Varsity don offers viable option to organic fertilizer
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NIGERIA: A UNIVERSITY don, Professor Johnson Adesodun, has recommended an alternate source to the use of organic fertilizer in farming.
According to him, a weed plant, Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia), which when applied fresh as green mature at 10 tons per hectare, provides the same nutrients as other types of manure and that makes it highly suitable for the kind of soil found in Nigeria.
The Professor of Soil Physics, who is also the Head, Department of Soil Science and Land Management, College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), disclosed that Tithonia diversifolia, was introduced to West Africa as an ornamental plant, but could grow and suppress other plants, making it a serious threat to farmers.
This informed his decision to carry out a research on the plant, he said in a press release by the Head, Directorate of Public Relations of the university, Mrs. Emi Alawode.
Adesodun stated in that in the course of the research, he realised that when the weed plant was freshly harvested, chopped and ploughed back into the soil, it served as a good source of fertilizer for the soil.
According to him, the application of compost manure would have produced the same result.
Adesodun added that other plants that could also serve as good sources of fertilizer include Panicum maximum and Chromolina rodorata, which are commonly available as weed throughout the country.
While speaking on his major research focus, Adesodun disclosed that it centred on the effect of different land management practices occasioned by the addition of various kinds of organic and inorganic amendments on soil physical properties, as related to carbon and nitrogen sequestration, structural stability, crop production and environmental protection.
Adesodun stated that the motivation to embark on his line of research was primarily borne-out of the need to manage the physical quality of the soil.
“It is important that the physical environment of the soil is properly managed,” he said, adding: “For example, by ensuring that when it rains, the water filters through the soil properly without causing erosion and ensuring that when fertilizer is applied, the soil has adequate soil water to make it available to the plant in order to avoid the case of the soil being chemically fertile and physically infertile.”
“So, it is a combination of physical, chemical and biological management of soil that will live good soil quality. That was what really motivated me. As soil physicists, we look at the physical aspect of the soil in collaboration with other researchers”, he stressed.
The soil Physicist made it clear that he was not against the use and application of both organic and inorganic fertilizers, but he, however, stated that there was the need to prepare the soil adequately such that the fertilizer applied would not be lost to leaching.
He explained that if the soil was not well managed – physically, biological or chemically – it would not give the desired yield.
“You cannot just dump manure or poultry droppings on land, but to improve the physical quality of soil, application at 10 tons per hectare is very adequate for our fragile soils here,” Adesodun stated.
He further said: “The common manure is poultry manure because of what has been used to compound the feed. You know, it is what you take in that comes out. Poultry manure is the best, when compared to other types.”
Adesodun said on his other research areas that during his doctorate programme, he had worked on the bioremediation of polluted soils and that he still intends to return to soil pollution studies.
While lamenting that the country was not adequately managing its soils for sustainable development, he said “Nigerians seem to be very ignorant about the relevance of soil to our life.”
“Soil is fundamental to life on earth here. So, whatever we do, whether agronomic or non-agronomic projects, it is expected that a soil test is first carried out,” he said, adding: “Some come for soil test when they need to get a bank loan, which requires land evaluation. But generally, people do not carry out these tests and that is why we have low yield from our agricultural activities as well as failed projects such as roads, buildings etc.”
He stressed: “Before you start any project, a soil test must be carried out to know the nature of the soil as most failed building or road projects are linked to the soil.
Speaking further, he declared: “We have not been carrying out adequate soil tests in the country, but we have only been paying lip service. So, for us to have a sustainable society, soil test is a basic requirement because soil is the basic source of man.
“My candid advice is at individual level, individuals should manage their soils in such a way that this resource will be available for both the present and future generation; and at the government level or corporate level, information sustainable soil management needs to be disseminated and government is in the best position to do that.”
He added: “For example, carrying out community awareness by inviting scientists to advice and educate farmers as well as users, as most researches also need to be supported and be made available to the public through workshops and which takes a lot of money.
“Also, at the international level, organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Bank need do more by pulling together available information on global soil resources and make them available to the community as a whole.”
“Nigeria pays lip service to research generally. Many people are not paying attention to research and most researches done are at the individual level, particularly, by academics (because if you do not publish, you’ll perish),” he declared.
He further said: “Also, there is inadequate support from government and industries such as the agro-service providers, as they do not involve experts in carrying out proper research because it involves money. Nigeria needs to stop paying lip service to research and fund it properly.
“Researchers also need to be truthful in what they do and not just focus on money, as many people now consider how much they will first make without focusing on the benefits to the people.”
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