Gezira J. of agric. sci. 15(1): 64—79 (2017)
Effect
of compost and urea nitrogen on growth and yield of sweet pepper (Capsicum
annuum L.) and on some properties
of the Gezira soil
Manal M. Mahgoub1, Altayeb M. Abdelmalik2,
Hashim M. Babiker2 and Ahmed Eltayeb A. Mohamed1
1Department of Environmental
Science and
Natural Resources, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad
Medani, Sudan.
2Department of Soil
and Water Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad
Medani, Sudan.
ABSTRACT
Compost is stable humus like product
resulting from biological decomposition of organic matter under controlled
conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the combined effect
of compost with urea nitrogen on some soil properties, growth and yield of
sweet pepper. This study comprised a number of experimentations conducted over
two consecutive seasons (2009/10-2010/11) at the Experimental Farm of the
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira and laboratories of
CIRAD in France. Compost was applied at 0, 10 and 20 t ha-1 combined
with N at 0, 43 and 86 kg ha-1 in the form of urea. The results
showed that application of compost alone or in combination with urea nitrogen
improved soil properties and hence growth and yield of sweet pepper.
Improvement of those parameters was more pronounced when the urea and compost
were combined, especially at the higher rates. Combination of urea and compost
presumably improved availability of nitrogen from the organic source to sweet
pepper and, therefore, positively affected growth and yield of the crop. The
extent of improvement was less when urea nitrogen and organic manures were
applied in the same season. Hence, it could be recommended to fertilize sweet
pepper with compost and urea at the rate of 86 kg N/ ha.
INTRODUCTION
One of the greatest problems related to
waste production is the disposal of these diverse quantities, especially the
disposal of agricultural and animals waste. For an example, more than 8.5
billion broilers were raised for commercial sale in the U.S. in the year 2003.
Out of this, about 78 million of birds died from diseases and natural disasters
before they were marketable (USDA – NASS, 2007). In such conditions, farmers do not have
enough available agricultural land on which they could dispose the produced
manure in appropriate quantities. Moreover, there are many problems associated
with the storage and use of raw manure such as odor, emission or leaching of hazardous
compounds, health risk, loss of nutrients and difficulties of handling and
application of these wastes (Basso and Ritchie, 2005).
An alternative approach for manure
management is composting, which implies organic matter stabilization, sanitization
regarding weeds and pathogens, deodorization, improvement of handling of the
product and possibility of safe storage and transportation (Parkinson et
al., 2004). Recycling wastes into value added products such as soil
conditioners can decrease disposal cost and recycle nutrients for maintaining
and improving the soil quality and crop growth. Recycling of organic residues
along with careful use of mineral fertilizers has been suggested to mitigate
the environmental problems resulting from intensive agriculture (Tajeda and
Gonzalez, 2003).
