The Use of Crop Residues and High Activity Clays for the Management of Sandy Soils for Rice Production in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

A field experiment was carried out to assess the effects of various crop residues (rice husk, rice straw, groundnut husk, and millet husk as well as high activity clay (HAC) on some soil properties, growth and yield parameters of rice (Oryza sativa L). Sixteen treatment combinations, replicated thrice, were applied at the rates of 5 tha-1 and 10 tha-1 each for rice husk, rice straw, millet husk, groundnut husks and high activity clay. Results obtained from the field trial as presented in this paper, showed significant effect of some of the treatments on soil chemical parameters especially organic Carbon, available P and exchangeable K. Similarly, soil physical parameter such as texturally was also significantly influenced by the treatments. The texture of the soil, which was initially loamy sand before the incorporation of the amendments, was altered to new textural classes in all the treatments after the experiment. The treatments had significant effects on all the growth parameters except for plant height at four (4) weeks after transplanting. The treatments also had significant effects on all the yield parameters of the test crop (rice).