Soil Physical and Chemical Properties as Affected by Land Configuration and Cow Dung Manure at Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

The treatments consisted of land configuration (flat bed, mound and ridge) and rate of application of cow dung manure (0, 5 and 10 t/ha). [...] Results and Discussion Results of the effect of land configuration and cow dung manure on soil physical (Tables 1, 2 and 3) and chemical (Table 4) properties at 0 – 15 and 15 – 30 cm depths during 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons, and the pooled (average) values are hereby presented. [...] Application of 10 t/ha of cow dung produced the highest soil exchangeable magnesium and potassium contents at 0 – 15 cm depth, and highest available phosphorus and exchangeable magnesium at 15 – 30 cm depth. [...] Combination of mound and 10 t/ha cow dung manure treatments resulted in highest soil organic carbon content (Table 5), highest soil exchangeable potassium (Tables 5 and 7) and highest soil exchangeable sodium content (Tables 6 and 7). [...] Recommendation On the basis of the aforementioned conclusions, flat-bed and mound land shapes and application of 10 t/ha of cow dung manure are hereby recommended for enhancement of soil physical and chemical properties in Minna, Southern guinea savanna zone of Nigeria.