The effect of lowland rice cropping intensity on the workability of a Vertisol

Abstract

The effect of lowland rice cropping intensity on the workability of a vertisol was determined under no-cropping, single cropping and double cropping of this crop in the Kano plains, Western Kenya. Soil chemical analysis revealed a high clay content (60%). The soils puddled well and were therefore suitable for cultivation of lowland rice. But they were difficult to cultivate for production of an upland rice. Rice cropping tended to lower organic carbon content of the soil, the extent of lowering increasing with the intensity of cropping. Aggregate stability was generally higher for cropped soil than the uncropped soil