On-farm evaluation of the effect of Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanoides) hedgerow on the soil loss and yields of the components of Yam/Maize/Cassava intercropping system in Southeast Nigeria.

Abstract

A multilocational on-farm trial involving 12 farmers in Anambra state of Nigeria was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of Vertiver grass hedgerows in checking soil and water erosion in yam and cassava based intercropping systems between June ,1998 and October, 2001.Soil loss was significantly less (P=0.05) in plots with vetiver hedgerows than in those without vetiver hedgerows. In 2000/2001, The average soil loss was 3.3mm in plots with vetiver hedgerows in 1998/1999, while in 2000/2001, yield of cassava and maize were significantly higher intreatments with vetiver hedgerows than those without vetiver hedgerows .

Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 17 2007: pp. 43-46