Efficacy of Microbial Inoculant in Conserving Physical Properties of Soil Derived from Coastal Plain Sand in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The need to increase agricultural production to meet the high food demand of the increasing world population has posed a serious concern hence the need to maintain soil fertility and productivity. Overtime, the use of chemical fertilizers has shown a serious health effect on humans, farm animals and the environment.  Recently, research have proven the use of alternative technology using Microbial Inoculant to boost food production while minimizing the health hazards they pose to the environment, humans and farm animals. Microbial inoculants are of growing interest for their potential role in improving soil fertility and enhancing an increase in crop yields and their nutrients contents. This experiment was carried out to study the effects of microbial inoculant on soil physical properties at Domita farms, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The treatment used was CHC-AGRITECH (Farmers’ Friend) Microbial inoculant at 5 levels of application (Control= 0kgFF/ha, FF1= 1kgFF/ha applied once, FF2=1khFF/ha applied 2 times, FF3=1kg/ha applied 3 times, FF4=1kg/ha applied 4 times). The result showed that FF3 treatment had the lowest bulk density value (1.19Mg/m) relative to control which was > 1.23Mg/m in the two periods of study. Similarly, farmers friend increased (p<0.05) saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC), with FF2 treatment having the highest value (1.89cm/hr), control soil had lowest SHC (0.91cm/hr). Soil of FF4 treatment had the highest (P<0.05) saturated moisture content and field capacity.  The FF1 treatment has the highest aggregated silt and clay (ASC) value of >4%, that of control soil was <3.9%. Soil under FF2 treatment has the highest water-stable aggregates. It is recommended that farmers in the study area apply CHC-AGRITECH (Farmer’s friend) microbial inoculant to improve soil structure, quality and productivity.