Evaluation of Tillage and Mulch Practices on the Growth of Selected Cereal and Legume Crops in the Foothills Agro-ecological Zone of Lesotho

The trial was conducted to evaluate the influence of tillage and mulch practices on growth response maize selected forage legumes. With three replications, experiment carried out using a split-plot design. Mulch no were used as major plot treatments straw left from previous cropping season. subplot different namely Minimum (0.2 m) Deep (0.35 m).The research in Foothills Lesotho Ha-Matela Nazareth, east Maseru District, during summer season for four months (December, January, February, March). A mouldboard plough prepare experimental field, it harrowed get fine tilth. broadcasting method plant legume species soybean (Glycine max L), lablab (Lablab purpureus L) grazing vetch (Vicia villosa), whereas planter sow seeds at rate two per hole, 0.25 m apart, 0.05 deep. For legumes, 12.5 kg NPK inorganic fertilizer applied plot. Low moisture content poor soil conditions under minimum no-mulch resulted low growth. Maize legumes height significantly (P<0.05) higher deep mulch. Vegetative characteristics respect leaf, stem, root lengths also Cereal had positive correlation relationship between its indices whereas; crops high significant. Therefore, may be produced support improved