Soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria.

We studied the effects of four different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria on soil physical properties of an Alfisol and on the root growth of the following crop. The methods used were manual clearing and clearing with a shearblade, a treepusher, and a treepusher/root rake. Soil physical p...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Hulugalle, N.R., Lal, R., Ter Kuile, C.H.H.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 1984
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177158
_version_ 1855538896271572992
author Hulugalle, N.R.
Lal, R.
Ter Kuile, C.H.H.
author_browse Hulugalle, N.R.
Lal, R.
Ter Kuile, C.H.H.
author_facet Hulugalle, N.R.
Lal, R.
Ter Kuile, C.H.H.
author_sort Hulugalle, N.R.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description We studied the effects of four different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria on soil physical properties of an Alfisol and on the root growth of the following crop. The methods used were manual clearing and clearing with a shearblade, a treepusher, and a treepusher/root rake. Soil physical properties measured were bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration, total porosity, pore size distribution, and soil water retention. Mechanical clearing increased bulk density and proportion of medium-sized pores (2 to 14.3-µm radius) and decreased infiltration rate, cumulative infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity, total porosity, and proportion of macropores (>14.3-um radius). Soil water content at a potential of 0 kPa was significantly reduced, whereas that at potentials of -10 and -33 kPa was increased. In comparison with the forested control, the magnitude of changes in soil physical properties was in the order of manual clearing < treepusher < shearblade < treepusher/root rake. Although the differential effects of land clearing methods on the soil were reflected only in the initial pattern of maize root growth during the seedling stage, it was sufficient to affect grain yield. Root growth of mucuna and cowpea were not affected by the changes in soil physical properties.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace177158
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 1984
publishDateRange 1984
publishDateSort 1984
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1771582025-11-11T10:45:59Z Soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria. Hulugalle, N.R. Lal, R. Ter Kuile, C.H.H. land clearance mechanical methods physical properties porosity site preparation soil physical properties Soil physics soil types tropical soils We studied the effects of four different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria on soil physical properties of an Alfisol and on the root growth of the following crop. The methods used were manual clearing and clearing with a shearblade, a treepusher, and a treepusher/root rake. Soil physical properties measured were bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration, total porosity, pore size distribution, and soil water retention. Mechanical clearing increased bulk density and proportion of medium-sized pores (2 to 14.3-µm radius) and decreased infiltration rate, cumulative infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity, total porosity, and proportion of macropores (>14.3-um radius). Soil water content at a potential of 0 kPa was significantly reduced, whereas that at potentials of -10 and -33 kPa was increased. In comparison with the forested control, the magnitude of changes in soil physical properties was in the order of manual clearing < treepusher < shearblade < treepusher/root rake. Although the differential effects of land clearing methods on the soil were reflected only in the initial pattern of maize root growth during the seedling stage, it was sufficient to affect grain yield. Root growth of mucuna and cowpea were not affected by the changes in soil physical properties. 1984-08 2025-10-16T12:23:30Z 2025-10-16T12:23:30Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177158 en Limited Access application/pdf Hulugalle, N.R., Lal, R., & Ter Kuile, C.H.H. (1984). Soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria. Soil Science, 138(2), 172-179.
spellingShingle land clearance
mechanical methods
physical properties
porosity
site preparation
soil physical properties
Soil physics
soil types
tropical soils
Hulugalle, N.R.
Lal, R.
Ter Kuile, C.H.H.
Soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria.
title Soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria.
title_full Soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria.
title_fullStr Soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria.
title_full_unstemmed Soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria.
title_short Soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western Nigeria.
title_sort soil physical changes and crop root growth following different methods of land clearing in western nigeria
topic land clearance
mechanical methods
physical properties
porosity
site preparation
soil physical properties
Soil physics
soil types
tropical soils
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177158
work_keys_str_mv AT hulugallenr soilphysicalchangesandcroprootgrowthfollowingdifferentmethodsoflandclearinginwesternnigeria
AT lalr soilphysicalchangesandcroprootgrowthfollowingdifferentmethodsoflandclearinginwesternnigeria
AT terkuilechh soilphysicalchangesandcroprootgrowthfollowingdifferentmethodsoflandclearinginwesternnigeria