Arable land in the Sudan is estimated at
84 million ha, of which 17 million ha are utilized. About 12% of the total
cultivated land is irrigated agriculture and 15 million hectares are rain-fed
agriculture representing 89% of presently utilized land (Mohammed, 2008). The
grazing lands constitute 40.4% of the total area of the Sudan. The pastoralists
of Sudan own 90% of the national herds of livestock. According to recent
estimates of livestock, there are about 40 million heads of cattle, 50 million
heads of sheep, 43 million goats and 4 million camels, accordingly massive
organic wastes are continuously being produced from both crops and animals. The
amount is large and diverse, and has not yet been adequately studied or
processed to be incorporated into the agricultural system. So the objective of
this study is therefore to investigate the effect of compost and nitrogen
fertilizer on growth and yield of sweet pepper crop and some soil properties of
the Gezira State.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental
sites and soil description
The Experimental Farm of the Faculty of
Agricultural Sciences, where this experiment was conducted is located at the
University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan (14° 24′ N, 33° 29′ E and
407m masl).The field was situated within the dry zone of the Sudan, with a
short rainy season that extends from June to September with an average of
Compost
preparation
In order to prepare compost, a pit of 4 x 3
x 3 m was made. The composting process started on 25/08/09. Wheat straw and cow
manure were placed in the pit. Eight alternating layers consisted of four
layers of cow manure alternating with four layers of wheat straw. One kg of
urea was added along with ½ kg triple superphosphate (TSP) to each layer, to
enhance decomposition. Sixty four liters of water were added to each layer. The
pit was covered using two plastic covers (6 x 4 m) each and finally was covered
with soil. Two weeks later, the pit was opened and the organic materials were
mixed thoroughly and water was added at about
Treatments
and experimental design
The land was prepared using disc plow
followed by disc harrow and ridging at
Nursery
planting and transplanting of sweet pepper
Sweet pepper seeds were planted in trays and
small plastic cups filled with a soil mix of sand and clay at 1:1 ratio on
3/11/ 09. They were put under a partial shade at the nursery. The plants were
irrigated lightly at least twice a day. Transplanting was carried out on
January 15, 2010 by putting one plant in a hole at
Collection
of data for growth and yield parameters
Yield
is a contribution of a number of factors including number of leaves per plant,
plant height and plant population for estimating these yield parameters. Five
plants were selected randomly from each subplot tagged and used for measuring
plant height and number of leaves per plant. Three months after transplanting,
sweet pepper crop was harvested six times; approximately each ten days. Fresh weight
as well as dry weight of fruits were recorded, using a sensitive balance.
Number of fruits per plant was counted before weighing. After fresh weight was
determined, the fruits were transferred to an air-forced oven at 70º C for
48 hours to determine the dry weight of fruits. The fruits were then ground and
kept for further analyses. Immediately after harvesting of sweet pepper crop,
soil samples were taken by auger at 0-
Treatments
and experimental design for the residuals
The crop of the first season was removed
and the land was prepared as in the first season. As in the first season, nine
treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three
replicates. The subplot size was 10x10.5m splited into two equal sub-sub-plots.
Treatments, consisted of compost at the rates of 0, 10 and 20 t ha-1
air-dry compost and urea at 0, 43 and 86 kg N ha-
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Soil analysis
The Gezira soil, as part of the central
clay plain of the Sudan, suffers from low levels of organic carbon (O.C) and
consequently organic matter (O.M) and total nitrogen (Table 1). The continuous
decomposition of organic matter in cultivated soils of arid and semi-arid
regions may lead to soil degradation with a consequence of inability to ensure
sustainable production. In recent years, the use of organic amendments has
become popular and efficient for the improvement and/or restoration of soil
O.M. The results showed that, Gezira soil had a low level of nitrogen, so the
addition of this element to the soil is necessary for profitable production.
Soil organic matter with reasonable amounts of nitrogen and the cycling
processes of soil nitrogen can be regarded as means of supplying mineral
nitrogen from the soil to growing plants.
Table1.
Some physical and chemical properties of the soil of the experimental site
analyzed at CIRAD, France.
|
Item
(%) |
Item |
Exchangeable cations (cmol kg-1 soil) |
Item
(mgkg-1 soil) |
|
O.C 0.39 N 0.039 CaCo3 2.70 Soil Moisture 0.47 (air dry) C:N 10.0 |
pH paste 7.8 ECe
1.0 dSm-1 B.D 1.47gcm-3 |
K 0.9 Na 0.9 CEC 57.00 |
Total
P
235 Avail.
P 4.5 |
Effect of compost and urea nitrogen fertilizer on plant
height
Application
of compost at the lower and higher rates accompanied with nitrogen at the lower
rate (
Table 2.
