Authors: F.K. Salako, P. O. Dada, C. O. Adejuyigbe, M. O. Adedire, O. Martins, C. A. Akwuebu, O. E. Williams
Abstract
Vast areas of degraded soils exist in southwestern Nigeria due to topsoil removal by soil erosion and gravel/stone mining operators. The restoration of such soils has become imperative to sustain food production in most rural communities. Therefore, a factorial field experiment in three replicates of a randomized complete block design was carried out in 2003 and 2004 with the factors being slope positions (upper and lower slopes), topsoil removal (0, 15 and 25cm depths) and nutrient amendments (0, 10 t ha -1 poultry manure and 60:30:30 N:P205:K20 as NPK + urea).
Keywords: Soil strength; Gravelly Alfisol; Artificial desurfacing; Maize; Poultry manure; Soil rehabilitation