Comparative Effects of Separate Incorporation of Cowdung and Rice-Husk Materials on Nutrient Status of some Lithosols

In this study, the effects of separate incorporation of cowdung and rice-husk materials were investigated between the rainy months of June and September, 2008. Four incorporation levels 0, 25, 50 and 75 tons ha-1 were experimented for each fertilizer material over an incubation period of 4 months. Representative soil samples were collected, prepared and analysed. Data showed that soil physical properties accounted the soil particle size proportions as significantly different (P<0.05) between the incorporated fertilizer sources, while the soil densities, porosity and WHC did not. Likewise, about half of the soil chemical properties differed significantly from the untreated control and between the incorporation types. On the average, results suggested a greater effectiveness with increased rates (50 & 75 tons ha-1) of especially rice-husk incorporation. It is recommended that farmers should use higher incorporation of the resourcefully cheap rice-husk materials for adequate soil fertilization and physical conditioning of the highly depleted soils. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers