Influence of fertilizer application on soil and nutrient loss during carrot harvesting

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 College of Resources and Environments, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China

2 Department of Soil Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

3 Department of Biology, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Germany

4 Department of Soil Science, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Nigeria

Abstract

Soil loss from root crop harvesting is a significant erosion process contributing to soil degradation. While organic fertilization could promote soil structure and reduce soil loss, the variation in the effectiveness of different organic fertilizers vis-a-vis inorganic fertilization remains unclear. Such understanding is critical for adequate soil management for reducing harvest-related soil loss. A two-year field-based study was carried out to compare the effect of two commonly used organic amendments and inorganic fertilizer on carrot yield and harvest-related soil loss. Treatments included a control, inorganic fertilizer, pig manure, and poultry manure; with each manure applied at a rate to supply 60 kg K ha-1. Compared to the control where the average soil loss for the two years was 1.21 t-1 ha-1 harvest -1, inorganic fertilization induced a soil loss of 2.70 t-1 ha-1 harvest -1, while 1.94 t-1 ha-1 harvest -1 and 1.87 t-1 ha-1 harvest -1 of soil was lost under poultry manure and pig manure amendments, respectively. The higher soil loss in the fertilized treatments compared to the control was attributed to the higher crop yields. However, the reduced soil loss in organic amendments compared to the inorganic fertilizer was due to more improved soil aggregation. Also, higher nutrient uptake arising from the increased yield resulted in significant loss of soil nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium in the second year.  Higher carrot yield due to fertilization is associated with higher soil removal, especially under inorganic fertilization. It is suggested that cleaning carrot roots during harvesting will ensure minimal soil loss.

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics