EFFECTS OF COVER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES IN NSUKKA SANDY LOAM SOIL

Atwo year (2004-2005) field investigationwas carried out on the runoff plots at the University of NigeriaNsukka farm, to monitor the effects of cover management practices on physical properties, in Nkpologu sandy loam soil. The management practices were bare fallow (BF), cocoyam (CY) sorghum (SG), legume (CP) and grass (PM), under no-till practice. There was no change in soil texture due to treatments. The treatments generally increased organic matter content compared with the control. Bulk density was significantly increased in all the treatments with highest value (1.65Mg/m ) in bare fallow and lowest value (1.49 Mg/m ) in grass. There was no significant decrease in porosity and pore size distribution. Mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat )were significantly increased.The least values forMWD(1.06mm) and for Ksat (25.80cm/hr) and highest for MWD (2.09mm) and for Ksat (49.20cm/hr) were obtained under bare fallow and grass treatments respectively. The percentage aggregate size above 2.0mm was highest in grass and lowest in bare fallow. Calculations showed significant positive correlation (r = 0.50) between organic matter and MWD. There was significant negative correlation (r = -0.60) between organic matter and bulk density and highly significant positive correlation (r= 0.800) between organic matter and saturated hydraulic conductivity.