Effects of Farmyard Manure and Inorganic Fertilizer Application on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Nutrient Balance in Rain-Fed Lowland Rice Ecosystem

Tilahun Tadesse, Nigussie Dechassa, Wondimu Bayu, Setegn Gebeyehu

Amhra Region Agricultural Research Institute, Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia.
Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
ICARDA, Ethiopia.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2013.42041                

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of combined application of farm yard manure (FYM) and inorganic NP fertilizers on soil physico-chemical properties and nutrient balance in a rain-fed lowland rice production system in Fogera plain, northwestern Ethiopia. The study was carried out during the main cropping seasons of 2010 and 2011. Twenty-seven treatments comprising a factorial combination of three rates of FYM (0, 7.5, and 15 t·ha^-1), three rates of nitrogen (0, 60, 120 kg·N·ha^-1) and three rates of phosphorus (0, 50 and 100 kg·P₂O₅·ha^-1) were tested. The experiments were laid out as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Bulk density, organic matter content, and available water holding capacity, total N, and available P of the soil were measured just after harvesting the rice crop. Results showed that application of 15 t·FYM·ha^-1 significantly increased soil organic matter and available water holding capacity but decreased the soil bulk density, creating a good soil condition for enhanced growth of the rice crop. Application of 15 tFYM·ha^-1 increased the level of soil total nitrogen from 0.203% to 0.349%. Combined application of 15 t·ha^-1·FYM and 100 kg·P₂O₅·ha^-1 increased the available phosphorous from 11.9 ppm to 38.1 ppm. Positive balances of soil N and P resulted from combined application of FYM and inorganic N and P sources. Application of 15·t ha^-1·FYM and 120 kg·N·ha^-1resulted in 214.8 kg·ha^-1·N positive balance while application of 15 t·ha^-1·FYM and 100 kg·P₂O₅·ha^-1 resulted in a positive balance of 69.3 kg·P₂O₅·ha^-1 available P. From the results of this experiment, it could be concluded that combined application of FYM and inorganic N and P fertilizers improved the chemical and physical properties, which may lead to enhanced and sustainable production of rice in the study area.

Keywords

FYM; Nitrogen; Phosphorous; Nutrient Balance; Rain-Fed Rice

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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