Intercropping system affect PH, moisture content and the presence of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) in soil at Karas plantation area

Abstract

Intercropping is very popular in agricultural sector nowadays because this practice can give high returns to the farmers and planters. However, the intercropping system practised by farmers and planters has affected the soil physical properties. The aim of this research is to study the effects of short-term crops in karas plantation to the soil physical properties (soil pH, soil moisture content and the presence of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in soil). Soil pH was measured using pH metre whereas soil moisture content (%) was measured by weighing method. Kjeldahl method was used to determine the presence of nitrogen in which three process were involved-digestion, distillation and nitration. Meanwhile, phosphorus was analysed using UV-VIS spectrophotometer whilst potassium was determined using ICP-MS. The results were analysed using descriptive statistics (mean and frequency) and inferential statistical (One-way Analysis of Variance, ANOVA). The results were expressed in mean value ± SEM(‘standard error mean’). The present findings showed no significant difference (p<0.05) in soil pH, soil moisture content (%) and NPK in all short term crops which are chilli, corn and okra before and during the plantation of the crops as well as after the removal of the crops from the study site when compared to the control. The intercropping system of chilli, corn and okra in karas plantation did not give any negative impact to the soil pH, soil moisture content and NPK. In conclusion, intercropping system did not affect the whole karas trees growth and may help in generating higher profits for the karas planters in the future.