Analysis of Nutrient Content of Some Organic Materials for Soil Amendment in Sokoto Metroplis, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was undertaken to examine the nutrient contents of some selected organic materials within Sokoto metropolis. The organic materials sampled included; neem leaves, neem seeds, poultry manure, sheep dung, cow dung, refuse dump, millet husk, wood ash and rice husk. The samples were collected in three replicates from different locations, making a total of 27 samples. These samples were air-dried, gentle crushed and sieved through 2mm sieve mesh. The following chemical properties of the samples were analyzed using standard methods; pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, Na, and K) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) and percentage base saturation (PBS) was also calculated. The result showed that the pH value ranged from 5.4 (neem seeds) to 7.54 (sheep dung). The organic matter content ranged from 2.03% in neem leaves to 22.05% in sheep dung, sodium ranged from 0.39 cmol/kg in millet husk to 7.10 cmol/kg in refuse dump, total nitrogen values ranged from 0.30% in wood ash to 1.42% in poultry manure. The available phosphorus showed values ranging from 0.31mg/kg (rice husk) to 3.29 mg/kg (refuse dump), the percentage base saturation was highest in wood ash, showing a value of 95.72% and lowest in rice husk; 82.81%. The organic materials evaluated showed moderate values in all the nutrients tested and therefore could be effectively used for soil fertility amendments.

Keywords: Nutrient, Organic material, Chemical property, Fertility amendment