ZERO-TILLAGE AND INTERCROPPING ON A TROPICAL ALFISOL: EFFECTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Rapid deterioration of soil physical properties of arable land under continuous cultivation adversely affects crop production in the humid and sub-humid tropics. This investigation, which lasted for four consecutive growing seasons, was conducted to determine whether the deterioration can be minimiz...

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Main Authors: AJAYI, A. S., BABALOLA , O. Z.
Format: Online
Sprog:engelsk
Udgivet: The Faculty of Agriculture Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. 2020
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Online adgang:https://ija.oauife.edu.ng/index.php/ija/article/view/500
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author AJAYI, A. S.
BABALOLA , O. Z.
author_facet AJAYI, A. S.
BABALOLA , O. Z.
author_sort AJAYI, A. S.
collection OJS
description Rapid deterioration of soil physical properties of arable land under continuous cultivation adversely affects crop production in the humid and sub-humid tropics. This investigation, which lasted for four consecutive growing seasons, was conducted to determine whether the deterioration can be minimized by a tillage and cropping system that can be readily adopted by the local farmer. The results show that over the four growing seasons, soil bulk density (Db) of the surface (0 - 0.lm) soil increased by 0.10Mg/m3. Intercropping reduced soil compaction rates under conventional tillage (CT) and No-tillage (NT) in the two years while sole crops of maize and melon increased soil compaction in their respective plots under CT. Surface soil of the NT plots retained more water than that of CT plots at saturation and field capacity. Higher saturated hydraulic conductivity (SCH), and improved infiltration characteristics were found under NT. Intercropping with melon was effective in improving soil physical properties under both tillage treatments. The over-all results indicate improvement in soil physical properties under NT and intercropping with continuous cultivation. It further shows the possibility of integration of NT into the subsistence intercropping farming methods practised in this region where fertilizers and weed control chemicals are just gaining popularity.
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spelling oai:ojs2.ija.oauife.edu.ng:article-5002020-10-07T11:52:41Z ZERO-TILLAGE AND INTERCROPPING ON A TROPICAL ALFISOL: EFFECTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AJAYI, A. S. BABALOLA , O. Z. Tillage, bulk density, compaction, field capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, intercropping Rapid deterioration of soil physical properties of arable land under continuous cultivation adversely affects crop production in the humid and sub-humid tropics. This investigation, which lasted for four consecutive growing seasons, was conducted to determine whether the deterioration can be minimized by a tillage and cropping system that can be readily adopted by the local farmer. The results show that over the four growing seasons, soil bulk density (Db) of the surface (0 - 0.lm) soil increased by 0.10Mg/m3. Intercropping reduced soil compaction rates under conventional tillage (CT) and No-tillage (NT) in the two years while sole crops of maize and melon increased soil compaction in their respective plots under CT. Surface soil of the NT plots retained more water than that of CT plots at saturation and field capacity. Higher saturated hydraulic conductivity (SCH), and improved infiltration characteristics were found under NT. Intercropping with melon was effective in improving soil physical properties under both tillage treatments. The over-all results indicate improvement in soil physical properties under NT and intercropping with continuous cultivation. It further shows the possibility of integration of NT into the subsistence intercropping farming methods practised in this region where fertilizers and weed control chemicals are just gaining popularity. The Faculty of Agriculture Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. 2020-10-07 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article application/pdf https://ija.oauife.edu.ng/index.php/ija/article/view/500 Ife Journal of Agriculture; Vol. 13 No. 1 (1991): Ife Journal of Agriculture; 21-31 0331-6351 eng https://ija.oauife.edu.ng/index.php/ija/article/view/500/382 Copyright (c) 2020 Ife Journal of Agriculture
spellingShingle Tillage, bulk density, compaction, field capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, intercropping
AJAYI, A. S.
BABALOLA , O. Z.
ZERO-TILLAGE AND INTERCROPPING ON A TROPICAL ALFISOL: EFFECTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
title ZERO-TILLAGE AND INTERCROPPING ON A TROPICAL ALFISOL: EFFECTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
title_full ZERO-TILLAGE AND INTERCROPPING ON A TROPICAL ALFISOL: EFFECTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
title_fullStr ZERO-TILLAGE AND INTERCROPPING ON A TROPICAL ALFISOL: EFFECTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
title_full_unstemmed ZERO-TILLAGE AND INTERCROPPING ON A TROPICAL ALFISOL: EFFECTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
title_short ZERO-TILLAGE AND INTERCROPPING ON A TROPICAL ALFISOL: EFFECTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
title_sort zero tillage and intercropping on a tropical alfisol effects on soil physical properties
topic Tillage, bulk density, compaction, field capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, intercropping
topic_facet Tillage, bulk density, compaction, field capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, intercropping
url https://ija.oauife.edu.ng/index.php/ija/article/view/500
work_keys_str_mv AT ajayias zerotillageandintercroppingonatropicalalfisoleffectsonsoilphysicalproperties
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