Assessment of Soil Fertility Status under Different Farmers Soil Management Practices in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State Nigeria
The study assessed fertility status under different farmers’ soil management practices. A total of18 soil samples were collected at an interval of 50 meters, 3 samples from farmers’ soil management practices considered under this studies such as (Compost, Mix-farming, Tillage, Zero-tillage, Mix-cropping, and Mono-cropping). 1 sample was collected at 50 meters away from the farm sites to serve as control for the studies. Standard laboratory methods were used to determine the concentrations of the variables covered by this study. The study reveals that pH ranges between 5.36 in zero-tilled soils to 6.12 in tilled soils, electrical conductive was generally low in the study area ranging between 0.99uS/cm to 2.43uS/cm. Nitrogen was generally low in all the sampled soil with tilled soil having the least concentration of 0.31meq/kg and compost soil having the highest concentration of 0.49meq/kg. Tilled soils recorded the lowest concentration of organic matter 2.10% and compost soils with a concentration of 2.71%. Since the soils have been found to be deficient in some of the nutrients necessary for plants growth, there is the need for addition of organic or chemical fertilizers. The addition into the soil of about half a ton of NPK per hectare will greatly enrich the soil with nutrients which are a necessity for plants growth.
