Zema, Ferew Kebede (2012) Management Strategies for Improving Manure Nutrient Use Efficiency and Productivity of Subsistent Farmers in Enset-based Farming Systems of Southern Ethiopia. PhD thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
The overall objective of this study was to evaluate enset clones for nitrogen use efficiency and identify best manure management practices minimizing losses and maximizing nitrogen use efficiency by the crop. The study consisted of i) evaluation of manure nitrogen mineralization and nitrification potential ii) effects of rate of manure nitrogen supply on growth and nitrogen use efficiency of enset clones iii) manure placement effects on growth and nutrient recovery efficiency of enset iv) the effect of traditional methods and duration of manure storage on manure chemical composition and quality. The results of laboratory incubation study on manure mineralization and nitrification revealed that addition of manure significantly (P<0.001) increased the amount of inorganic nitrogen released compared to that of the control soil. Moreover, net mineralization and nitrification of manure organic nitrogen was observed throughout the incubation period. The net rates of mineralization varied between 0.04 to 0.33 mg N kg-1 of soil /day with mean value of 0.21 mg N kg-1 soil/ day. On the other hand, the net rates of nitrification range from 0.058-0.57 mg kg-1 soil/ day with mean nitrification rate value of 0.28 mg kg-1 soil/ day. In relation to the effect of rate of manure nitrogen supply, it was observed that the rate of manure nitrogen supply significantly (P<0.001) influenced nitrogen use efficiency of enset clones. In the study, the highest nitrogen use efficiency was obtained at application rate of 300 kg of total manure nitrogen per hectare. Of the enset clones studied, clone Ado showed the highest nitrogen use efficiency. In relation to methods of manure application, a significant (P<0.001) manure placement effects on growth and nitrogen recovery efficiency of enset were observed. In the study, placement of manure at 20 cm depth and split application of half above and half at 20 cm depth induced better growth and nitrogen recovery efficiency than to surface application. On the other hand, the existing traditional practice of manure storage in open air was found to be in efficient. It not only reduces the carbon and nitrogen content of manure but also increases the C/N ratio. The duration of manure storage had also significant influence on chemical composition and manure quality. In general, based on the results of the present study it can be concluded that the growth and yield of enset plants in smallholder farms could substantially be increased with planting nitrogen efficient clones along with improved management practices.
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QK Botany S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Selom Ghislain |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Oct 2018 14:04 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Oct 2018 14:04 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/6865 |
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