Effect of compost and urea nitrogen fertlizer on plant height (cm)
|
Compost (ton/ha) N rates (kg/ha) |
First season |
Second season |
|
|
0 |
0 |
19.09 e |
28.87 |
|
43 |
21.19 de |
39.3 f |
|
|
86 |
21.28 |
40.2 ef |
|
|
10
|
0 |
20.90 d |
40.8 def |
|
43 |
21.71cde |
41.3 de |
|
|
86 |
21.98 cd |
41.9 d |
|
|
20
|
0 |
23.89 bc |
43.4 c |
|
43 |
26.17 b |
45.9 b |
|
|
86 |
29.22 a |
50.1 a |
|
|
SE± |
|
0.85 |
0.50 |
|
CV% |
|
9.2 |
3.09 |
Means in columns followed by the same
letter (s) are not significantly different according to Duncan´s Multiple Range
Test (P≤ 0.05).
Effect
of compost and urea nitrogen fertilizer on number of leaves
Irrespective of nitrogen fertilizer level, number
of leaves per plant was increased significantly (P≤0.05) with further
increase in compost level (Table 3). Application of compost alone to the soil
at 10 ton ha-1 and 20 ton ha-1 showed an average number
of leaves of 27.73 and 37.22 per plant, respectively, compared to 26.25 of the
control (Table 3). Application of compost at 10 and 20 ton ha-1
accompanied with nitrogen at
Table 3.
Effect of compost and fertilizer nitrogen on number of leaves.
|
Compost (ton/ha) |
N rates (kg/ha) |
First season |
Second season |
|
0 |
0 |
51.4 g |
26.25 c |
|
43 |
53.9 f |
25.89 c |
|
|
86 |
50.5 g |
26.47 c |
|
|
10 |
0 |
56.1 ef |
27.73 c |
|
43 |
57.1 e |
28.90 c |
|
|
86 |
73.5 d |
33.09 bc |
|
|
20 |
0 |
88.7 c |
37.22 ab |
|
43 |
91.5 b |
39.89 ab |
|
|
86 |
96.9 a |
42.29 a |
|
|
SE± |
0.75 |
2.76 |
|
|
CV% |
4.26 |
21.16 |
|
Means in columns followed by the same
letter (s) are not significantly different according to Duncan´s Multiple Range
Test (P≤ 0.05).
Effect
of compost and urea nitrogen fertilizer on biomass content of sweet pepper
plant
Results in Table 4 showed that the addition
of compost significantly (P≤0.05) increased the average fresh weight of
sweet pepper plant. This might be attributed to the fact that application of
compost to soils improved both physical and chemical properties of the soil
which in turn affected positively plants grown on these soils. This might also
be attributed to the fact that, low amounts of plant available N may be an
important factor in enhancing the direct effects of composts. Therefore, soil
fertility improvement would be much more effective if fertilization with
mineral N follows compost application (Weber et al 2007).
In the Sudan, Ibrahim (1995) reported a
significant increase in grain yield of sorghum in response to compost and urea
application. The same trend of compost effect that was observed on plant fresh
weight was also found for plant dry weight. The average of plant dry weight was
increased by 18.1% when compost was added at 20 ton ha-1 without
urea nitrogen fertilizer (Table 4).
Combination of compost at 10 and 20 ton ha-1
with nitrogen fertilizer at 43 kg ha-1 considerably promoted
the average of plant dry weight by 11.5% and 21.7%, respectively, compared to
the control (Table 4). Furthermore, the corresponding increment of the previous
rate of compost with nitrogen at 86 kg ha-1 was 18.6 % and 19.4%,
respectively.
Table 4.
Effect of compost and urea nitrogen fertilizer on biomass content of
sweet pepper.
