Ayeni L.S.
A laboratory incubation study was conducted on Alfisol to investigate the effect of cocoa pod ash (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1), poultry manure (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1), NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer (0,100 and 200 kg ha-1) and their combinations on soil pH and cations release for sustainable crop production. Compared with control, cocoa pod ash and poultry manure applied singly or in combination with NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer increased soil pH, available K, Ca and Mg from 5.89-7.23, 0.17-0.94, 2.17-6.10 and 0.47-2.97 C mol kg-1 respectively. Compared with control, Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and Percent Base Saturation (%BS) were significantly increased (p>0.05) with corresponding decrease in Exchange Acidity (EA). Cautions must be exercised in combining 10 t ha-1 cocoa pod ash with poultry manure to avoid overliming as their combinations tended to increase soil pH above the level favourable to crop production in southwestern Nigeria.
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