IMPACT OF HIGH RATES OF THREE ANIMAL MANURES ON SOIL EXCHANGEABLE SODIUM AND POTASSIUM AND WILD OKRA (Corchorus olitorius L.) PERFORMANCE

Abstract

There is paucity of information on effects of manure-induced factors on soil owing to high application rates. This necessitated the study to evaluate effects of three animal manures on soil K⁺ and Na⁺, and Corchorus olitorius L. The experiment was a randomized complete block design, replicated three times, in three cycles and six weeks per cycle. Cattle, goat and poultry manures were applied solely at the rates of 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 120 and 150 t ha^-1. During first cycle, percentage increases of soil K⁺ bi-weekly over the control, were 550, 802, 763 % for cattle; 650, 783 1,086 % for goat and 380, 386, 500 % for poultry manure treatments at first, second and third cycle, respectively. Highest increase in soil Na⁺ content at 6 weeks after planting of  first, second and third cycles, were 9.36, 7.14, 4.83 cmol⁺ kg^-1 for cattle; 8.74, 5.65, 4.49 cmol⁺ kg^-1 for goat and 6.08, 4.80, 3.34 cmol⁺ kg^-1 for poultry amendments, respectively. At third cycle of planting, average reduction of soil Na⁺ content for cattle, goat and poultry manure treatments, were quadrupled, cubic and doubled that of second cycle, respectively. Increase in Corchorus olitorius (L). leaf area irrespective of manure rates at second and third cycles doubled the values of first cycle. From the study, addition of cattle, goat and poultry manures above 60 t ha^-1 increased soil K⁺ and Na⁺ but hindered Corchorus olitorius L. performance at first cycle and their residual effects enhanced the performance at second and third cycles.