Utilization of Organic Soil Amendments to Improve Soil Properties and Groundnut Productivity in an Ultisol of Southeastern Nigeria

Utilization of Organic Soil Amendments to Improve Soil Properties and Groundnut Productivity in an Ultisol of Southeastern Nigeria
Angus Onwudiwe Ikeh1, Demben Moses Esang2, Adaobi Daian Unaegbu3, Ali Rahmat4, Debasis Mitra5
1 Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria NG flag
2 Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria ID flag
3 Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria NG flag
4 National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia ID flag
5 Department of Microbiology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248002, India IN flag
DOI: 10.70110/osse.v4i1.60
Issue Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Open Soil Science and Environment
Published 2026-04-02

Keywords:

Groundnut Organic soil amendments Soil properties Ultisols Yield
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Abstract

Background: Ultisols are highly weathered, acidic, and low-fertility soils commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions. They typically exhibit low pH, low nutrient content (particularly phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium), and high aluminum toxicity.
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate sustainable soil management practices using organic amendments to improve the fertility and reduce the acidity of Ultisols in southeastern Nigeria.
Methods: The field study was conducted in March, 2025 to explore sustainable soil management practices that could improve soil fertility status and enhance yield stability of groundnut. The research was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria. The treatments included poultry manure (PM), cassava peel waste (CP), cow dung (CD), compost manure (CM), and a control (no soil amendment, C). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected and analyzed using ANOVA and followed by an LSD test.
Results & Conclusion: The results of soil analysis at harvest showed that poultry manure application increased organic matter by 56%, while cow dung increased it by 36%. PM also increased total N by 62%, while cow dung increased it by 26%. Cow dung treatment produced significant seed yields of 2672.51 kg/ha, followed by cassava peel waste, which produced 2487.45 kg/ha. The control treatment had the lowest seed yield of 1574.83 kg/ha. This study demonstrated that the application of organic soil amendments, particularly cow dung, cassava peels, and poultry manure, significantly improved the fertility of Ultisols in southeastern Nigeria. Among the tested materials, cow dung proved most effective for groundnut cultivation, as it provided the optimum soil conditions required for maximizing yield in Ultisols.

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Authors

1
Angus Onwudiwe Ikeh Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8600-3573

NIGERIA

2
Demben Moses Esang Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7490-0259

NIGERIA

3
Adaobi Daian Unaegbu Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5756-4961

NIGERIA

4
Ali Rahmat National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia

INDONESIA

5
Debasis Mitra Department of Microbiology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248002, India ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0525-8812

How to Cite

Ikeh, A. O., Esang, D. M., Unaegbu, A. D., Rahmat, A., & Mitra, D. (2026). Utilization of Organic Soil Amendments to Improve Soil Properties and Groundnut Productivity in an Ultisol of Southeastern Nigeria. Open Soil Science and Environment, 4(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.70110/osse.v4i1.60

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Copyright (c) 2026 Angus Onwudiwe Ikeh, Demben Moses Esang, Adaobi Daian Unaegbu, Ali Rahmat

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