Changes in some soil physical properties and yield of maize Grown in an ultisol as affected by three legumes

Abstract

The declining productivity of the soils in the Abakaliki agro-ecological zone of the South East Nigeria led to the conduct of a study on the physical properties of an Ultisol amended with pruning acting in alley cropping system. The study was established in a randomized complete block design with five treatments and four replications. Treatments included 7.5t ha-1of pruning from an existing alley cropping system of three legumes: Leuceana leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium and Cajanus cajan incorporated into the soil as amendment; fertilizer and control with no application of either pruning or fertilizer. Results showed a significant reduction in soil bulk density as well as the surface penetration resistance in the plots where pruning were applied. The total porosity, gravimetric moisture content, water stable aggregates (WSA > 0.5mm) and water infiltration were all increased with the incorporation of pruning. The highest soil organic matter content of 4.98g kg^-1 was obtained in plots amended with Cajanus cajan pruning. Grain yield of 3.01 t ha^-1 was obtained in the alley plots amended with Gliricidia sepium pruning. The results showed that continuous application of pruning from alley cropping system can sustain the soil physical properties of an Ultisol in Abakaliki.

Keywords: Alley cropping, pruning, soil physical properties, crop performance

Nig J. Biotech. Vol. 24 (2012) 13-19