|
Treatment |
Biomass
(g) First
season |
Second
season |
|||
|
Compost (ton
ha-1) |
N
rates (kg/ha) |
|
Dry weight |
Fresh weight |
Dry weight |
|
0 |
0 |
|
115.0 cd |
449.1 i |
118.5 g |
|
43 |
|
114.2 cd |
460.6 h |
121.1 f |
|
|
86 |
|
117.1 c |
473.1 g |
124.7 e |
|
|
10 |
0 |
479.5 e |
111.1 d |
513.8 f |
127.1 d |
|
43 |
489.1 d |
127.3 b |
527.8 e |
127.1 d |
|
|
86 |
531.8 c |
|
539.9 d |
132.c |
|
|
20 |
0 |
545.1 b |
|
546.9 c |
134.2 b |
|
43 |
|
|
561.9 b |
135.1 b |
|
|
86 |
|
|
573.3 a |
139.9 a |
|
|
SE± |
2.787 |
1.486 |
2.18 |
0.63 |
|
|
CV% |
8.05 |
9.07 |
4.78 |
1.58 |
|
*Means in columns followed by the same
letter(s) are not significantly different according to Duncan's Multiple Range
Test (P ≤ 0.05).
Effect of compost and urea nitrogen
fertilizer on number of fruits per plant
The average
number of fruits per plant was 1.33 in the control treatment (Table 5). At 0 kg
N /ha, adding compost at 10 ton ha-1 significantly (P≤0.05)
increased the average number of fruits per plant to 2.9 in the second season, whereas
adding compost at 20 ton ha-1, the average number of fruit was
greatly increased to 4.5. in the second season too. Application of compost at 10 ton ha-1 accompanied with 43 kg N /ha increased the average
number of fruits to 2.33 in the first season and 3.60 in the second season. Application
of compost at 20 ton ha-1
increased the average number of fruits per plant to 3.53 in the
first season and 4.80 in the second season. (Table 5). The production of fruits was 2.83 when compost at 10 ton ha-1
was mixed with nitrogen at 86 kg ha-1. The corresponding production
at 20 ton ha-1 was 4.00 in the first season. This increment of fruit production was
probably due to the positive effects of compost as a soil amendment and
nitrogen as they improved soil physical and chemical properties which in turn
affected positively plant growth. In the Sudan, results of experiments carried
out at the Gezira Research Station showed positive effects on yield of cotton
and wheat when compost prepared from cotton residues in combination with urea
were applied to the soil (Ali, 1992; Ali et al., 1993).
Table 5. Effect of compost and urea
nitrogen fertilizer on number of fruits per plant
|
Compost
(ton/ha) N rates (kg/ha) |
First season |
Second
season |
|
0 |
0 |
1.33
d |
2.7
cd |
|
43 |
1.46
d |
2.0 d |
|
|
86 |
1.63
d |
2.3 d |
|
|
10 |
0 |
2.03
cd |
2.9 cd |
|
43 |
2.33
cd |
3.6 bc |
|
|
86 |
2.83
bc |
3.9 bc |
|
|
20 |
0 |
2.43
b |
4.5 b |
|
43 |
3.53
a |
4.8
ab |
|
|
86 |
4.00
a |
5.8
a |
|
|
SE± |
0.31 |
0.38 |
|
|
CV% |
18.33 |
21.22 |
|
*Means in columns followed by the same
letter(s) are not significantly different according to Duncan's Multiple Range
Test (P ≤ 0.05).
Effect on fruit fresh
weight per plant
Adding compost to the
soil without urea nitrogen fertilizer, significantly (P≤0.05) increased
the average fresh weight of sweet pepper fruits per plant (Table 6). The fresh
weight per plant was 249.03g and 501.87g first season and second season respectively
in the control treatment (Table 6). At 0 kg N/ha, application of compost at 10
ton ha-1, increased average weight to 387.63g in the first season
and 620.23g in the second season. Moreover, when compost was applied alone at
20 ton ha-1, average fresh weight was increased to 729.78g in the
first season and 848.88g in the second one. Combination of compost at 10 ton ha-1
with 43 kg N/ha considerably increased average weight to 434.65 in the first
season and 644.52 in the second season. Furthermore, the average of fruit fresh
weight was increased to 734.77g and 894.45g in the first and second seasons,
respectively, when compost at 20 ton ha-1 was combined with 43 kg N /ha.
