Soil physical properties and cassava yield under different soil cover managements

Abstract

Plants used as green manure can be managed in different ways. Thus, this study evaluates the impact of managing Crotalaria ochroleuca and weeds on cassava yield, soil physical properties and weed management. The treatments consisted of cassava cultivation on four soil cover types: 1 - mowed and incorporated C. ochroleuca; 2 - mowed C. ochroleuca; 3 - mowed and incorporated weed community; and 4 - weeded control. The incorporation of C. ochroleuca and weeds reduced soil density and increased total soil porosity compared to mowed C. ochroleuca and weeded control. There was no difference in soil penetration resistance between the treatments with incorporation of vegetation cover. C. ochroleuca, either mowed or incorporated, did not affect weed dry matter density and dry matter accumulation in cassava at 60 days after planting. Commercial yield of cassava did not differ between treatments (averaging 30 t ha-1). The results indicate that managing C. ochroleuca or weeds influences soil physical properties, but not necessarily cassava yield.