The effect of tillage, compost and mulch on soil physical properties and crop yield
Abstract
A study was conducted to assess the effect of tillage
(double digging), compost and mulch on crop yield and soil physical
properties of a humic Nitisol. The experiment was a 2*2*2 factorial
treatment design consisting of 8 treatments replicated 4 times.
Sunflower (Helianthus ann us L.) and Maize (Zea mays) were used as
test crop in the 1992 short rains and the 1993 long rains
respectively,
The results indicate that compost sig~ificantly (P<O.OS) increased
hydraulic conductivity by 47%, available water by 9%, total
porosity by 4% and reduced bulk density by 8% at 0-5 cm layer when
compared with treatments without compost. Only bulk density and
total porosi ty were affected by mulch placement. Double digging
reduced bulk densi ty of the 2S-30 cm and 50-55 cm layers and
consequently resulted in significant increases in total porosity,
hydraulic conductivity and available water (w/w). A combination of
compost and mulch gave significantly (P<O.Ol) higher sunflower seed
yield (26%) and dry matter production (13%) than the control.
Double digging and normal hand tillage produced similar sunflower
yields. Maize was adversely affected by drought.
This stud.i'sh~ws that compost and mulch are effective in increasing
crop yields and improving soil physical properties of the topsoil.
Although double digging improved the physical properties of lower
horizons, there was however no evidence that this tillage system
had significant influence on crop yield.
Citation
Miriti, J.M.(1993). The effect of tillage, compost and mulch on soil physical properties and crop yieldPublisher
Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Nairobi
Description
Msc Thesis