MINERALIZATION OF NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM IN SOIL AMENDED WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANIMAL MANURE

An incubation experiment was conducted in the Soil Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri. The objective was to determine the pattern of release of Ammonium and Nitrate, Phosphorus and Potassium from soil amended with three types of animal manure for better synchrony with plants growth. There were Four treatments; control, poultry manure, Sheep/goat manure, and cattle manure. The soil amended with three types of animal manure were incubated for 8 weeks and ammonium, phosphorus and potassium mineralized were determined at 2 weeks intervals. Soil amended with poultry manure recorded higher NH4+-N at 2-6 weeks. But soil amended with animal manure did not affect P mineralization at 2-8weeks while soil amended with cattle manure recorded higher mineralization of K at 2-8 weeks. The trend of mineralization was in the order of poultry manure>sheep/goat manure> cattle manure. For better synchrony of nutrients release with crop growth, poultry manure should be applied at least 2-4weeks before planting while sheep/goat and cattle manure may be applied at least 6 weeks before planting.