Short-term studies on use of organic amendments for amelioration of a sandy soil

Abstract

The increase in world population has posed more pressure in existing arable lands. The nutrients poor sandy soils could be productive if their content of organic matter can be increased. Agricultural and animal wastes instead of being dumped, could offer a cheap alternative source of organic matter to increase soil fertility. Three glasshouse short-term experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of incorporation of: (1) agricultural residues (trashes of Cajanus cajan and sugarcane factory byproduct (baggase); (2) recycling of various vegetable market wastes and; (3) application of animal wastes (hoof and wool) on soil properties and performance of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) or maize (Zea mays L.). Results showed that almost all sources of organic materials had resulted in significant positive effects on accumulation of plant dry matter and soil physical and chemical characteristics. Organic amendments are necessary for the sustainable use of nutrient-poor Sudanese sandy soils.