The interaction of compost at 10 ton ha-1 with 86 kg N /ha
significantly increased average fruit fresh weight (471.18 g) in the first
season whereas it reached up to 697.35 in the second season. Application of
compost at 20 ton ha-1 with 86 kg N/ha considerably increased the average
fruit fresh weight to 894.58 g and 952.18 g in first and second season,
respectively (Table 6). It is clear that compost applied at 10 and 20 ton ha-1
significantly increased fruits fresh weight per plant. Moreover, application of
compost together with both 43 or 86 kg N /ha increased yield of fruits of sweet
pepper more than application of either compost or nitrogen fertilizer alone.
This might be due to the positive effect of mineral nitrogen on organic matter mineralization.
These results are in line with those of Broken et al. (2002) who found
that addition of compost to the soil as a soil conditioner and nutrients significantly
increased maize yield.
Table 6. Effect of compost and nitrogen fertilizer on fruit fresh
weight
|
Treatment |
Seasons |
||
|
ton /ha |
N rates (kg/ha) |
First season |
Second season |
|
0 |
0 |
249.03 e |
501.87
f |
|
43 |
264.63 e |
513.92 ef |
|
|
86 |
276.23 e |
598.22 e |
|
|
10 |
0 |
387.63 d |
620.23 d |
|
43 |
434.65 c |
644.52 cd |
|
|
86 |
471.18 c |
697.35 c |
|
|
20 |
0 |
729.78 b |
848.88 b |
|
43 |
734.77 b |
894.45 b |
|
|
86 |
894.58 a |
952.18 a |
|
|
SE± |
35.7 |
4.500 |
|
|
CV% |
16.5 |
17.97 |
|
*Means in columns followed by the same
letter(s) are not significantly different according to Duncan's Multiple Range
Test (P ≤ 0.05).
Effect of compost and urea nitrogen fertilizer on soil moisture
content, soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM)
It appears from Table 7
that moisture content of the soil was significantly (P≤0.05) increased by
application of compost. Carter and Stewart (1996) and Franzluebbers (2002)
reported that addition of organic matter improved soil properties such as
aggregation, water-holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, bulk density,
fertility and resistance to water and wind erosion. It has been reported by
many workers that plant available water in coarse, medium, and fine textured
soils increased with increasing rates of organic manures. Addition of compost
to the soil increases water holding capacity due to increase in surface area of
the soil colloids.
Results
showed a slight effect of compost on soil pH, which increased as compost rate increased (Table 7). These results suggest a high buffering
capacity of the Gezira soil. Mohammed (1993) reported that the addition of manure alone or with nitrogen did not
cause a significant effect on soil pH. Changes in soil pH in a soil with a high
buffering capacity, such as that of the Gezira, requires large additions of
organic matter for a longer time. Under specific conditions, compost has been
found to affect soil pH even when applied at a low rate of 10 tons per hectare.
Results of Lomte et al. (1999) showed that application of organic
amendments increased soil pH, but because of the high soil buffering capacity
of the Gezira soil it may probably need high level of application of manure and
for a longer time to affect soil pH. Application of compost increased SOM, and
this increment is highly connected with compost rate (Table 7). These results
are in line with many studies such as De Jager et al. (2001) and Palm et
al. (2001). They reported that the improvement of soil fertility requires
the input of stabilized or manure organic waste or compost. Compost as an
organic amendment is used to improve soil physical condition and/or plant
nutrition. Generally, crop residues, organic manure and compost from organic
waste have been used to increase SOM content and accordingly to improve soil
properties (Celik et al, 2004).
Effect of compost and urea nitrogen fertilizer on soil organic
carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and C: N ratio
Results revealed that
compost added to the soil increased organic carbon (SOC) (Table 7). This is true because application of compost would obviously
increase soil organic carbon. In the Sudan, Dawelbeit (1996) reported an
increase in SOC in response to farmyard manure application to Gezira soils.
The results showed that
application of compost significantly increased TN in the soil compared to those
without applied compost (Table 7). The increase of TN indicated that compost
supplied this nutrient into the soil (Soumare et al., 2002).
