- The Complete Research Material is averagely 132 pages long and it is in Ms Word Format, it has 1-5 Chapters.
- Major Attributes are Abstract, All Chapters, Figures, Appendix, References.
- Study Level: MTech, MSc or PhD.
- Full Access Fee: ₦8,000
Get the complete project »

ABSTRACT
One mechanism by which plants can mobilize organic and inorganic forms of phosphorus (P) in soils is by exudation of low molecular weight organic acids. Laboratory and field trial were carried out during 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons to study the effects of additions of organic acids ( citric, oxalic and tartaric acids) on the mobilization of phosphate of soils from Minna and Mokwa, both in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. For initial laboratory studies and prior to field cultivation, soil samples were collected from these locations and incubated at 25± 1oC and 40% moisture content for three weeks with citric, tartaric or oxalic acids at 1.0 mmol kg-1 of soil. Soil Olsen P and inorganic P fractions were analyzed. The experimental design used during the field trial was split plot design with organic material sources (orange waste, amaranthus and tamarind pulp) assigned to the main plot while the rates (0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 tons ha-1) of application occupied the sub-plots. Each treatment received three replications in each of the locations. Maize was planted during the two cropping seasons as test crop. Both agronomic, Olsen – P and soil inorganic P data were determined. The results indicated that Olsen – P and NH4Cl – P were significantly increased by treating with the three organic acids. Al phosphate (Al – P), Fe phosphate (Fe –P), occluded phosphate (Occl – P) and Ca phosphate (Ca – P) were also mobilized and released in various degrees in each of the locations irrespective of the cropping season. The relative fractions of inorganic P was in the order Occl - P > Fe - P > Al - P > Ca – P. The effect of organic acid sources on maize plant height at 4 and 7 weeks after planting in the two locations were not significant during 2011 cropping season, but significant during 2012 cropping season. However, the effect of sources of organic acid and their rates of application on maize grain yield was significant in each location and the season. It was also observed that the results of soil inorganic P after the field trial followed similar trend with what was obtained from the initial laboratory studies (Occl - P > Fe - P > Al - P > Ca – P), but the effect was much lower. The order of increased mobilization of phosphate by these organic acids was citric acid > tartaric acid > oxalic acid and orange waste ˃ tamarind pulp ˃ amaranthus leaves respectively for both initial laboratory studies and field trial. Also, it could be concluded that hydroxyl acids i.e tricarboxylic acids such as citrate form stronger complexes than those containing single COOH groups. The pattern of P mobilization by addition of organic acids differed from one location to another. The comparison suggested that the mobilization of P was highly soil dependent, and the soil P status such as amount and distributions of P fractions may be important for solubilization of P after the addition of organic acids. These three organic acids therefore have the potentials to increase the availability of available P. The practical implication of these processes is that organic residues could be used as a strategic tool to reduce the rates of fertilizer P required for optimum crop growth on acidic and P-fixing soils of Nigeria.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Phosphorus (P) is an important plant nutrient and the reactions of phosphate with soil components have been extensively studied from the point of view of soil fertility, soil chemistry and environmental concerns (Parfit, 1978; Sanyal and De Datta, 1991; Hue et al., 1994; Wang et al., 2007). In tropical and subtropical acidic soils, low P availability becomes one of the limiting factors for plant growth; at the other extreme, accumulation of soil available P has negatively affected water quality (Sharpley, 1995). The misapplication of phosphate fertilizers usually causes eutrophication of water bodies, unbalanced plant nutrition and low P utilization efficiency. When soil phosphate levels are too low, P deficiency in plant represents a major constraint to agricultural production (Palomo et al., 2006). One problem is that P fertilizer can largely be fixed by the oxides, hydroxides and oxyhydroxides of Iron (Fe) and Aluminium (Al) and clay minerals in an acidic soils, which makes it less available or effectively unavailable to plants (Fankem et al., 2006). This is because the availability of both applied and native P is controlled largely by, the sorption and desorption characteristics of the soil.
