Growth, development and yield of three-grain legumes (mung bean [F1], soybean [F2] and grass pea [F3]) following rice crop to enhance grain production was studied in a paddy field in the northern Timor-Leste. A split plot design was used with three water treatments (well-watered [W0], water withheld at flowering [W1] and after germination [W2]). Interaction between water treatments and species on dry matter production (p < 0.001) and seed yield (p = 0.005) was observed. In control, the highest seed yield was F1 (1.2 t/ha) followed by F2 (1.1 t/ha) and F3 (0.4 t/ha) respectively. There was a steady reduction in seed yield in F1 from W0 to W2, but almost fifty percent reduction in F2 under W1 and W2 compared to W0. F3 had little difference between water treatments. The W1 and W2 reduced number of filled pods per plant in all species compared to control (W0). Between the species, F3 had the highest filled pods per plant followed by F2 and F3. The W1 and W2 reduced seeds per pod of F1; however, it did not effect F2 and F3. There were interactions between water treatment and species on 100 seeds weight. The heaviest seeds were in F2 in the control plants, but in the F2 drought treatments (W1 and W2) seed weight were less than F3. The lowest seed weight was in F1, but there was no impact of the terminal droughts on its seed weight.

Slash-and-burn practices used by farmers in prior growing periods could affect soil quality, particularly topsoil properties. This study aimed to assess soil biophysical and chemical properties at different landscape levels within the watershed site. Soil samples were collected by a core method in the topsoil layer in slash-and-burn sites. Field analysis was on bulk density and porosity by the gravimetric method, while laboratory analysis was done on organic matter by the Loss on Ignitions Method and other macronutrients for crops (total nitrogen, phosphorus availability, and potassium availability) followed standard analytical methods. To see if there was a significant difference between sites, DMRT 5% was used. The results of the study showed slash-and-burn practice affects soil physical properties such that high bulk density in upstream, midstream, and downstream ranged from 1.55 g/cm 3 to 1.71 g/cm 3 , 1.55 g/cm 3 to 1.80 g/cm 3 , and 1.38 g/cm 3 to 1.79 g/cm 3 respectively. Poor porosity in upstream, midstream, and downstream ranged from 33.91% to 40.06%, 30.38% to 41.75%, and 30.91% to 46.65%, respectively. Organic matter content was low in the upstream, midstream, and downstream areas, ranging from 2.86% to 3.39%, 2.58% to 3.88%, and 2.91% to 3.88%, respectively. However, soil pH remains neutral, and nitrogen levels are low but near-optimal in the upstream and very low in the midstream and downstream. Phosphorus is extremely high upstream but very low in midstream and downstream. However, potassium remains at a low level close optimum level in the entire watershed.