Cow bone meal applications: Changes in physicochemical properties of a degraded coarse-textured soil and cucumber performance

Purpose: Degraded soils are associated with low organic matter and nutrient contents, which limit their productive capacity to produce sufficient food. Improving the productivity of degraded soils is key to achieving sustainable food production and tackling global food crises.Method: A study was carried out between September ۲۰۲۱ to March ۲۰۲۲ in a greenhouse at the University of Nigeria Nsukka Teaching and Research Farm to evaluate effect of cow bone meal (CBM) application on soil physicochemical properties and performance of cucumber grown on a degraded coarse-textured soil. The study treatments were: CBM۱۰ (CBM at ۱۰ t ha-۱; equivalent to ۲۲ g per ۵ kg soil), CBM۲۰ (CBM at ۲۰ t ha-۱; equivalent to ۴۴ g per ۵ kg soil), and NPK ۲۰:۱۰:۱۰ fertilizer applied at recommended rate ۱۵۰ kg ha-۱ (۰.۳۳ g per ۵ kg soil) and control.Results: CBM treatments application had remarkable positive effects on the soil physicochemical properties as well as on cucumber performance. Relative to the initial soil status, CBM application increased organic C by ۱۳۹ -۱۷۹%; available P by ۳۸۸-۳۹۶% and total N by ۷۸-۱۱۱%. Summarily, CBM۲۰ treatment outperformed NPK fertilizer treatment on the measured soil parameters and cucumber performance, while CBM۱۰ treatment had comparable effects with NPK treatment.Conclusion: The results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of CBM in improving the physicochemical properties of a degraded soil. Further research work (under field conditions) is required to validate the findings of this study prior to practical implementation by end users.

Keywords:

Cow bone meal , Degraded soil , Physicochemical properties , Yield performance