Farming system-induced variability of some soil properties in a sub-humid zone of Ghana

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dc.contributor.authorAtsivor, L.
dc.contributor.authorDowuona, G.N.
dc.contributor.authorAdiku, S.G.K.
dc.date.accessioned2019-02-27T09:32:11Z
dc.date.available2019-02-27T09:32:11Z
dc.date.issued2001-09
dc.description.abstractThis study assessed the effects of different farming systems, namely woodlot (WL), alley farming (AL), conventional tillage (CT) and natural fallow (NF) on the variability of organic carbon (OC) content and mean weight diameter (MWD) of a degraded Ferric Acrisol in the sub-humid zone of Ghana. The soils under woodlot accumulated the highest amount of organic carbon (18.6 g kg-1) with the least spatial variability apparently due to the greater additions of litter and minimum tillage. The conventionally tilled soil had the least OC content (13.1 g kg-1). Similar to the OC content, the woodlot soils also had the highest aggregate stability (MWD = 1.78 mm) and the least spatial variability. The stability of soil aggregates under the farming systems was greatly influenced by OC content; there was a good correlation between OC and MWD (r > 0.62**). Correlograms showed that OC and MWD are space dependent. The correlation length for OC under the different farming systems followed the order WL > NF > AL > CT, indicating that WL ensured a greater uniform distribution soil organic matter. The spatial distribution in MWD followed the same trend observed for OC. The MWD in the other farming systems was poorly related from point to point with shorter k-values, suggesting lack of uniformity due to low accumulation of OC. Generally, the woodlot system appeared to be a better, low-input restorer of soil productivity.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAtsivor, L., Dowuona, G.N. & Adiku, S. Plant and Soil (2001) 236: 83. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011907420292en_US
dc.identifier.otherVolume 236, Issue 1, pp 83–90
dc.identifier.otherhttps://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011907420292
dc.identifier.urihttp://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/28400
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherPlant and Soilen_US
dc.subjectAggregate stabilityen_US
dc.subjectAgroforestryen_US
dc.subjectAlley farmingen_US
dc.subjectCorrelogramsen_US
dc.subjectSpatial variabilityen_US
dc.subjectWoodloten_US
dc.titleFarming system-induced variability of some soil properties in a sub-humid zone of Ghanaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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