Authors : R.C. Eneje , P. Nnadozie and P.C. Oguike
Abstract: A greenhouse experiment was conducted at Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, to study the effect of using earthworm to degrade cattle manure on yield of amaranthus. The experiment was a 2�3�3 factorial in completely randomized design for analysis of selected crop yield parameter. The treatments were a combination of Earthworm and Cattle manure (EWC), Cattle Manure alone (CM) and a control applied to two soils of different textures. The treatments were replicated three times and plant data were taken at 4, 5 and 6 weeks after planting. Results show that inoculation of cowdung with earthworm improved the plant growth in both the nutrient rich soil and the degraded sand. However the level of improvement was higher in the nutrient rich clayloam soil than in the degraded sand. Generally at p<0.001 both treatments and soil type significantly affected amaranthus growth
R.C. Eneje , P. Nnadozie and P.C. Oguike , 2007. Can Earthworm Inoculated Cow Dung Enhance Nutrient Availability for Plant Growth in Degraded Sandy Soil?. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 2: 285-288.