful for soil modification and
granulation.

Disadvantages
1. It is a very slow process of mainlining soil fertility.
2. It does not suit the increasing demand for land due to population increase.
3. The period allowed for fallow is not enough for adequate replacement of lost nutrients.

2.
Cover Cropping
This is the growing of crops purposely to provide cover for the. soil. Crops such as melon, cowpea
(trailing type), groundnut, sweet potato, and others could be grown along side the main crops to
provide cover for the soil. Others like pueraria. niucuna and centrosema can be used in plantations or on
fallow lands

Advantages
1. They protect the soil against erosion.
2. Evaporation of soil water is reduced.
3. They prevent the leaching of useful mineral elements in the soil.
4. They suppress weeds on the farmland
5. Their fallen leaves decompose to add organic matter to the soil.
6. Where legumes are used, they help to increase the nitrogen content of the soil due to the action of
root nodule bacteria
7. They can be worked into the soil as green
8. They help to maintain fairly stable soil temperature

Disadvantages
1. Cover crops compete with the main crops for nutrient elements and available water.
2. They increase the rate of loss of water in the soil through transpiration.

3.
Rotation Cropping
This is the growing of crops on a piece of land year after year in a definite order.

Advantages
1. The use of a good rotational system of cropping enables soil to be used continuously without rapid
loss of essential nutrients.
2. It is an ideal system to be used where land is scarce.
3. It is a labour saving system as the same land is prepared for planting every year.
4. Weeds are effectively checked.
5. Erosion is reduced because the land is not exposed.
6. It reduces the build up, of host specific diseases and pests.

Disadvantages
The major disadvantage of this method is that continuous tillage of the surface soil renders it loose and
easily eroded.'

4.
Organic Manuring
Manures are plants and animal materials that are added to the soil to supply nutrieiits needed for the
growth of crops. A well decomposed organic matter is called humus. Humus is a rich source of plant
nutrients suitable for vegetable gardening.

Types of Organic Manures

The major types of organic manures are green manure, form yard manure and compost manure

(i)
Green manures:
These are undecomposed green plants parts which are turned into the soil. Some plants are grown
specifically to be worked or dug intp the ground to serve as source of plant nutrients. Examples arc
mucuna, centrosema. pueraria. calopogonium and fresh green weeds. This is done mostly when they are
young and succulent tor easy decomposition. It also involves the growing of leguminous plants for the
purpose of soil improvement. This is the reason for increase in yield of other crops planted after a
legume, such as groundnut, pigeon peas, and cowpea which add nitrogen In the soil has been harvested.

Advantages
(a) It provides organic matter to the soil to improve its physical condition.
(b) It supplies nitrogen and other plant nutrients.
(c) It protects the soil against erosion.
(d) It reduces the loss of nutrients through leaching.

Disadvantages
(a) There is competition for basic nutrients and water.
(b) They may harbour diseases and pests of crop plant.
(c) It may be expensive to grow green manure plants.

It is advised that plants to be used as green manure should

(a) Easily establish.
(b) Grow quickly.
(c) Produce abundant succulent shoots and roots in a short time.
(d) Easily cover the ground.
(e) Grow on poor soils.

(ii)
Farm yard manure:
This is a mixture of animal droppings, urine, food remains and bedding or litter. Manure from poultry,
goats and sheep are the richest forms of farm yard manure. They are followed by those of pigs, horse
and cattle.

The materials are heaped under a shed to decompose for sometime before use. They could be used
direct on the farm. They should be properly handled, as too much exposure may lead to breakdown of
the nutrients. The more volatile constituents such as nitrogen could be lost as ammonia gas. It is often
better to mix manures from different types of animals to be used as pen manure than to apply only one
type.

The quality of farm yard manure depends on:

(i) The species of animals producing the materials
(ii) Age and condition of the animal.
(iii) The type of feed given to the animal.
(iv) Nature and amount of litter. That is, whether absorbent materials are used as bedding
(v) The handling and methods of storage before use on the farm.

Farm yard manure can be applied by broadcasting before tillage especially when the soil is moist or wet.
It can be spread on the bed and mixed with the soil before planting.

Advantages
1. It contains ail the required plant nutrients.
2. It is reasonably cheap as it can be obtained from the farm.
3. It has a lasting effect on the soil.
4. It binds loose sandy soil together.
5. It also loosens compact clay soils.
6. It enables the soil to absorb and retain moisture easily.

Disadvantages
1. It is very bulky.
2. It requires much labour during application.
3. It has the tendency to encourage rapid growth of weeds.

(iii)
Compost manure:
This is the decayed plant and animal remains in heaps or stacks or pits, used as
manure on the farm.

The materials needed for compost making include grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, weeds, vegetable
wastes, leaves and other organic wastes from the kitchen. Ash or lime or animal dungs or old compost,
chemical activators such as sulphate of ammonia are also added. Young and succulent plant parts should
be used instead of woody and tough parts. This is because decomposition is easier and contains much
nutrients for healthy plant growth.

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A suitable area of the farm, preferably near the edge, should be chosen. The area should not be water-
logged. When prepared during the dry season, there should be a nearby water source.

Methods of compost making: Two methods can be used in compost making. These are the pit method
and the stack or heap method. The pit method is used in areas of low rainfall or in the dry season while
the stack or heap method is used in high rainfall areas or during the rainy season. Whichever method is
used , the processes as well as the materials used remain the same.

