Abstract
A study carried out for two cropping seasons at Nsukka, southeastern Nigeria, to determine the minimum rate of straw mulch for optimising the physical conditions of the topsoil (0–20 cm depth) of a fragile ultisol and maize (Zea mays L) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L Walp) yields, found that soil water sorptivity, transmissivity, steady state infiltration rate, cumulative infiltration after 90 min and time to attain steady state infiltration were optimal at the 2.0 t ha−1 mulch rate. Also, at this rate of mulching, water retention and per cent water-stable aggregates > 0.5 mm were maximal whereas soil compaction (measured by dry bulk density) was minimal. Between 2 and 10 days after saturation the surface soil had reductions of 11, 6, 6 and 6% in volumetric water content, respectively, on the control (0), 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 t ha−1 mulched plots, mainly due to evaporation. Supra-optimal soil temperatures (> 30°) were observed only on the bare plots whereas no significant differences in maximum soil temperature among the mulched plots were noticed. Maize and cowpea yields were optimal at the 4.0 t ha−1 rate with respective increases over the bare plots of 80 and 67% at this rate.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
