African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6863

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of tillage and mulching on agronomics performances of maize and soil chemical properties in Linsinlin Watershed of Centre of Benin

Akplo Tobi Moriaque
  • Akplo Tobi Moriaque
  • Laboratory of Soil Microbiology and Microbial Ecology, Faculty of Agronomics Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.
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Kouelo Alladassi Félix
  • Kouelo Alladassi Félix
  • Laboratory of Soil Microbiology and Microbial Ecology, Faculty of Agronomics Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.
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Azontonde Hessou Anastase
  • Azontonde Hessou Anastase
  • Institut National de Recherches Agricoles du Bénin, Benin.
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Houngnandan Pascal
  • Houngnandan Pascal
  • Laboratory of Soil Microbiology and Microbial Ecology, Faculty of Agronomics Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin.
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Benmansour Moncef
  • Benmansour Moncef
  • Centre National des Energies, Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires (CNESTEN), Rabat, Marocco.
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Rabesiranana Naivo
  • Rabesiranana Naivo
  • Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires (INSTN), Antananarivo, Madagascar.
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Mabit Lionel
  • Mabit Lionel
  • SWMCNS, Joint FAO/IAEA, Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna-Seibersdorf, Austria.
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  •  Received: 13 February 2019
  •  Accepted: 19 April 2019
  •  Published: 31 August 2019

Abstract

Soil conservation has become an important aspect in achieving food security. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of two agricultural practices on the agronomic performance of maize and the chemical properties of soil. A field experiment was carried out on loamy-sand soil using Fisher Block design. Tillage systems and mulching significantly affected maize growth and yield components. The interactive effect of tillage and mulching were not significant on growth and yield components of maize. While, the highest growth rate (2.38 cm/day), leaf area (65.70 cm²), collar diameter (1.39 cm), grain yield (4148.71 kg DM ha-1), straw yield (5077.65 kg DM ha-1) and harvested index (40%) were obtained with the treatment combining isohypse ridging and mulch. Tillage increased soil organic matter. Treatment combining isohypse ridging to mulching allowed obtaining the highest level of soil organic matter after trial. The level of nitrogen and available phosphorus did not vary under the treatment. Throughout, this experiment, isohypse ridging under mulching constitute the effective soil conservation practice to combat soil erosion and improve maize productivity on the watershed of Linsinlin in Southern Benin.

Key words: Tillage, mulching, maize yield, soil chemical properties, watershed, Djidja.

 

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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