Effect of intercropping legume with cereal on soil properties in Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria

This experiment was carried out at the student experimental field, Kabba College of Agriculture in 2022 and 2023 seasons. Kabba is located in the Southern guinea savannah ecological zone of Nigeria (Latitude of 70 51 N and Longitude of 60 04 E). The experiment consisted of three intercropped and three sole cereals that were T1=sole maize, T2=groundnut/maize, T3 =sole millet, T4=groundnut/millet T5 =sole acha, and T6=acha/groundnut which were laid in a Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Data was collected on soil organic matter, soil organic carbon, and soil fungi and bacteria population status at 20, 40 and 60 days after planting. Data was also taken on initial and final nitrogen content of soil. The result showed reduction in soil organic matter in plots with cereal plant alone while plots with cereal combined with legume showed increase in soil organic matter after cropping. Soil nitrogen improved when leguminous crop combined with cereal. Fungi population increase with increase days of planting in all the plots. However, plots with legume intercropped with cereal had higher bacteria population which ranged between 14.36 – 18.30 % compared to plots with cereal alone. Soil moisture was similar in the entire intercropped plots and significantly higher than plots with sole crop of cereal, though, plots with cereals alone had similar moisture content. Among the intercropped plots, plot with acha intercropped with groundnut recorded the lowest temperature (300C). Plots with cereal combined with legume were better in all the soil quality and maintenance checked than plot with sole crop of cereal used. Among the cereal crops, plot where acha combined with groundnut had better physical, chemical and biological properties. For optimum soil quality and maintenance, farmers should intercrop cereal with legume especially acha in the study area.