Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting 1. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties

This paper examines soil amelioration by planting 15 leguminous and graminaceous plant species, including herbaceous annuals, perennials and biennials, and woody perennials and biennials. Disturbed and undisturbed natural regrowth were planted with leguminous species, in some cases with fertilizer a...

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Autor principal: Hulugalle, N.R.
Formato: Conference Paper
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 1992
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100041
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author Hulugalle, N.R.
author_browse Hulugalle, N.R.
author_facet Hulugalle, N.R.
author_sort Hulugalle, N.R.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper examines soil amelioration by planting 15 leguminous and graminaceous plant species, including herbaceous annuals, perennials and biennials, and woody perennials and biennials. Disturbed and undisturbed natural regrowth were planted with leguminous species, in some cases with fertilizer applied at planting (400 kg ha- of 15: 15: 15 NPK). The studies were made on two highly degraded sites in southwestern Nigeria which had been subjected to intensive mechanized cropping for a period of 10 years. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties were monitored from 1989 to 1991. Acacia dificilis, Brachiaria lata and Mucuna utilis had the lowest survival rates by the following growing season. Soil fertility and compaction levels differed between sites. Planting had no effect on the latter. The decreases in compaction (i.e. macroporosity) between 0.00 and 0.10 m depth at both sites one month before and five and 17 months after planting were 43, 59 and 61 per cent, respectively were attributed to exclusion of heavy machinery from the sites. Large decreases in fertility occurred at both sites and were attributed to a combination of nutrient extraction and to leaching. Between fallow species, exchangeable Ca, pH and the cation-exchange capacity (CEC) were greater and total acids lower for herbaceous cover compared with woody perennials, and was attributed to a higher Ca demand by the latter. Highest and lowest values of Ca, CEC and pH occurred in plots where plant material was returned to the soil (i.e. by cutting or die-back) and in cropped plots, respectively. Natural regrowth was as effective or better than planted species in improving soil physical and chemical properties. Therefore the use of exotic plant species for ameliorating highly degraded alfisols is unnecessary. Amelioration of highly degraded alfisols may be best effected by allowing natural regrowth t.0 occur while excluding all mechanized traffic from the site.
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spelling CGSpace1000412023-06-12T17:48:20Z Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting 1. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties Hulugalle, N.R. alfisols mechanized methods soil degradation soil compaction calcium This paper examines soil amelioration by planting 15 leguminous and graminaceous plant species, including herbaceous annuals, perennials and biennials, and woody perennials and biennials. Disturbed and undisturbed natural regrowth were planted with leguminous species, in some cases with fertilizer applied at planting (400 kg ha- of 15: 15: 15 NPK). The studies were made on two highly degraded sites in southwestern Nigeria which had been subjected to intensive mechanized cropping for a period of 10 years. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties were monitored from 1989 to 1991. Acacia dificilis, Brachiaria lata and Mucuna utilis had the lowest survival rates by the following growing season. Soil fertility and compaction levels differed between sites. Planting had no effect on the latter. The decreases in compaction (i.e. macroporosity) between 0.00 and 0.10 m depth at both sites one month before and five and 17 months after planting were 43, 59 and 61 per cent, respectively were attributed to exclusion of heavy machinery from the sites. Large decreases in fertility occurred at both sites and were attributed to a combination of nutrient extraction and to leaching. Between fallow species, exchangeable Ca, pH and the cation-exchange capacity (CEC) were greater and total acids lower for herbaceous cover compared with woody perennials, and was attributed to a higher Ca demand by the latter. Highest and lowest values of Ca, CEC and pH occurred in plots where plant material was returned to the soil (i.e. by cutting or die-back) and in cropped plots, respectively. Natural regrowth was as effective or better than planted species in improving soil physical and chemical properties. Therefore the use of exotic plant species for ameliorating highly degraded alfisols is unnecessary. Amelioration of highly degraded alfisols may be best effected by allowing natural regrowth t.0 occur while excluding all mechanized traffic from the site. 1992 2019-03-03T05:54:56Z 2019-03-03T05:54:56Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100041 en Limited Access Hulugalle, N.R. (1992). Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting I. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties 1989‐91. Land Degradation & Development, 3(3), 141-152.
spellingShingle alfisols
mechanized methods
soil degradation
soil compaction
calcium
Hulugalle, N.R.
Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting 1. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties
title Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting 1. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties
title_full Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting 1. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties
title_fullStr Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting 1. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties
title_full_unstemmed Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting 1. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties
title_short Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting 1. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties
title_sort amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting 1 changes in soil physical and chemical properties
topic alfisols
mechanized methods
soil degradation
soil compaction
calcium
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100041
work_keys_str_mv AT hulugallenr ameliorationofahighlydegradedtropicalalfisolbyplanting1changesinsoilphysicalandchemicalproperties