In Part I of this series the effect of ley treatments differing in legume species, duration of ley and fertilization on the growth of subsequent roselle and cassava crops was reported.
This paper reports measurements of a range of physical and chemical parameters made either during or at the end of the ley phase and at the end of the test crops.
Surface soil (0–15 cm) bulk density was little affected by treatments.
The percentage of the soil mass occurring as dry aggregates > 4.8 mm diameter at the end of the ley phase was related to grazing intensity but the effects were not evident at the end of the second test crop.
The mean weight diameter of wet-sieved aggregates at the end of the ley phase was higher in all the legume plots than the cassava control.
Steady infiltration rates varied from 34–38 cm h−1 in three-year Verano plots to 60–62 cm h−1 in one-year Siratro plots and were inversely related to the length of the grazed legume treatments.
There was no evidence of treatment effects on soil water status at the end of the ley phase or on soil available water characteristics.