Adani et al. (2006) stated that the increase in soil carbon, nitrogen
and CEC by amending with compost is confirmed in most cases. Mineralization of organic
matter in added compost leads to stepwise release of nutrient elements,
particularly nitrogen. In the Sudan, Ali (1998) reported that, most soil
nitrogen is in organic form which is unavailable to higher plants and hence
this nutrient must be conserved and carefully managed so as to be mineralized
by soil microorganisms to ammonium and nitrate ions. Table 7 shows that, application of compost to the soil significantly
increased C:N ratio especially at high rates of compost. That may be attributed
to the high organic carbon maintained in the soil upon compost application.
These findings are in agreement with those of Ali (1998) who found increases in
soil C:N ratio up to 18 due to addition of compost to Gezira soil. Organic
carbon in compost would most likely increase C:N ratio, especially in soils
such as those of the Gezira where total N is very low.
Table 7. Effect of compost and
urea nitrogen fertilizer on some soil properties.
|
Treatment |
||||||
|
Compost (ton
ha-1) |
Nitrogen (kg/ha) |
Moisture
content (%) |
pH |
Organic carbon
(%) |
Total nitrogen (%) |
C:N ratio |
|
0 |
0 |
6.14 e |
8.4 e |
0.58 c |
0.37 c |
|
|
43 |
6.35 d |
8.4 de |
0.58 c |
0.38 c |
|
|
|
86 |
6.41 d |
8.4 cde |
0.67 bc |
0.39 bc |
15.04 e |
|
|
10 |
0 |
6.47 cd |
8.5 cde |
0.73 abc |
0.46 abc |
15.17 de |
|
43 |
6.55 cd |
8.5 bcde |
0.73 abc |
0.48 abc |
15.59 de |
|
|
86 |
6.64 bc |
8.5 bcde |
0.75 abc |
0.54 ab |
15.73 cd |
|
|
20 |
0 |
6.67 bc |
8.56abc |
0.75 abc |
|
16.58 ab |
|
43 |
6.77 b |
8.6 ab |
0.87 ab |
|
16.27 bc |
|
|
86 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SE± |
0.05 |
0.05 |
0.06 |
0.05 |
0.20 |
|
|
CV% |
0.34 |
8.4 e |
0.58 c |
0.37 c |
|
|
*Means in columns followed by the same
letter(s) are not significantly different according to Duncan's Multiple Range
Test (P ≤ 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
* Results obtained from this study showed the positive
effect of compost on some soil properties and on sweet pepper growth and yield
parameters.
* Compost applied alone or in combination with urea
nitrogen improved soil properties and hence growth and yield of sweet pepper.
* Improvement of soil properties, growth and yield of
sweet pepper was more pronounced when the urea and compost were combined,
especially at the higher rate for both of them.
* The combination of urea and an organic source of
nitrogen (compost) improved presumably nitrogen mineralization and therefore
its availability to sweet pepper which had a positive effect on growth and
yield of the crop.
* The extent of improvement, however, was much less
when urea nitrogen fertilizer and compost were applied in the same season.
REFERENCES
Adam, S.H. and A.H. Abdalla. 2008. Meteorology and Climatology. Khartoum
University Press, UNESCO Chair of desertification.
Adani, F., P. Genevien, G.
Ricca, F. Tambone and E. Montoneri. 2006.
Modification of soil humic matter after 4 years of compost application. Waste
Management 27: 319-324
Ali, N.A. 1992. Effect of organic fertilization urea on cotton
growth under Sudan Gezira Conditions Annual Report. Season 1992/1993.
Ali, N.A, S.H. Salih, B.A., Ahmed, B.A. Ibrahim, M.G., Mohamed and
O., A. Abelwahab. 1993. Effect of organic fertilization on wheat production
under Sudan conditions. Nile Valley Regional Program for Cool Season Food
Legumes and wheat Annual Report 1992/93 ICARDA. Allepo, Syria
Ali, N.A. 1998. Organic fertilizer in Sudan. First Scientific
Conference, September 1998. LWRC, ARC, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Basso, B., and J.T. Ritchie. 2005. Impact of compost, manure and
inorganic fertilizer on nitrate leaching and yield for a 6-year maize-alfalfa
rotation in Michigan. Agriculture, Ecosystem and Environment 108:
329-341.
