Comparative Analysis of Arable Farmers' Uses of Inorganic and Organic Manures in Delta State, Nigeria
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International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research Vol.5; Issue: 4; Oct.-Dec. 2020 Website: ijshr.com Original Research Article ISSN: 2455-7587 Comparative Analysis of Arable Farmers' Uses of Inorganic and Organic Manures in Delta State, Nigeria Emaziye, P. O., Ebowore S.O. Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, P.M.B. 95074, Asaba, Nigeria Corresponding Author: Emaziye, P. O. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION The practice of growing arable crops The study compares the use of organic manure such as grains (cultivated grasses grown for and fertilizer by arable crop farmers in Delta their edible starchy grains which include State, Nigeria. A total of 166 respondents have wheat, maize or corn, rice, sorghum, barley, selected through a multistage random sampling millet), pulses (edible seeds from the procedure. Results showed that a minute 5.4% of the respondents make use of both types of legume family, high in protein which manure, and that cost, availability of manure, includes cowpea, groundnut and peas), and hazardous effect or pollution were major oilseed crops(grown for the oil extraction problems associated with the use of in organic from the seeds rapeseed, soybean and fertilizers. Offensive odour, bulkiness, presence sunflower), forage crops(crops used for of weed materials and pests and diseases were animal feed, fresh or preserved such as major problems of using organic manure. Lack clovers and timothy), tuber crops (crops of technical know-how and land tenure were whose edible portion is a short thickened major problems confronting both respondents underground stem or root-like potato, yam, using chemical fertilizer and organic manure. cassava) and fiber crops(crops are grown for The perceived benefits of using organic manure fiber yields like cotton and flax) by the among others were improvement of soil structure, increased farm yield, increasing people of Delta State has been known since water-holding capacity and porosity of soils. from time immemorial. Such arable crops Regression result indicated that age, educational are mainly ephemerals or annuals which are level, farm size, farming experience and usually grown on plowed lands. The yields extension contact were significant in of arable crops could be very high determining farmers’ use of manure type. From especially when planted on virgin soils. the findings, it was recommended that problems With Delta State population given as of using manures should be tackled by designing about 4.1million in the 2006 population appropriate agricultural policies and intensifying census and an estimated growth rate of extension efforts in the area; extension 3.18%, it implies that the population of the programmes designed for farmers should state is now over 6 million. The increase in include an orientation on the proper use of manures. population, leading to pressure on the land, implies that the yield of arable crops may Keywords: Arable, Manure, Fertilizer, Benefits continue to decline rapidly due to a decline in soil fertility. This is more so, especially in areas where the fallow period of farmlands had been drastically reduced. Poor supply of nutrients due to declining soil fertility as a result of a reduced fallow period is a major International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research (www.ijshr.com) 453 Vol.5; Issue: 4; October-December 2020 Emaziye, P. O. et.al. Comparative analysis of arable farmers' uses of inorganic and organic Manures in Delta State, Nigeria constraint to crop production (Ramaru et al., adequate nutrients for crops’ growth, thus 2000). increasing yields. To achieve this, the use of Therefore, to improve the organic fertilizer is important as the productivity of such impoverished soils, it continuous use of inorganic fertilizers becomes imperative that farmers apply results in soil structure destruction, manures to farmlands. Manures or fertilizers environmental pollution by contaminating are substances usually added to the soil with the air, soil and water in the environment the primary aim of improving soil fertility. (Savci, 2012). Fertilizer or manure, according to the The advantages of fertilizer include: international fertilizer industry association, increasing crop yield and improving the is regarded as material containing 5% of quality of the land, improving soil texture more of the three essential plant nutrients and faster growth of crops (EPA, 2013). (Adrian et al., 2014). Fertilizers or manures Their disadvantages include: boosting fast are soil amendments that guarantee the growth of weeds, Excessive use has minimum percentages of Nitrogen, negative environmental effects such as Phosphate