Potential of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) to improve soil physical properties of sandy soils in central Zimbabwe
Abstract
186 words
Most farmers in the smallholder areas practice conventional
tillage which results in soil loss of between 10-34 t ha-1 yr-1.
Tillage also results in breakdown of macroaggregates into
smaller aggregates as well as primary particles. Close packing
of these will increase the bulk density and decrease porosity,
aeration and root development gradually over the years. These
damaged and depleted soils need to be rebuilt in order to sustain
agriculture and one way of rebuilding these sols is through the
use of legumes such as hairy vetch. Hairy vetch (Vicia Villosa
Roth) has been found to improve soil structure leading to better
soil and water conservation. In this study soil aggregate stability,
hydraulic conductivity and soil porosity, which all influence soil
moisture retention, will be measured on soils planted with hairy
vetch and maize intercrop. Soil and nutrient loss will be
measured using rainfall simulation. In order to make comparisons
cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and sunhemp (Crotalaria
juncea) will also be included as sole crops and as intercrops
with maize. Preliminary results have so far shown that sunhemp
has the highest biomass production and hairy vetch the
lowest.
Subjects
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