Effects of interplanted legumes with maize on major soil nutrients and performance of maize

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ibadan, in early 2004 and 2005 to evaluate the effects of interplanted legumes with maize on major soil nutrients and performance of maize. The experiment laid out in a randomized complete block design, with four levels of crop associations namely: Sole maize (control),maize + cowpea, maize + soybean and maize +groundnut. Organic C decreased by 22% in sole maize, contrasting increases of 41, 37 and 36% for maize+ cowpea,maize+ soybean and maize+ groundnut, respectively. Total N decreased by 36% in sole maize, while it increased by 53,46 and 44% in maize+cowpea, maize + soybean and maize+ groundnut, respectively. Sole maize decreased available P by 16% contrasting the increases of 40, 37 and34% for maize+ cowpea, maize+ soybean and maize+ groundnut, respectively. Averaged over two years, the grain yields of maize were 1.78, 1.87 and 1.88t/ha for maize+ cowpea, maize+ soybean and maize+ groundnut, respectively.

Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 17 2007: pp. 47-51