Variable charge minerals are also the major components of most soils of the tropics that affect P unavailability to plants. Such is the case with soils of Nigeria which is dominated by sesquioxides and low activity clays (Bala, 1992). The most likely areas appear to be those dominated by Oxisols, Ultisols and Alfisols. The low amount of total and available P in these soils make investigation into problems associated with phosphorus availability imperative. Already, the widespread occurrence of P deficiency in most arable land in Nigeria has led to the intensive use of P fertilizer. It has been reported that land utilization also influences P sorption capacity (Odunze, 2009).
Due to the low solubility and high sorption capacity of P in soil, the supply of phosphate can be a major constrain to plant growth. There is overwhelming evidence, however, to suggest that some plants can directly modify the rhizosphere to gain access to previously unavailable soil P reserves. This can include the deregulation of P membrane transport systems, the manipulation of root hair length or density, the release of phosphates to replace organically bound soil P and the release of organic acid and H+ to solubilize inorganic P (Tinker and Nye, 2000).
Researches into management practices to increase phosphate availability in a weathered soil, and at the same time curtail its leaching to contaminate lakes, streams and ground water remains highly imperative. Efficient use and alternative management of phosphate fertilizers are critical to ensure global food production and security (Cordell et al., 2009).The application of combined organic – inorganic inputs has been one management practices suggested to increase P availability in weathered soils (Agbenin and Igbokwe, 2006).
Soils contain complex, aromatic, relatively high molecular weight (i.e., > 2000) organic acids such as humic and fulvic acids (Hue et al., 1994). However, structurally simpler organic acids also exist in the soil such as low molecular weight (citric, oxalic, succinic, malic, tartaric acids) C-, H-, and O- containing compounds. These organic acids are characterized by the possession of one or more carboxyl groups (Jones, 1998). Soil organic acids are derived from plant and animal residues, microbial metabolism, canopy drips and rhizosphere activities (Hue et al., 1994; Wang et al., 2007).
In a review of organic acid in the rhizosphere, Jones (1998) indicated that typical concentrations of organic acids in the soil ranges from 0.1 – 100 µmol L-1. Although the existence of organic acids in soils is short lived, organic acids may be produced and formed continuously. Hence, organic acids have a very important chemical significance (Jones, 1998) especially for the mobilization of various phosphates in soil (Marschner, 1995). In addition, Jones (2000) and Palomo et al (2006) reported that secretion of organic acids (such as citric, tartaric, oxalic acids e.t.c.) from plant root was the major mechanism for enhancing P availability in soils and hence improving crop yields. The supply of P to plants is also strongly influenced in the rhzosphere by the presence of organic acids (Hue et al., 1994). This introduces the concept that it may be possible to mimic a plant’s release of organic acids by artificially incorporating acids into the soil which would increase P availability in soils with low P status.
Citric, tartaric, and tannic acids derived from degradation of humic substances have greater affinity for Al and Fe oxides than phosphate (Violante and Huang, 1989). Thus, these organic acids can compete strongly with P for adsorption sites on Al and Fe oxide systems. In soils with appreciable amounts of these oxides, phosphate sorption will be severely curtailed (Bar-Yosef, 1996). Organic acids/substances can be sorbed to both the external and internal surfaces of the mineral colloids. Fulvic, humic citric and tartaric and acids were reported to be bound to the structural cations of edges and hydroxyl Al and Fe coatings on mineral colloids (Huang, 2004)
The uptake of P from soil through root exudation is mostly from various inorganic phosphate. Although the mobilization is very complex, some understanding of the mechanism have been gained. Hinsinger (2001) reported that the solubility of Ca increases with a decreasing pH of the environment due to H+ released of organic acids from plant roots. The cheletion of Fe3+, Al3+ and Ca2+ by organic anions lead to the release of inorganic P bound by these cations (Jones et al., 2003), and organic anions that compete with P adsorption on the surface of soil particles further stimulate the desorption of adsorbed anions (He et al., 1998)
Although the competitive adsorption of P and organic ligands by synthetic clay minerals and oxides have been extensively studied (Sibanda and Young, 1986; Kafkafi et al.,1988; Violante and Gianfreda, 1995; Violante et al.,1996), there is a limited information on the fate of P in the presence of organic acids in natural soils (Yuan, 1980; .He et al., 1997). Therefore the exact mechanism among soil inorganic colloids, organic acids and P has not been well- understood. While some detailed studies have been carried out on some soils of the derived savannas of Nigeria especially in terms of P sorption and desorption characteristics, very little attention has been given to the soils of the Southern Guinea part of the Nigeria Savanna (Tsado, 2008). Thus, the need arises for specific studies aimed at understanding the effect of some selected organic acids on phosphate mobilization in these soils. This will facilitate making specific recommendations for P availability to plants with a view to boosting agricultural productivity in the Southern Guinea agro ecology.
