EVALUATION OF TILLAGE METHODS AND POTASSIUM EFFECT ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND GROWTH OF LESSER YAM
Essien, O. A.; Udoh, O. E.; Umoh, F. O. &Ntuen, E.S.
Department of Soil Science
AkwaIbom State University, MkpatEnin, Nigeria.
Email: otobongessien19@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to assess tillage methods and potassium effect on soil properties and yam yield on soils of southeastern Nigeria. A field experiment was set out at the Teaching and Research Farm of AkwaIbom State University, ObioAkpa in 2019. A 2×4 factorial experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Tillage methods used were flat and mound, which constituted the main plots while the four (4) rate of muriate potash (0 kg ha-1, 200 kg ha-1, 400 kg ha-1, and 600 kg ha-1)occupied the sub plots. Tillage was done in the early planting season and yam tubers weighed 300g were planted. The initial and post-harvest soil samples were collected, processed and analyzed for soil physical and chemical properties. The result revealed that tillage methods improved soil properties significantly (p<0.05). Flat tillage improved soil organic matter content by 4.37% and base saturation percentage by 89.49% over other systems. The interaction between tillage methods and potassium rate application showed that flat tillage with application of 200 kg ha-1 gave the highest mean of soil organic matter content by 46.49% above other rates of combination with tillage systems. While mound tillage with potassium application rate of 400 kg ha-1 improved tube weight by 1.83kg above other rates of potassium application. Therefore, mound tillage of 400 kg ha-1 of potassium is recommended for cultivation of lesser yam in the study area.
Keywords: Tillage methods, Mound and Flat Tillage, Potassium Application Rate, Soil Properties and Yam Yield.