and Potash (Adrian et. al. 2014). contamination of water (nearby rivers and The aim of applying fertilizer or manure to water supply system) and reducing the the soil is to make crops grow faster by oxygen content in water making the water supplying the elements that are needed in unfit for consumption and causing the death readily available forms. These mineral of Aquatic animals (Wilfred, 2002), soil elements, when utilized by crop plants will acidification and changes in soil biology lead to an increase in soil fertility and (Carroll et al., 2004).However, the use of ultimately higher crop yields. Broadly inorganic fertilizers on farms can cause speaking, there are two major types of serious soil degradation by destroying the fertilizer or manure: organic manure (which structure, increase soil acidity and nutrient include farmyard manure, green manure and imbalance and finally bring about low yield compost which are derived from animal but the use of organic fertilizer or manure matter, human excreta, or vegetable matter) can help in protecting the soil from the and synthetic or industrial inorganic manure above adverse effects (Savci, 2012). otherwise known as chemical fertilizer Recognizing the several deficiencies which is made from synthetic materials and inherent in the use of chemical fertilizer in it come in various forms (Heinrich et al. crop production, many agricultural 2009).Thus, the fertilizer could be organic organizations and experts have advocated or inorganic material of natural or synthetic the use of organic manures as alternatives to origin that is applied by farmers to soils to inorganic or chemical fertilizer (Adeoye, supply nutrients essential to the growth and 1985). The use and benefits of accruable development of crops; they are used to from organic manure have been extensively enrich the soil with mineral elements that discussed by many scholars (Adediran et al., soils do not inherently have. 2003; Adetunji, 2010). Unlike inorganic The use of inorganic fertilizer or fertilizer, nutrients in organic manure are organic manure has been known to be useful released more slowly and are preserved for in improving the productivity of the soil an extended period of time in the soil, (Adeniran et al., 2017). Given that the most ensuring prolonged residual effects, important natural resource is the soil, it is improved root growth and development, and important to preserve the humus topsoil and improved crop yields (Abou El-Magd, maintain or increase its organic matter 2006). Organic manure also helps to content to increase the nutrient providing improve the soil through lowering bulk ability and to carry on environment-friendly density, minimizing soil erosion and nutrient management (Rigby and Ca‟ceres, increasing soil fertility (Wheeler, 2008). 2001 and Defoer, 2002). This will ensure The problem of underground water International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research (www.ijshr.com) 454 Vol.5; Issue: 4; October-December 2020 Emaziye, P. O. et.al. Comparative analysis of arable farmers' uses of inorganic and organic Manures in Delta State, Nigeria pollution, soil pollution and air pollution RESEARCH METHODS created by the use of inorganic fertilizers The study area: This study was conducted in and the need to have a better environment Delta state, Nigeria. The area has a could justify the use of organic manure landmass of 1, 286 square kilometers with a (Savci, 2012). population of about 4 million (NPC, 2006). Many people thus support the use of The area was chosen because farmers in the organic manure now a day especially in the state are known for using both manure and production of organic food products which fertilizer. plays a great role in the health of man. Sampling technique and sample size: The Although the use of organic fertilizer is sampling frame (i.e. the target population) being advocated for because of its soil of the study consists of all arable farmers in conservation property and its eco- the State who had or are currently using friendliness over the inorganic fertilizer, its manure. Data used for this study were rate of use among farmers in Delta State has collected by a multi-stage sampling not been ascertained. Therefore, there is a procedure. In the first stage, 3 LGA areas need to assess the level of use of organic were randomly selected from each of the fertilizer or manure as compared to the use agricultural zones of the State due; the local of fertilizer. It is very necessary to government areas selected were: Patani, determine the socio-economic Isoko North and Bomadi in Delta South; characteristics of the farmers using manure Ughelli North, Ethiope Eastand Okpein on their farms, the percentage of farmers Delta central; and IkaSouth, Oshimili South using organic manure or fertilizers, and Ndokwa west in Delta North. In the problems associated