EFFECT OF TILLAGE, SORGHUM/DESMODIUM INTERCROP AND FERTILIZER RATES ON SOIL QUALITY IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA
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Department of Agricultural Science
ABSTRACT
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Soils of the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria are continuously and intensively cultivated resulting in soil quality degradation, accelerated soil erosion and soil nutrient depletion. This study on effect of tillage, sorghum/Desmodium intercrop and fertilizer rates on soil quality was conducted in order to investigate the extent to which it can alleviate the afore-mentioned problems in the zone. The study involved a forage legume (Desmodium uncinatum) subjected to different levels of N fertilizer rates (30kgN ha-1, 40kgN ha-1, 50kgN ha-1 and 60kgN ha-1) and P fertilizer rates of (6.6kgP ha-1, 13.2kgP ha-1 and 26.4kgP ha-1), intercropped with sorghum (SAMSORG 14) and planted under different tillage systems viz; (i) conservation tillage system which includes, sorghum/Desmodium incorporated (SDIC), sorghum/Desmodium on old ridge (SDOR) (ii) Zero tillage with sorghum/Desmodium under no tillage (SDNT) and (iii) conventional tillage with sorghum mono-cropped. Data obtained were evaluated on Randomized Complete Block Design for soil chemical properties (organic carbon/organic matter, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, soil pH, CEC, and C/N ratio). Crop phrenology (plant height, stover and sorghum grain yield were also measured. Results showed that one year Desmodium uncinatum planted fallow added significant amount of organic carbon (5.3g kg-1), CEC (6.7cmol kg-1), available phosphorus (8.5mg kg-1) and total nitrogen (1.2g kg-1) at the surface soils when compared with their value at the beginning of the Trial. In the second cropping season, conservation tillage systems (SDIC and SDOR) and Zero tillage (SDNT) proved to be significantly better land management practices than conventional tillage without Desmodium (SC). Sorghum/Desmodium under no tillage (SDNT) sequestered significantly (P<0.05) higher organic carbon (6.9gkg-1), followed by SDIC (5.8g kg-1), SDOR (4.9g kg-1) and least in SC (3.6g kg-1). Total nitrogen content of the soils significantly improved under SDIC (1.7g kg-1), followed by SDOR (1.6g kg-1), SC (1.5g kg-1) and SDNT (1.3g kg-1) that were significantly different between treatments. Sorghum/Desmodium incorporeted (SDIC) resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher (1.48t ha-1) sorghum grain yield followed by SDNT (1.32t ha-1) that was significantly higher than SDOR (1.20t ha-1) least in SC (1.17t ha-1). P rate of 26.4kgP ha-1 resulted in the highest sorghum grain and stover while 50kgN ha-1 resulted in higher sorghum grain and significantly higher stover yield. Therefore, conservation tillage; particularly SDIC and Zero tillage with Desmodium uncinatum (SDNT) improved soil quality condition and were more superior to other land management practices in enhancing sorghum grain yield
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