Abstract
In Nigeria significant efforts are being made to improve and conserve the soil. In the time past the soil resource base was sustained through long fallows of 10-15 years. Due to population pressure and other conflicting interests on land, fallow period is now between 6 and 12 months. This natural fallow has proved ineffective for the sustenance of soil productivity. The present study compared the soil productivity improvement attribute of three fallow management systems - two leguminous cover crops (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis and Pueraria phaseoloides) seeded on June 2012 and natural fallow dominated by guinea grass (Panicum maximum). Mucuna treatments significantly provided soil cover until six months, while Pueraria provided soil cover for 12 months and reduced weeds compared with Mucuna and the control. However, there were no significant differences in soil physicochemical properties before and after round the year fallow. Therefore, both cover crops could be sown to replace the natural fallow. Mucuna fallow appears to be an effective system for 6 months fallow while Pueraria could provide cover and effectively suppress weeds for 12 months.
Highlights
The agricultural system in Nigeria is characterized by low input technologies and soil fertility is restored by fallowing the cropland for a number of years depending on the availability of land
This study examined the effect of leguminous cover crop managed fallow on soil resource
Results from the study indicate that living cover crops that match the ideotype can be sown to replace the natural regrowth that comprises weeds especially the guinea grass
Summary
The agricultural system in Nigeria is characterized by low input technologies and soil fertility is restored by fallowing the cropland for a number of years depending on the availability of land. Fallow duration and vegetation type strongly influence soil properties and crop yields. The quality of soil resources is a primary indicator of the sustainable of land management practices. The reduction of fallow duration without increase in fertilizer input has contributed to the impoverishment of soil fertility. Root and tuber crops are ‘heavy feeders’ and tend to perform poorly under low soil fertility. In view of prevailing short fallow system, the sustainability of root and tuber crops production depends on the optimal use of the available natural resources, including the soil
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