Evaluation of Tillage and Mulch Practices on the Growth of Selected Cereal and Legume Crops in the Foothills Agro-ecological Zone of Lesotho

Abstract

The trial was conducted to evaluate the influence of tillage and mulch practices on growth response of maize and selected forage legumes. With three replications, the experiment was carried out using a split-plot design. Mulch and no mulch were used as the major plot treatments Mulch was maize straw left from the previous cropping season. The subplot treatments were different tillage practices namely Minimum (0.2 m) and Deep tillage (0.35 m).The research was carried out in the Foothills of Lesotho in Ha-Matela in Nazareth, east of Maseru District, during summer season for four months (December, January, February, and March). A mouldboard plough was used to prepare the experimental field, and it was harrowed to get fine tilth. The broadcasting method was used to plant the legume species namely soybean (Glycine max L), lablab (Lablab purpureus L) and grazing vetch (Vicia villosa), whereas a planter was used to sow maize seeds at a rate of two per hole, 0.25 m apart, and 0.05 m deep. For maize and the forage legumes, 12.5 kg of NPK inorganic fertilizer was applied per plot. Low moisture content and poor soil conditions under minimum tillage and no-mulch resulted in low plant growth. Maize and forage legumes plant height was significantly (P<0.05) higher under deep tillage and mulch. Vegetative characteristics in respect of leaf, stem, and root lengths were also significantly (P<0.05) higher under deep tillage and mulch. Cereal maize had a low and positive correlation relationship between its growth indices whereas; legume crops had a high correlation relationship and were significant. Therefore, maize and forage legumes may be produced under deep tillage and mulch to support improved plant growth.