Processes of compost making

1. Dig lour pits or peg out four areas.

2. Add kitchen wastes, yam peelings, orange skin and pulp, rotten fruits and anything that rots easily.
3. Then, add grass cuttings. hedge trimmings, vegetable wastes and till or the desired height is
compress.
4. Repeat this process until the pit is filled or the desired height reached if heap method is used.
5. Cover the top with soil to prevent the entering of flies.
6. Insert a stick at one end or at the centre in case of pit method. This is called a "tester". It detects if
decomposition is going on or not. The stick will be hot if there is decomposition after about 5 days or
else, it will be cold.
7. Turn materials or the content of pit A or heap A into B after two weeks. Refill pit or heap A. Repeat
this step until pit or heap D is reached and the desired quantity obtained.
8. Cover the final products with suitable materials until it is ready for use. This will prevent the loss of
important nutrients due to strong sun or rain water.

‘Starters' are materials used to initiate decomposition process of compost materials. Examples are
animal wastes, old compost or materials that rot easily.

Chemicals such as sulphate of ammonia could be used to induce decaying process in the absence of
starters. Such chemicals are called 'activators''.

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING BASIC AGRICULTURE AND FARMING FOR SCHOOLS Edit
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Figure 2.2.1: Turning of compost in pit or stack.

Advantages of compost manure

1. It provides sources of food to living organisms in the soil. ics are earthworms, termites and microbes.
2. It adds nutrients to the soil for increased crop yield,
3. It improves the physical condition of the soil structure and texture.
4. It helps to maintain equal amounts of acid and ha-. the soil.
5. It helps to conserve soil moisture and prevents erosion
6. It has a modifying effect on soil temperature;

Disadvantages
1. It involves much labour in preparation.
2. It is time involving and not economic for use in large farms.
3. It could cause scorching if applied when not fully matured
4. It may introduce disease causing agents. This will happen if not may properly handled or allowed to
mature before use.

Application of inorganic manures or fertilizers

Inorganic manures or fertilizers are chemical substances in of powder, granules or crystals which are
added to the soil to provide nutrients that are deficient. Fertilizers are manufactured in the industry
from rocks and other materials.
Types of fertilizers
There are two types of fertilizers:

(i) Straight or single or simple fertilizers: These are fertilizers that contain one of the major plant
nutrients in the form plants can use. They contain one primary element such as nitrogen, potassium and
phosphorus in their composition. These are called the key nutrients.

Examples are sulphate of ammonia, urea, ammonia nitrate, sodium nitrate with nitrogen as the key
nutrient. Also, single super phosphate, concentrated super phosphate and calcium metaphosphate all
contain phosphorus as their key element. Others are muriate of potash (potassium (1) chloride), crude
potash and caliphate-of-potash-alliiavmg -potassium-asthe-ir-primary element.

(ii) Mixed or complex or compound fertilizers: These are fertilizers that contain two or more primary
nutrient elements pilli filler materials. The nutrients are in ratios and the ratio refers to the proportion of
the major nutrients to one another. Examples are N.P.K: 15:15:15, 20:20:20, N.P.K: Mg. 12: 12:17:2 and
o

Handling of fertilizers:
As a result of the inherent hazards of fertilizers such as stinging sensations, blisters, itching irritations
and other skin diseases, care should be taken to avoid bodily contacts. therefore, the user should always
put on gloves and protective clothing when handling fertilizers.
Storage of fertilizers:
Fertilizers are stored in bags of synthetic fabrics which prevent entry of water and moist air that could
lead to dissolution.

Tarpaulins should be used to give additional protection to the fertilizers stored at ports warehouses,
field depots of the Ministry of Agriculture and other agencies.
Farmers should construct a simple fertilizer store among their stead. They should be stored differently
according to types for easy identification and access. Platforms of wood should be made on which the
bags are stacked, up to a considerable height, to avoid slippage and allow for easy stock taking. It should
not rest on the wail. Air circulation should be encouraged in the store.
Advantages of fertilizers:
1. They bring about increase in crop yield.
2. They increase farm income.
3. They increase the productivity of poor soils.
4. They are easily transported to where they are needed compared to organic manures.
5. They are used on large scale.
6. The nutrients in fertilizers are readily available to crops.
Disadvantages
1. Fertilizers are easily leached in the soil.
2. Some fertilizers leave acidic residues in the soil.
3. Inorganic manures do not improve soil structure.
4. Some of the nutrients are easily lost as gases under intense heat of the sun. 5. Fertilizers are
expensive to procure.
6. They are sometimes not available at the time of need.

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING BASIC AGRICULTURE AND FARMING FOR SCHOOLS Edit
Description Agriculture, farming, agricultural products and crops classification, cultural practices in
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Methods of applying fertilizers
1. Broadcasting: This is where fertilizer is evenly spread on the farmland. It could be done before
ploughing or tillage to incorporate it into the soil.
2. Side dressing or application: This is where small quantity of fertilizer is placed on one or two sides of
individual crop.
3. Ring application: A shallow trench is dug round individual crop a few centimetres away from the stem.
Fertilizer is then sprinkled in the trench and covered with soil.
4. Row application: This is where fertilizer is applied in row few centimetres from the crops. It is suitable
when crops are planted in rows
5. Top dressing: This is where fertilizer is applied to the surface soil within the reach of the roots of crops
during the growing stage.
6. Foliage application: This is where soluble fertilizers are applied as sprays on the leaves of crops.