Effects of Cattle Manure Wood-Ash Compost on Some Chemical, Physical and Microbial Properties of Two Acid Tropical Soils

Abstract

A field study was conducted to assess the potential of cattle manure wood-ash compost in order to improve soil fertility and productivity in two areas in the centre region of Cameroon distant of 200 km. The farms were amended with four types of compost, C1 (100% cattle manure compost), C2 (95% cattle manure with 10% wood ash admixture), C3 (90% cattle manure compost and 10% wood ash admixture), and C4 (85% cattle manure compost and 15% wood ash admixture).  Soybean was the growing plant during the experiment which lasted three months. After the harvesting, physical, chemical, biological and plant parameters were evaluated. The compost significantly increased soil pH, Electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, and total phosphorus. The composts also had a stimulatory effect on the total soil bacteria and fungi, cellulase and protease activities. Improvement soil physical, chemical and microbial parameters enhanced biomass production and yield. In summary, cattle manure wood-ash composts could be used for alleviating soil acidity and improve soil fertility of tropical acid soils. Future research is needed to address its sustainability in a long-term study.