The comparative effects of surface applications of organic mulch versus chemical soil conditioners on physical and chemical properties of the soil and on plant growth

An experiment has been carried out to evaluate the influence of different soil conditioners on the physical and chemical properties of the soil and to compare the relative effectiveness of these conditioners in protecting the soil surface against water erosion with organic surface mulching.The results indicated that the physical conditions were highly affected by the different treatments, whereas practically no changes in the chemical status of the soil could be observed.After 2 years, total porosity and infiltration rate were highest in the organic mulch treatment.Surface treatment with organic material and chemical conditioning with bitumen and polyacrylamide had a positive influence on soil aggregation and therefore on water erosion control.Very high soil temperatures as compared to the other treatments were recorded for the soil with bitumen treatment when the solar radiation was high.Mulching and treating the soil surface with bitumen result in higher yields of cowpea and maize.