Mulching Practice in a Semi-Arid Zone of Nigeria for Soil Erosion Control and Grain Yield of Maize

Abstract

ABSTRACT Water erosion is a major factor degrading soils of the Nigerian semi-arid ecoregions, and making agriculture less sustainable. For example, soil erosion in the Northern Guinea savanna ecozones of Nigeria is prominent in cultivated areas during the early part of the rain-fed crop production season, when most soil surfaces are bare. In order to estimate the magnitude and timing of soil loss from cultivated lands. Selected herbaceous legumes (Macrotyloma uniflorum, Stylosanthes hamata and Mucuna pruriens) were inter-cropped with maize, a sole maize and a maize/straw mulched treatments were also maintained and evaluated for soil loss control potential. Sediments were collected in 94 liter capacity drums in each treatment. This study was carried out in Zaria (between longitudes 7°30′ and 7°50′ E and latitudes 11°00′ and 11°10′ N) in 1993 and 1994. Results obtained show that generally, higher sediment yields in 1993 and 1994, were received under legume live mulch and sole maize treatments, than straw mulch. Macrotyloma live mulch however controlled soil loss better than the other legume live mulch and sole maize. Straw mulch, followed by Stylosanthes and Macrotyloma live mulch treatments resulted in significantly higher maize grain yields than sole maize and Mucuna live mulch treatment. Measured and estimated soil loss, and suitable management practices that would ensure sustained productivity of the soils were suggested.