Materials and methods
The field layout of runoff plots has already been described [Lal, 1989]. These
experiments were conducted at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
The IITA experimental farm is located in the lowland
rainforest zone of the West African tropics, about 30kin south of the
northern limit.
The two growing seasons are from April to July and from
August to November.
The soil at the experimental site is classified as Oxic
Paleustalf (Taxonomy) or Ferric Luvisol (FAO).
Under cover of the secondary
regrowth, the sandy loam surface soil is covered with a 2-5 cm thick
layer of worm casts and leaf litter and the soil structure is excellent for root
development and water absorption and transmission.
The texture of the soil
changes to clay loam and clay in the sub-surface horizon.
There is also a
distinct gravelly horizon between about 30 and 80cm depth with gravel
concentrations ranging from 40 to 80 percent.