A field trial was conducted to determine the effect of tillage and mulch practices on the biomass response of cereal maize and soybean, lablab and grazing vetch which are legumes, when planted as fodder crops. The experiment was conducted using split-plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments were two mulch levels (Mulch and No-Mulch). The mulch was maize straw left from previous cropping season. The subplot treatments were minimum tillage (0.2 m) and deep tillage (0.35 m). The parts of the four crops quantified were leaf, stem and roots. The combination of deep tillage and mulch practices resulted in significant (P<0.05) increase in the leaf, stem and root biomass of maize and, soybean, lablab and grazing vetch. Minimum tillage and no-mulch combined depressed (P<0.0.5) the leaf, stem and root yield of maize while, for soybean, lablab and grazing vetch there was no definite trend of significantly (P<0.05) depressed biomass for the leaf, stem and root yield under minimum tillage and no-mulch, and deep tillage and no-mulch. There was low correlation and positive significant relationship between leaf, stem and root and legume crops whereas, maize had a high correlation relationship with its biomass parameters. It is recommended that maize, soybean, lablab and grazing vetch can be grown as forage crops under combined deep tillage and mulch practices in the Foothills agro-ecological zone of Lesotho to obtain enhanced biomass.
The trial was conducted to evaluate the influence of tillage and mulch practices on growth response of maize and selected forage legumes. With three replications, the experiment was carried out using a split-plot design. Mulch and no mulch were used as the major plot treatments Mulch was maize straw left from the previous cropping season. The subplot treatments were different tillage practices namely Minimum (0.2 m) and Deep tillage (0.35 m).The research was carried out in the Foothills of Lesotho in Ha-Matela in Nazareth, east of Maseru District, during summer season for four months (December, January, February, and March). A mouldboard plough was used to prepare the experimental field, and it was harrowed to get fine tilth. The broadcasting method was used to plant the legume species namely soybean (Glycine max L), lablab (Lablab purpureus L) and grazing vetch (Vicia villosa), whereas a planter was used to sow maize seeds at a rate of two per hole, 0.25 m apart, and 0.05 m deep. For maize and the forage legumes, 12.5 kg of NPK inorganic fertilizer was applied per plot. Low moisture content and poor soil conditions under minimum tillage and no-mulch resulted in low plant growth. Maize and forage legumes plant height was significantly (P<0.05) higher under deep tillage and mulch. Vegetative characteristics in respect of leaf, stem, and root lengths were also significantly (P<0.05) higher under deep tillage and mulch. Cereal maize had a low and positive correlation relationship between its growth indices whereas; legume crops had a high correlation relationship and were significant. Therefore, maize and forage legumes may be produced under deep tillage and mulch to support improved plant growth.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.