This study investigated the effect of some selected organic acids on the availability of phosphate in some of the soils of the Nigerian Southern Guinea Savanna. Thus, the specific objectives were to:
1. investigate the effect of different organic compounds on the adsorption of phosphate in some major soil types of Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria,
2. study the influence / regular application of different rates of the organic material applications to the preceding year cropping and
3. evaluate phosphate sorption characteristics of these soils with a view to efficient management of P fertilization.
You either get what you want or your money back. T&C Apply

You can find more project topics easily, just search
-
SIMILAR AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION FINAL YEAR PROJECT RESEARCH TOPICS
-
1. PROPOSED POULTRY FEED MILL PROCESSING FACTORY AUTA-BALEFI KARU, NASARAWA STATE
» ABSTRACT The project envisages the establishment of a plant for the production of poultry feed with a capacity of 2500 tons per annum. Poultry feed it...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 52 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
-
2. FARMERS’PERCEPTION OF THE GROWTH ENHANCEMENT SUPPORT (GES) SCHEME IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA.
» ABSTRACT The main objective of the study was to determine the farmers’ perception of Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme in Kogi State. A to...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 100 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
-
3. SEMEN QUALITY AND EGG HATCHABILITY IN LOCAL TURKEY FED DIETS CONTAINING MORINGA OLEIFERA AND GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM LEAF MEAL.
» ABSTRACT The experiment was conducted to determine semen quality, fertility, egg hatchability and some biochemical parameters in Nigerian local turkey...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 111 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
-
4. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS) CATFISH PRODUCTION BY RURAL FARMERS IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA
» ABSTRACT The study accessed the economic analysis of (ClasiaGariePinus) catfish production by rural farmers in AkwaIbom State, Nigeria. The specific o...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 52 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
-
5. AVAILABILITY AND USE OF SWAMP RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG FARMERS IN ENUGU STATE NIGERIA.
» xi ABSTRACT In spite of the use of available production technologies by swamp rice farmers, much of the world’s intensive food production is sti...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 106 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
-
6. COMPARATIVE ACUTE TOXICITY OF ALOE VERA (Aloe barbadensis) LEAVES AND ROOTS ON FINGERLINGS OF AFRICAN CATFISH, Clarias gariepinus (Siluriformes: clari...
» ABSTRACT The comparative acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of Aloe barbadensis leaves and roots against fingerlings of the African Catfish (claria...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 52 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
-
7. AGRICULTURAL FINANCING AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA
» ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to find out the impact of agricultural financing on economic growth in Nigeria for the period 1981 to 2014. Th...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 50 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
-
8. DETERMINE THE NOZZLE DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTIC USING LOK SPRAYER
» CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0 Background of the Study Lever operated knapsack sprayer (LOK) is a spraying device consisting of a tank together with pre...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 52 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
-
9. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THREE STRAINS OF BROILER CHICKENS USING GROWTH TRAITS, BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND MATHEMATICAL MODELS
» ABSTRACT This study was conducted to compare three strains (Arbor Acre, Marshal and Ross) of broiler chickens using growth traits, biochemical profile...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 52 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
-
10. ANALYSIS OF LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES BY FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN CHIKUN AND ZANGO KATAF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.
» ABSTRACT This study examined livelihood strategies and their contribution to poverty reduction among farming households in Chikun and ZangoKataf Local...Continue Reading »Item Type & Format: Project Material - Ms Word | 52 pages |
Instant Download | Chapter 1-5 | AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT