The Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) has stated that integrated soil fertility management with the use of both organic and inorganic fertilizer has a high effect on getting good agricultural produce.
Dr. Olufunmilayo Ande, a soil researcher with the land management for ideal and sustainable use at IAR&T made this known at a farmers’ field day, which was recently held at the Institute’s Moor Plantation in Ibadan, Oyo state.
Dr. Ande said the main focus of the project is to unveil integrated soil fertility management process to maize farmers. Explaining further, she said integrated soil fertility management is not just adding fertilizer to the soil, but combining various fertilizers and methods.
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According to Ande, fertilizer is meant to be added to the soil to ensure crops benefit from it, she said, most farmers instead apply to just the crop while ignoring the soil.
She explained to enjoy good harvest under a good sustainability soil management practice, fertilizer application combined with weeding unwanted plants, pests and disease management should be executed simultaneously for optimal results.
