Assessing Synthetic Fertilizers and Compost as Control Measures for Agronomic Parasites and Techniques for Crop Improvement in Nigeria

Abstract

The activities of soil emanated parasitic worms also called plant parasitic nematodes have continually put the farmer under pressure, exploiting the best possible strategy to cope with its detriment and improve crop production and enhance food supply. However, the propagation sequence for agronomical parasites and affluence in the soil can often time be checked on the employment of distinct strategies with the aim of agricultural improvement and pest control. This study tested the relevance of synthetic fertilizers and compost as control choices for phyto-parasites and techniques for crop improvement to avert food insecurity. The study was conducted to test the prospects of artificial and compost (organic fertilizer) in the control of agronomical parasites in soil and serve as a technique for improving the yield performance of crops. Soil and roots were collected from plots with urea, NPK fertilizer, compost and a conventional farm. Nematode extraction was carried out using the modified sieve plate method. Soil assessment post application of urea, NPK fertilizers and compost revealed a total nematode richness of 1,625 occurring at 30 days (24.4%), 60 had 43.7 % and 90 days 31.9%. The infectivity rate was minimal in plots with synthetic fertilizers and compost while the plot with no treatment showed a high rate of nematode infectivity. The result opined that synthetic fertilizers and compost are suitable control tools for the control of agronomical parasites in soil. Crop growth was encouraging with the use of synthetic fertilizers and compost, which is indicative that they are capable sources for crop improvement and can aid food security.