Concentration of Available phosphorus in Soil Amended with Rock Phosphate and Palm Oil Mill Effluent

Abstract

The effect of palm oil mill effluent (POME) on the concentration of available phosphorus in a dystric cambisol (Kulfo series) amended with Sokoto Rock Phosphare (SRP) was investigated in this study. The experiment comprised six treatments replicated three times (POME + SRP) and incubated in the green house. Sub samples of the various treatments were collected at 3 – day intervals for 15 days and analysed for available phosphorus. The results obtained showed that there was significant increase (P < 0.001) in the amount of available phosphorus between the untreated and the amended soils. Furthermore, maximum available P concentration was 103.66 and 109.85 mg/kg at constant amount of SRP and POME treatments respectively. The present study has provided further basis for the combined use of POME and rock phosphate in enhancing the availability of P. However, further studies are expected to investigate amongst others, the specific rates of application of SRP and POME that will ensure maximum available P release and utilization by plants.