Abstract:
Aims To assess the effects of potato-legume
intercropping on selected soil physical and chemical
properties after four consecutive growing seasons (from
the short rains in 2014 to long rains 2016).
Methods The experiment was laid out in a randomised
complete block design with four replicates. The treatments were potato-dolichos (PD); potato-garden pea
(PG); potato-bean (PB) intercropping systems, and a
pure stand of potato (PS). After every harvest, crop
residues were ploughed back and selected soil
physico-chemical properties were assessed after two
years of cultivation.
Results Potato-legume intercropping resulted in a significant increase down the slope for clay and silt under
PS, PG and PB whereas, an opposite observation was
made for sand and bulk density. Nonetheless, under PD,
slope position had no significant effect on soil physical
properties. In all cropping systems, a significant increase
was observed down the slope for pH and cation exchange capacity. Similar observations were made for
phosphorous, nitrogen and organic carbon under all
the cropping systems except PD.
Conclusions This study has established PD as a viable
intercropping system, which could be adopted by
farmers for improved soil fertility
