[ Variabilité de la densité apparente sur un nitisol dérivé de cendres volcaniques: effet sur le système racinaire du bananier de hautes altitudes de l’Afrique de l’Est (Musa AAA-EA) ]
Volume 29, Issue 1, February 2017, Pages 31–38
Tony Muku Muliele1 and Constantine Manzenza Mafuta2
1 Institut National pour l'Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques (INERA), RD Congo
2 Laboratoire de sols, Centre de Recherche de M’vuazi, Institut National pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques, Kinshasa, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2017 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Bulk density is one of the main soil physical properties that affect root growth and development. This study aimed at characterizing bulk density distribution in a nitisol derived from volcanic ash, and assessing its effect on the rooting system of the East African Highlands Banana. Sixteen soil profiles (2m large x 1m depth) were dug at 40 cm from banana mat of second cycle at pre-flowering stage. At 10 cm increments, banana root density and soil bulk density were measured simultaneously. Soil bulk density was measured by gravimetric method, three replicates per soil depth. Soil texture and organic carbon content were also determined. Banana root density (roots.dm-2) was determined by overlying a 2 m² grid and counting roots in each 1 dm² grids. Results highlight a gradient in soil bulk density with values ranged between 0.85 to 1.08 g.cm-3. The lowest bulk density values were observed in the 40 cm topsoil, which also had most roots density (77%). Root density decreased sharply in deeper soil layers (<0.90 root.dm-² below 40 cm depth) with increase in clay content, and decrease in soil organic carbon content. To improve banana root growth and development in compacted soils, we recommend agricultural practices that decrease soil bulk density, especially the addition of soil organic matter throughout mulching, and tillage before banana planting.
Author Keywords: Bulk density, Soil texture, Nitisol, Bananas, Root density.
Volume 29, Issue 1, February 2017, Pages 31–38
Tony Muku Muliele1 and Constantine Manzenza Mafuta2
1 Institut National pour l'Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques (INERA), RD Congo
2 Laboratoire de sols, Centre de Recherche de M’vuazi, Institut National pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques, Kinshasa, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2017 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Bulk density is one of the main soil physical properties that affect root growth and development. This study aimed at characterizing bulk density distribution in a nitisol derived from volcanic ash, and assessing its effect on the rooting system of the East African Highlands Banana. Sixteen soil profiles (2m large x 1m depth) were dug at 40 cm from banana mat of second cycle at pre-flowering stage. At 10 cm increments, banana root density and soil bulk density were measured simultaneously. Soil bulk density was measured by gravimetric method, three replicates per soil depth. Soil texture and organic carbon content were also determined. Banana root density (roots.dm-2) was determined by overlying a 2 m² grid and counting roots in each 1 dm² grids. Results highlight a gradient in soil bulk density with values ranged between 0.85 to 1.08 g.cm-3. The lowest bulk density values were observed in the 40 cm topsoil, which also had most roots density (77%). Root density decreased sharply in deeper soil layers (<0.90 root.dm-² below 40 cm depth) with increase in clay content, and decrease in soil organic carbon content. To improve banana root growth and development in compacted soils, we recommend agricultural practices that decrease soil bulk density, especially the addition of soil organic matter throughout mulching, and tillage before banana planting.
Author Keywords: Bulk density, Soil texture, Nitisol, Bananas, Root density.
Abstract: (french)
L’objectif de cette étude était de caractériser la distribution de la densité apparente sur un nitisol dérivé de cendres volcaniques, et d’évaluer son effet sur le système racinaire du bananier de hautes altitudes de l’Afrique de l’Est. Seize profils (2m de large x 1m de profondeur) ont été ouverts à 40 cm du pseudo-tronc des bananiers de deuxième cycle au stade préfloraison. De 0-100 cm de profondeur, tous les 10 cm ; la densité apparente (g.cm-3) et la densité racinaire (racines.dm-²) du bananier ont été mesurées simultanément. La teneur en carbone organique et la texture du sol ont également été déterminées. Les résultats ont permis de mettre en évidence un gradient de distribution de densité apparente avec des valeurs variant entre 0,85 et 1,08 g.cm-3. La majorité de racines (77%) a été observée sur les quarante premiers cm du sol, caractérisés par des teneurs élevées en carbone organique et des teneurs plus faibles en argile. L’accroissement de la densité apparente dans les couches profondes du sol a entraîné une discontinuité structurale qui a réduit sensiblement la densité racinaire (<0,90 racine.dm-2 à plus 40 cm du sol) et limité l’exploration racinaire du bananier. Pour améliorer la croissance et le développement racinaire du bananier sur des sols plus denses, il serait nécessaire d’appliquer les pratiques culturales qui permettent de réduire la densité apparente, notamment l’apport de la matière organique et le travail du sol avant la plantation du bananier.
Author Keywords: Densité apparente, Texture, Nitisol, Bananier, Densité racinaire.
How to Cite this Article
Tony Muku Muliele and Constantine Manzenza Mafuta, “Change in soil bulk density on a nitisol derived from volcanic ash: effect on the rooting system of the East African Highlands banana (Musa AAA-EA),” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 31–38, February 2017.
