Evaluation of some physical properties of an oxisol after conversion of native savanna into legume-based or pure grass pastures

This study evaluated the effects of improved tropical grass and grass–legume pastures on the physical condition of an oxisol, previously covered by native savanna. Two long-term pasture experiments with different grass and legume species and with different stocking rates were used. Measurements were...

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Main Authors: Gijsman, A.J., Thomas, Richard J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 1996
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42832
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author Gijsman, A.J.
Thomas, Richard J.
author_browse Gijsman, A.J.
Thomas, Richard J.
author_facet Gijsman, A.J.
Thomas, Richard J.
author_sort Gijsman, A.J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This study evaluated the effects of improved tropical grass and grass–legume pastures on the physical condition of an oxisol, previously covered by native savanna. Two long-term pasture experiments with different grass and legume species and with different stocking rates were used. Measurements were made of bulk density, penetrometer resistance, water retention characteristics, total porosity, pore-size distribution and water infiltration rate. The bulk density of the 0–5 cm and 6–11 cm layers was not affected by any of the treatments. Penetrometer resistance was affected by presence of a legume and stocking rate, but differences were small and of little practical importance. There was no difference in water retention curves between the pure grass and grass-legume treatments. The decline in water content with increasing pF occurred more gradually in the low-stocking-rate treatments than in the high-stocking-rate treatments or the native savanna. Consequently, the amount of plant-available water was smaller in the former treatments. The water infiltration rate was higher under grass–legume than under pure grass pastures and decreased with increasing stocking rate under both types of pastures. Differences in soil physical properties are explained by differences in root systems between the two types of pastures, and by differences in biomass, composition and distribution of soil fauna, especially earthworms. The implications of this work for decreasing soil erosion are stressed.
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spelling CGSpace428322024-01-17T12:58:34Z Evaluation of some physical properties of an oxisol after conversion of native savanna into legume-based or pure grass pastures Gijsman, A.J. Thomas, Richard J. feed crops pastures soil chemicophysical properties acid soils ferralsols pastizales leguminosas forrajeras propiedades fisico-químicas suelo suelo ácido ferralsoles This study evaluated the effects of improved tropical grass and grass–legume pastures on the physical condition of an oxisol, previously covered by native savanna. Two long-term pasture experiments with different grass and legume species and with different stocking rates were used. Measurements were made of bulk density, penetrometer resistance, water retention characteristics, total porosity, pore-size distribution and water infiltration rate. The bulk density of the 0–5 cm and 6–11 cm layers was not affected by any of the treatments. Penetrometer resistance was affected by presence of a legume and stocking rate, but differences were small and of little practical importance. There was no difference in water retention curves between the pure grass and grass-legume treatments. The decline in water content with increasing pF occurred more gradually in the low-stocking-rate treatments than in the high-stocking-rate treatments or the native savanna. Consequently, the amount of plant-available water was smaller in the former treatments. The water infiltration rate was higher under grass–legume than under pure grass pastures and decreased with increasing stocking rate under both types of pastures. Differences in soil physical properties are explained by differences in root systems between the two types of pastures, and by differences in biomass, composition and distribution of soil fauna, especially earthworms. The implications of this work for decreasing soil erosion are stressed. 1996 2014-09-24T07:58:38Z 2014-09-24T07:58:38Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42832 en Open Access
spellingShingle feed crops
pastures
soil chemicophysical properties
acid soils
ferralsols
pastizales
leguminosas forrajeras
propiedades fisico-químicas suelo
suelo ácido
ferralsoles
Gijsman, A.J.
Thomas, Richard J.
Evaluation of some physical properties of an oxisol after conversion of native savanna into legume-based or pure grass pastures
title Evaluation of some physical properties of an oxisol after conversion of native savanna into legume-based or pure grass pastures
title_full Evaluation of some physical properties of an oxisol after conversion of native savanna into legume-based or pure grass pastures
title_fullStr Evaluation of some physical properties of an oxisol after conversion of native savanna into legume-based or pure grass pastures
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of some physical properties of an oxisol after conversion of native savanna into legume-based or pure grass pastures
title_short Evaluation of some physical properties of an oxisol after conversion of native savanna into legume-based or pure grass pastures
title_sort evaluation of some physical properties of an oxisol after conversion of native savanna into legume based or pure grass pastures
topic feed crops
pastures
soil chemicophysical properties
acid soils
ferralsols
pastizales
leguminosas forrajeras
propiedades fisico-químicas suelo
suelo ácido
ferralsoles
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42832
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