Effect of Fish Effluent on Soil Properties and Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas L.) Performance in Nekede, Owerri, Imo State

This study examined the effects of fish effluent on soil nutrient dynamics and the growth and yield of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in Nekede, south-eastern Nigeria. The experiment used a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments: 0 L (control), 3 L, 6 L, and 9 L of fish effluent per plot, replicated four times. Soil samples were analysed before planting and after harvest to assess changes in soil properties, while data on vine length, leaf number, node number, and yield were collected at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after planting (WAP). The initial soil was acidic (pH 4.85) and low in fertility, with organic matter of 1.02%, total nitrogen of 0.078%, and available phosphorus of 2.35 mg/kg. Application of fish effluent improved soil properties, with pH increasing to 5.12, organic matter to 1.44%, total nitrogen to 0.109%, and available phosphorus to 3.97 mg/kg at 9 L/plot. Sweet potato growth also improved, with vine length increasing from 132.65 cm in the control to 172.55 cm, leaf number from 57.58 to 71.93, and node number from 12.47 to 28.63. Yield increased from 1.33 t/ha in the control to 5.71 t/ha at 9 L/plot. The Agronomic Efficiency Index was highest at 0.77 under the 6 L/plot treatment. The results demonstrate that fish effluent improved soil fertility, enhanced sweet potato growth, and increased yield. A moderate rate of 6 L/plot is recommended for efficient sweet potato production under the conditions of this study.

Fish effluent; soil properties; sweet potato; organic fertilizer; agronomic efficiency; sustainable agriculture

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