Soil Surface Treatments and Moisture Characteristics of a Luvisol under Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in the Transition Zone of Ghana

Abstract

Productivity of cowpea is strongly regulated by the availability of water and thus water the shortage can result in great yield losses. Field experiments were carried out at the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong campus to study the effects of grass mulch on moisture characteristics of a luvisol in the transition zone of Ghana. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with four mulch treatments and four replications. Grass mulch was applied on the soil surface at different rates, using cowpea as a test crop. The grass mulch rates were: 1 t / ha, 3 t / ha and 5 t/ ha the control (no mulch). Parameters assessed included soil gravimetric and volumetric moisture contents, cumulative infiltration, infiltration rate, sorptivity and grain yield. Mulching improved soil moisture status particularly, soil gravimetric moisture content, soil volumetric moisture content, cumulative infiltration amount, infiltration rate, sorptivity and soil residual moisture. All the soil parameters measured in both seasons were higher on 5t/ha mulch than the other treatments. There was a positive correlation between the cowpea seed yield and soil gravimetric moisture content.