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Changes in Soil Physical Properties After Intercropping as Against Sole Cropping
Author(s) -
Mathan K. K.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of agronomy and crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.095
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-037X
pISSN - 0931-2250
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-037x.1989.tb00764.x
Subject(s) - intercropping , agronomy , loam , sorghum , bulk density , mathematics , crop , hydraulic conductivity , soil water , cropping system , environmental science , soil science , biology
Two field trials under irrigated conditions were conducted in red sandy loam soils of Palathurai series (Typic Haplustalf) at Coimbatore to evaluate the changes in physical properties when intercropping was introduced to a pure crop system. The results of the first crop indicated that intercropping of sorghum (CSH 5)‐lab lab (CO 9) system was found to improve the physical properties such as hydraulic conductivity, total porosity, aggregate stability and stability index when compared to pure crop of either sorghum or lab lab. The results of the second crop indicated that the bulk density of soil was not significantly altered by intercropping. When a legume was introduced as an intercrop to a cereal crop the physical properties such as total porosity, hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability and stability index were not affected but when the cereal was introduced to a legume, the above parameter significantly improved.