Broken, W., A. Muhs and F. Neese. 2002. Changes in microbial and
soil properties following compost treatment of degraded temperate forest soils.
Soil Biology and Biochemistry 3:403-412.
Carter, M.R., and B.A.Stewart. 1996. Structure and Organic Matter
Storage in Agricultural Soils. Boca Raton, Florida,USA.
Celik, I., I. Ortas and S. Kilic. 2004. Effect of compost,
mycorrhiza, manure and fertilizer on some physical properties of Chromoxerert
soil. Soil and Tillage Research 78:59-67.
Dawelbeit, S.E. 1996. Effect of addition of organic fertilizer on
the concentration of some of the micronutrients in the Gezira soils, Annual Report,
Agricultural Research Cooperation, Wad Medani, Sudan.
De Jager, Onduru, A. D. Van, M.S. Wijk, J.Vlaming and G.N. Gachini.
2001. Assessing sustainability of low external input farm management system
with the nutrient monitoring approach: A case study in Kenya. Agricultural
System 69: 99-118.
Franzluebbers, A.J. 2002. Water infiltration and soil structure
related to organic matter and its stratification with depth. Soil and Tillage Research
Journal. 66: 97-205.
Ibrahim, B.A. 1995. Organic manures. New Halfa Research Station.
Annual Report. 1994/1995.
Lomte, M.H., M. Ateque, P.R.
Bharambe and P.K. Kawarkhe. 1999. Influence of sorghum-legume association on
physio-chemical properties of soil. Journal of Maharashtra, Agricultural
Universities 18(3): 388-390.
Mohammed, A.A. 1993. Effect of farmyard manure on soil fertility,
microbial activity and wheat grain yield. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Gezira,
Medani, Sudan.
Mohammed, A.O. 2008. Economic comparative study between zero
tillage and traditional mechanized farming systems in Agadi rain-fed area, Blue
Nile State, Sudan. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty
of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Osman , I.O. 1999. Effect of
farmyard manure and nitrogen on nutrient availability and sorghum (Sorghum
bicolor L.) yield components. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Gezira, Medani,
Sudan.
Palm, A.C., C.N. Gachengo, R.J. Delve, G. Cadisch and K.E. Giller.
2001. Organic inputs for soil fertility management in tropical agroecosystem:
application of an organic resource database. Agriculture, Ecosystem and Environment
Journal 83: 27-42.
Parkinson, R., P. Gibbs, S. Burchett and T. Misselbrook. 2004.
Effect of turning regime and seasonal weather conditions on nitrogen and
phosphorus losses during aerobic composting of cattle manure. Bioresource
Technology 91: 171-178.
Qualls, R.G. 2004. Biodegradability of humic substance and other
fractions of decomposing leaf litter. Soil Science Journal 68: 1705-1712.
Soumare, A., Demeyer, M., Tack and M. G.Verloo. 2002. Nutrient
availability in the surface horizons of Malian tropical agricultural soils. Tropic
cultural 20: 58-65.
Tajeda, M. and J.L. Gonzalez. 2003. Effect of application of a
compost originating from crushed cotton gin residues on wheat yield under dry
land conditions. European Journal of
Agronomy 19: 357-368.
USDA-NASS. 2007. Census of Agriculture. Volume 1, Geographic Area
Series Census, U.S. State Data, USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Weber, J., A. Karczewska, J. Drozd, M. Licznar, S. Licznar, E. Jamroz
and A. Kocowicz. 2007. Agricultural and ecological aspects of a sandy soil as
affected by the application of municipal soil waste composts. Soil Biology and Chemistry
39: 1294-1302.