Assessment of Groundnut/Maize Intercropping System on Soil Bulk Density and Volumetric Moisture Content Grown in a Typic Paleudult Soils of Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted in 2010 and 2011 at the Research and Training Farm of Abia State University Umuahia Campus in the humid tropical rain forest zone of Southeastern Nigeria to determine the effect of intercropping on soil bulk density (BD) and volumetric moisture content (VMC). Treatments comprised of a local groundnut genotype and an  improved resistant red bulk (RRB), maize genotype DMR-L (Y) at 40,000 and 48,000 plants/ha. A density of 80,000 plants/ha was maintained for groundnut. Treatments were laid out on 5 m x 4 m plots in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Pre-cropping soil samples were collected at 0“30 cm depth and analyzed for physico-chemical properties of the experimental site soil. Undisturbed soil samples were taken from 0-10, and 10-20 cm depth of each treatment and from each replication for the determination of soil bulk density (BD) and volumetric moisture content (VMC). The result showed that by intercropping RRB or the Local genotype and maize at 40,000 or 48,000 plants/ha the farmer has the capability of improving the bulk density (BD) of his soil by over 35% and volumetric moisture content (VMC) by over 75%.

Key words: Bulk density, groundnut, humid tropical, intercropping, maize, plant density, volumetric moisture.   Manuscript Reviewed by: Dr. Jolyon Dodgson Faculty of Science Mahasarakham University Kantarawichai District Maha Sarakham Province Thailand. Prof. Adel Shatta Food Technology Department,Faculty of Agriculture,Suez Canal University Ismailia, 41522,Egypt. Dr R K Mathukia Associate Research Scientist,(Weed Control) Department of Agronomy College of Agriculture,Junagadh Agricultural University Junagadh-362001 (Gujarat)

---

 Received: June 1, 2016  Accepted: June 24, 2016  Published: July 13, 2016

---