Effect of Ground Cover by Different Crops on soil Loss and Physicochemical Properties of an Ultisol in South Eastern Nigeria.

Abstract

Of all hazard factors, soil cover and cover management for conservations have the most important influences on the rain erosion hazard. The effects of ground cover by various crops on the soil physico-chemical properties and soil loss of an Ultisol in southeastern Nigeria were studied. Five experimental plots containing groundnut (Arachis hypogeal), maize (Zea mays), soyabean (Gylcine max), bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) and bare plot (control) were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Five 15cm nails were randomly driven into the soil perpendicular to and leveled off with the soil surface to monitor soil removal by erosion. Results from this study showed that bare plots (no cover) had the highest topsoil loss of 2.40cm or 372 t ha-1 when compared with the plot with least topsoil loss (groundnut) which had 0.87cm of 134.8t ha-1. Similarly, plots planted with bambara groundnut and soyabean lost 1.95 and 1.83cm of topsoil corresponding to 302 and 283.6t ha-1 of topsoil loss respectively at 30days after planting (DAP). Similar trends were observed at 60 and 90 DAP. The least clay content was found in bare and bambara groundnut plots. Bare soil also had the least soil pH.

Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 17 2007: pp. 94-97