Ash is a by-product from forest
trees, and has proven to be an effective limning material to neutralize acid
soils, or ash is powder that remains after burning such materials as wood, rice
husk and coconut. Acidic soils limit the fertility of soil and crop yield, and
the range of crops the farmers can raise. Important crops in our region are pH
sensitive and thus, grow poorly on acidic soil. Ash is an important and
valuable agricultural resource because its productivity on pH sensitive soils.
The increase in soil pH resulting
from the application of ash provides a more favourable environment for soil
micro-organism, to thrive well and this also enhances an increase in the rate
of nutrients released to the plant Application of ash also increases nitrogen
levels in soil. (Chiou et al 1986)
explained that the mobilization of ash on soil after application might result
in movement of already accumulated organic contaminants. (Tsutomu 1990)
expressed that ash is a good liming agent which supply modest quantities of P
and K to the soil and its application is best done by hand spraying. Sheinberg et al (1989). Also expressed that sodic
soils where high concentration of exchangeable and soluble Na+ as
lime commonly gypsum enhances flocculation. It is reported that gypsum get as
ameliorant for sodic soils. It is a good liming agent that helps to raise
calcium levels and enhance good soil structure without a corresponding increase
or rise in pH. In addition, gypsum improves soil drainage and aeration vizcayno
, 2001.
Ash when used as soil amendment
reduces soil acidity to levels required for maize production. It improves yield
in soils low in pH. Hence ash being a Ca containing minerals raise soil pH. The
different levels of ash application result to repulsive forces between
particles dominate and lead to dispersion. The increase in available P. could
be attributed to traces of P released from Al3+ in line with the
different levels ash application result to repulsive forces between particles
dominate and lead to dispersion. The in increase available P. could be
attributed to traces of P released from Al3+ in line with the (Ikpe et al (1997). Adetunji (1998) showed
that ash reduced soil acidity and increased cations/nutrient available in the
soil. Similarly studies by Owolabi et al
(2003) Odedin et al., (2003) and
Awodun et al., (2007) showed that
plant from ash increased soil nutrient content. Kayode and Agboola (1993)
attributed the increased CEC in ash amended soils to increased cations of ca, K
and Na. The high ECEC observed in ash amended soil was in line with observation
of Noltidge et al., (2006). Breath
and Amebrant (1994) observed the increased soil nutrient due to ash application
could be due to ash application could be due to enhance microbial activities in
the soils and production of organic matter. The increased maize grain yield
could be attributed to higher organic matter in the ash amended soil plots.
Organic matter according to Tisdals (1993) and Brady and Weil (2006). play
important roles in essential nutrient availability and soil improvement.
An increase in the soil pH may
increase the decomposition rate of soil organic matter by soil microbes and
this may speed up the rate of release of such plant nutrients. Chemically ash
consists of 82-87% silica exceeding that of clay. Materials containing high
reactive Silica(siO2) is suitable to be of Portland cement. The high
percentage of siliceous materials in the ash makes it excellent materials for
stabilization of soil and the addition of ash increased the optimum moisture
content of the soil. The increase in optimum moisture content may be caused by
the additives to precede chemically reaction.
Application of ash reduce to
particles implies that ash altered the soil texture. Consequently, the swelling
potential and compressibility were reduced while the soil bearing capacity was
greater than before according to Balasubraniam et al., (1999).