Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Effect of Legume Cover Crops on Soil Moisture and Orange Root Distribution

J. M. Mulinge, H. M. Saha, L. G. Mounde, L. A. Wasilwa

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science · pp. 1–11 · Published 10 Jun 2017

10.9734/IJPSS/2017/32934

Abstract

Inadequate rain is a major hindrance to soil moisture and crop root growth in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. A field study was conducted in Ganda, Vitengeni and Matuga locations within the coastal lowland region of Kenya from May, 2012 to April, 2015 to evaluate the effects of three leguminous cover crops on soil moisture retention and orange tree feeder root distribution. Treatments included mucuna (Mucuna pruriens), cowpea (Vignaunguiculata), dolichos (Lablab purpureus) cover crops and unplowed fallow of natural vegetation as a control. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and each treatment was replicated four times. Data collected were: soil particle size distribution, soil moisture content and orange dry root density. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using procedures of R statistical analysis version 3.3.2. Mean separation was done using the least significant difference (LSD) value at 5% level of significance. Results indicated that mucuna, dolichos and cowpea cover crops significantly (P=.05) increased soil moisture content. The mucuna treated plots recorded an increase in SMC by 39.0% and 33%, dolichos increased by 34.4% and 28.9% and cowpea by 33.6% and 27.3% at soil depth 0-20 and 20-40 cm, respectively, over their own controls. Mucuna and dolichos significantly (P=.05) increased orange feeder root distribution. Mucuna treated plots supported the highest increase in orange root distribution by 36.5% and 31.8%, dolichos increased by 30.2% and 34.1% while cowpea increased by 18.3% and 18.8% in soil depth 0-20 and 20-40 cm respectively compared to their own control. It can be concluded that the three legumes; mucuna, cowpea and dolichos cover crop improved soil moisture and root distribution in orange production. The overall ranking was as follows: mucuna > dolichos > cowpea. From the finding, the use of mucuna and dolichos cover cropping system is recommended as a soil management practice aimed at improving the orange productivity. Further evaluation on the long term (>3 years) effects of cover crops on soil moisture and orange root distribution under different agro ecological zones is suggested.

Legume cover crops root density soil moisture coastal Kenya orange crop.

References (30)

  1. 1 Rooting depths, lateral root spreads and below‐ground/above‐ground allometries of plants in water‐limited ecosystems [DOI]
  2. 2 Biochar addition to agricultural soil increased CH4 uptake and water holding capacity – Results from a short-term pilot field study [DOI]
  3. 3 Water infiltration and soil structure related to organic matter and its stratification with depth [DOI]
  4. 4 Plant root growth, architecture and function [DOI]
  5. 5 Adventitious Roots and Lateral Roots: Similarities and Differences [DOI]
  6. 6 Roots, rhizosphere and soil: the route to a better understanding of soil science? [DOI]
  7. 7 Effects of conservation agriculture techniques on infiltration and soil water content in Zambia and Zimbabwe [DOI]
  8. 8 Root architectural tradeoffs for water and phosphorus acquisition [DOI]
  9. 9 Water deficit effects on root distribution of soybean, field pea and chickpea [DOI]
  10. 10 Root distribution and soil moisture retrieval in perennial and annual energy crops in Northern Italy [DOI]
  11. 11 Stand age and fine root biomass, distribution and morphology in a Norway spruce chronosequence in southeast Norway [DOI]
  12. 12 The gravimetric method of soil moisture determination Part III An examination of factors influencing soil moisture variability [DOI]
  13. 13 Influences of Root Diameter, Tree Age, Soil Depth and Season on Fine Root Survivorship in Prunus avium [DOI]
  14. 14 Effects of organic matter removal, soil compaction, and vegetation control on 5-year seedling performance: a regional comparison of Long-Term Soil Productivity sites [DOI]
  15. 15 Soil water balance with cover crops and conservation agriculture in a Mediterranean climate [DOI]
  16. 16 Cover Crop Effects on Infiltration, Soil Temperature, and Soil Moisture Distribution in the Canadian Prairies [DOI]
  17. 17 The impact of soil compaction on soil aeration and fine root density of Quercus palustris [DOI]
  18. 18 Sampling schemes for estimating root density distribution in cropped fields [DOI]
  19. 19 Root:shoot ratios and belowground biomass distribution for Pacific Northwest dryland crops [DOI]
  20. 20 Orange Tree Fibrous Root Length Distribution in Space and Time [DOI]
  21. 21 A numerical investigation into the influence of soil type and root architecture on tree anchorage [DOI]
  22. 22 EFFECT OF DIFFERENT COVER CROP RESIDUES, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT UNDER A TOMATO CROP (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM)
  23. 23 Long-term application of biomass and reduced use of chemicals alleviate soil compaction and improve soil quality [DOI]
  24. 24 Estimating the mass density of fine roots of trees for minirhizotron-based estimates of productivity [DOI]
  25. 25 Citrus root distribution under water stress grown in sandy soil of central Florida [DOI]
  26. 26 Durum Wheat Root Distribution and Agronomical Performance as Influenced by Soil Properties [DOI]
  27. 27 Root Responses to Short-Lived Pulses of Soil Nutrients and Shoot Defoliation in Seedlings of Three Rangeland Grasses [DOI]
  28. 28 Laboratory methods of plant and soil analysis
  29. 29 Fibrous Root Distribution in Pineapple Orange Trees Under Semi-Arid Irrigated Ecosystem [DOI]
  30. 30 Optimizing soil moisture for plant production: The significance of soil porosity

Cited by 12

Effects of compost, olive mill wastewater and legume cover cropson soil characteristics, tree performance and oil quality of olive trees cv.Chemlali grown under organic farming system

Hechmi Chehab, Meriem Tekaya, Mohamed Ouhibi · Scientia Horticulturae · 2019

Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria juncea, and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) have the potential for improving productivity of banana‐based systems in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Guy Blomme, Jules Ntamwira, Walter Ocimati · Legume Science · 2022

Showing 2 of 12 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

71

Page views

0

PDF downloads

16

Outbound clicks

12

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.