ABSTRACT
The experiment was carried out at the Experimental site of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin city; to determine some soil properties under maize- kidney bean intercrop. The area is located between latitude 06° 23׳ 53.16״ and 06° 23׳ 58.668״ and longitude 005° 37׳ 39.7194״ and 005° 37׳ 40.53״. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block Design (RCBD), with three (3) levels of same treatment and replicated three (3) times. The treatment levels are sole kidney bean, sole maize and maize – kidney bean intercrop. Soil parameters determined include; pH, Total Nitrogen, Total organic carbon (TOC), Available phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Exchangeable Acidity, Base saturation, sand, silt, cay, textural class. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis, results obtained showed that there was no significant difference p (<0.05) in the physical properties (sand, silt and clay) of the soil, and the chemical properties of the soil did not differ significantly p (<0.05) except pH and calcium. The nitrogen content increased from 0.810g/kg in sole kidney bean to 0.847 g/kg in sole maize, the available phosphorus increased from 10.20 mg/kg to 10.87 mg/kg, with sole maize having the highest value, total organic carbon increased from 10.80 g/kg to 12.53 g/kg in sole kidney bean, while potassium increased in sole maize only with a value of 0.2067 cmol/kg. Intercropping did not have significant (P <0.05) effect on soil properties.
