INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY ISSN Print: 1560–8530; ISSN Online: 1814–9596 14–233/2015/17–3–475–482 DOI: 10.17957/IJAB/17.3.14.233 http://www.fspublishers.org
Full Length Article
Bicultures of Oat (Avena sativa) and Grazing Vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) Regulate Residue Decomposition, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dynamics, and Weed Suppression in Maize Lindah Muzangwa1, Cornelius Chiduza1* and Pardon Muchaonyerwa2 1 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa 2 School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal P. Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa * For correspondence:
[email protected]
Abstract Oat (Avena sativa L.) and grazing vetch (Vicia dasycarpa L.) were identified as best bet cover crops in the central Eastern Cape, South Africa, but information on biomass yield, residue decomposition and soil fertility contribution was lacking. This experiment evaluated combinations of 90% oat + 10% vetch, 70% oat + 30% vetch, 50% oat + 50% vetch, 100% vetch, 100% oat and a control with no cover crop laid in a randomised complete block design in 2009 and 2010 winter seasons. A follow-on maize crop was planted in the summer seasons of 2010 and 2011. Season × cover crop interaction was significant (p 90% oat + 10% vetch = sole oat as shown by the decomposition coefficient k values (Table 2 and Fig. 1). Bicultures significantly increased (p
