The effect of fallow and continuous cultivation on the chemical and physical properties of an alfisol in western Nigeria (original) (raw)

Summary

Soil properties under continuous cropping were compared with those under planted fallows and natural bush regrowth for three years after forest clearing. The cropping treatments consisted of continuous maize with and without stover returned as surface mulch, continuous soybean, and maize and cassava intercropped. The fallow treatments included pigeon pea, leucaena, Guinea grass and natural bush regrowth.

In the continuous soybean and unmulched maize plots, soil organic matter and pH declined rapidly; whereas the mulched maize plots maintained a soil organic matter level comparable to the fallow treatments. To maintain soil organic matter in the surface soil at a level comparable to soil under secondary forest, two to three applications of a total amount of 16 MT/ha/annum of dry plant materials (maize stover or grass) are required when the material is applied as surface mulch.

In the cropped plots, favorable physical characteristics in the surface soil were also maintained when sufficient plant residue was returned; whereas the deterioration of subsoil structure of the forest soil occurred in all cropping treatments.

Guinea grass fallow has a distinct advantage in recycling mineral nutrients and maintaining soil physical properties and organic matter. It is suggested that soils may be planted with a combination of Guinea grass and pigeon pea fallow for one or two years after three or four years of arable cultivation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria
    A. S. R. Juo & R. Lal

Authors

  1. A. S. R. Juo
  2. R. Lal

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IITA Journal Paper No. 65

IITA Journal Paper No. 65

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Juo, A.S.R., Lal, R. The effect of fallow and continuous cultivation on the chemical and physical properties of an alfisol in western Nigeria.Plant Soil 47, 567–584 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011027

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