Cropping systems effects of a newly-cleared ultisol in Southern Nigeria |
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| Institution: | 1. The Geological Survey of Finland, Industrial Environments and Recycling, P.O. Box 1237, FI- 70211, Kuopio, Finland;2. The Geological Survey of Finland, Finnish Geosciences Research Laboratory, Klariksentie 1 B 27, 02250, Espoo, Finland;3. The Geological Survey of Finland, Finnish Geosciences Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 96, FI- 02151, Espoo, Finland;4. The Geological Survey of Finland, Groundwater Unit, P.O. Box 96, FI- 02151, Espoo, Finland;1. Department of Food Science & Technology, Ebonyi State University EBSU, Ebonyi State, P.M.B 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria;2. Department of Home Economics, Ebonyi State University EBSU, Ebonyi State, P.M.B 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria;3. College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, PR China;1. Department of Chemistry, State University of Maringá, 5790 Colombo Avenue, 87020-900, Maringa, PR, Brazil;2. Department of Chemical Engineering, State University of Maringá, 5790 Colombo Avenue, 87020-900, Maringa, PR, Brazil;3. Western Paraná State University, 645 Faculdade Street, 85903-000, Toledo, PR, Brazil;1. School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China;2. School of Science, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China;3. Key Laboratory of Coal Processing and Efficient Utilization of Ministry of Education, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China;1. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA;2. Department of Food Science and Technology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania |
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| Abstract: | A 4-yr. study was conducted to investigate the effects of five cropping systems on soil erosion, earthworm activity and crop production on an Ultisol in southern Nigeria. Five cropping systems were casava-based, oil palm-based alley cropping, plantain and traditional farming system. The traditional farming system for this region involves cultivation of vam (Dioscorea sp.) and several other crops grown in partially cleared land. The first four systems were tested on mechanically-cleared plots, and the traditional system was evaluated on manually-cleared plots with partial clearing and intact stumps. Soil erosion was observed only during the first year after clearing. Soil erosion was high in the oil-palm- (170 kg/ha/5 months) and plantain systems (157 kg/ha/5 months), and was negligible in the forested control (0.4 kg/ha). During the rainy season, earthworm activity was the highest in traditionally-farmed plots and the lowest in the forested control. Earthworm activity significantly decreased in all systems during the dry season. On the basis of agronomic yield, cassava-based cropping system was the most productive (10.8 Mg/ha/yr. of produce) followed by traditional farming (8.0 Mg/ha/yr.), and the plantain system was the least productive (0.74 Mg/ha/yr.). Measured in terms of the calories output, productivity of different cropping systems followed the other cassava-based > alley cropping > traditional farming > oil palm-based > plantain. Results indicate that Ultisols can produce high yields of cassava, yam and maize, provided that soil degradation and fertility depletion are minimized by practicing no-tillage, returning crop residue to soil at harvest, and maintaining favorable nutrient status through supplemental application of fertilizers. |
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