Effect Of Earthworm Worked-Cowdung On Carbon And Nitrogen In Soil

ABSTRACT

The laboratory experiment was carried out at Michael Opkara University of Agriculture, Umudike, to study the effect of earthworm-worked cow dung on carbon and nitrogen in the soil. The experiment was a 3x3x3 factorial in completely randomized design. The treatments were a control, cow dung (CD) and vermin composted cow dung (VCD), three rates of appflcation of organic manure, og/600g of soil, 35g/600g, and 50g/600g of soil respectively. The treatments were replicated three times, giving a total of twenty-seven observational units. Soil samples were collected from 0-30cm depth, air-dried and sieved through a 2mm sieve. The parameters tested were; mean weight diameter of aggregates, organic carbon, pH and total nitrogen. The results indicate that organic manure influenced soil properties at a probability level of 0.05. The influence on the properties increased as the rates of organic amendment increased. Linear correlation showed that total nitrogen and organic carbon has a positive correlation with the mean weight diameter of aggregates and soil pH. This suggests that as total nitrogen and organic carbon increased, the percent mean weight diameter of aggregates and soil pH also increased.