Response of hydro-physical properties of a Chromic Luvisol in Ghana to different methods of application of Mucuna pruriens as a soil amendments

The study assessed the response of hydro-physical properties of Chromic Luvisol to different methods of application of Mucuna pruriens as a soil amendments in two separate experiments. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was used with the following treatments: 7.04t/ha Mucuna pruriens as green manure (GM), 7.04t/ha Mucuna pruriens as live mulch (LM), 7.04t/ha Mucuna pruriens as in-situ mulch (IM) and a control plot which had no Mucuna pruriens as soil amendment. Data were collected on gravimetric (θ_g) and volumetric moisture content ( θ_v), residual moisture storage(R), sorptivity(s), cumulative infiltration (I), bulk density (ρ_b), total porosity (f), aeration porosity (ξ_a), aggregate stability (ASt) and soil temperature, for assessment of hydro-physical properties of the soil. The results from the experiments indicated that Mucuna pruriens as live mulch used as amendment significantly reduce bulk density (ρ_b), increased total porosity (f) and aeration porosity (ξ_a) thus it gave significant improvement on those soil physical properties measured while Mucuna pruriens as in-situ mulch improved aggregate stability (ASt) and gave optimal soil temperature. In the assessment of soil volumetric moisture content ( θ_v), residual moisture storage(R), sorptivity(s), cumulative infiltration(I), the study shows that Mucuna pruriens as in-situ mulch recorded the optimal values and was closely followed by Mucuna pruriens as live mulch.

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