EFFECT OF STYLO COVER AND N-FERTILIZATION ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, WATER USE AND YIELD OF MAIZE AT SAMARU
EFFECT OF STYLO COVER AND N-FERTILIZATION ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, WATER USE AND YIELD OF MAIZE AT SAMARU
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2014-02-11
Authors
ISMAILA, SULE
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
An investigation was carried out at the Institute
for Agricultural Research Farm in Samaru, Zaria, during
the 1992 rainy season to determine the effect of a
stylo cover crop (Stylosanthes hamata) and N-fertilization
on soil physical properties, water use and yield of maize.
The field on which the trial was conducted was divided
into two parts: one part (stylo fallowed) had been
under stylo pasture for two years before the treatments
of four levels of N- 0, 40, 80 and 120KgNha"1 were
imposed. The stylo pasture was also planted as a
treatment cover crop. The second part of the field had
been under grass fallow for two years before the treatments
of only four levels of N were imposed.
The treatments were combined and replicated four
times giving a total of thirty six plots on the stylo
fallowed field and four plots on the grass fallowed field.
The design used was the Randomised Complete Block Design,
Moisture use was closely monitored to a depth of 130cm
by the use of a Neutron Probe moisture meter. Physical
properties of the soil were measured both in the field
and in the laboratory.
The stylo cover was observed to increase
infiltration rate, total porosity, saturated hydraulic
conductivity and lower the bulk density of the soil.
N levels did not, however, affect these soil properties.
Maize cropped on the stylo fallowed plots used
more water than that cropped on the grass fallowed
plots, but the maize intercropped with the pasture
crop used less water than the sole cropped maize. The
intercropped maize was, however, found to have higher
water use efficiency than the sole cropped maize.
Addition of N significantly increased the crop water
use over the no N treatment although the three levels
of N produced statistically the same water use.
Grain yield was found to be higher on the stylo
fallowed than the grass fallowed plots. Addition of N
increased the grain yield but. the result was higlily
variable.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Science in Soil Science
DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
EFFECT, STYLO, COVER, N-FERTILIZATION, SOIL, PHYSICAL, PROPERTIES,, WATER, YIELD, MAIZE, SAMARU