Predicting response to potassium for soils of eastern Nigeria

Ekpete, D.M. (1972) Predicting response to potassium for soils of eastern Nigeria. Geoderma, 8 (2-3). pp. 177-189.

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Abstract

Response to K by potted millet (Pennisetum spp.) and sorghum (S. vulgare) were determined in soils taken from nine soil groups in twenty locations in Eastern Nigeria and correlated with K extracted with five laboratory methods. Results showed that without K application dry-matter yields were low and responses to 139 kg K/ha were significant in the acid sandy ferrallitic soils derived from sands and sandstones. In most of the other groups, which include weakly developed soils on steep slopes and recent alluvial deposits, ferruginous tropical soils and hydromorphic soils, dry-matter yields without K application were relatively high and responses to K application were not significant. When dry matter yields without K application were less than 20 g/pot (22 metric tons/ha), there were significant responses to K application and responses were significant only when they were more than 20%. Potassium extracted with 6N H2SO4 gave the best indication of dry-matter yields when K was not applied, with the equation, Y = 5.20 + 0.145X, r = 0.9053 and of the percentage response when K was applied,with the equation, Y = 51.05−0.215X, r = −0.9281. Significant responses were obtained in soils testing less than 111 kg K/ha with this method. Furthermore, K extracted with 6N H2SO4 was equal to exchangeable K extracted with NNH4OAc.

Item Type:	Article
Author Affiliation:	Department of Plant-Soil Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nigeria
Subjects:	Plant Protection Soil Science and Microbiology
Divisions:	General
Depositing User:	Mr. SanatKumar Behera
Date Deposited:	04 Jul 2012 08:18
Last Modified:	04 Jul 2012 08:18
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0016-7061(72)90045-6
URI:	http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/6538

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