Studies on the Effect of rubber effluent and NPK applications following cropping with rubber (Hevea brasilliensis Wild ex A. de Juss. Muell.Arg.) and snake tomato Trichosanthes cucumerina L. Haines) on some post harvest soil chemical properties in a newly established rubber plantations in iyanomo

Abstract

The soil is the most important natural resource, because on it, the entire vegetation is dependent and by extension man, hence a field study was conducted in 2018 and 2019 cropping season to determine the effects of rubber effluent and NPK applications following cropping with rubber and snake on some post harvest soil chemical properties in a newly established rubber plantation in Iyanomo. The treatments involved a combination of sole and intercropped combination with NPK and rubber effluent application rates laid out in a randomized complete block design in three replications. Pre and Post harvest soil analysis was carried out and data were collected on Particle size, Soil pH, Available Phosphorus, Exchangeable bases, total nitrogen and exchangeable acidity. Results of pre cropping soil analysis showed that soils of the experimental site were strongly acidic with values lower than critical level for some essential nutrients (table 1) while the post harvest soil analysis showed that the soils benefited from the amendment with fertilizers (NPK and rubber effluent)(table 3a and b). The increase in soil pH, N, Ca, Mg, K, and Na and decrease in exchangeable acidity in plots fertilized with NPK and rubber effluent is attributed to the amending effects of the fertilizer. This finding implies that rubber effluent and NPK reduced soil acidity as the reaction changed from strongly acidic to moderately acidic