Abstract
Decomposition- and N-mineralization rates of multipurpose tree prunings applied as a source of N to annual crops in agroforestry systems are affected by the chemical composition and method and time of application of the prunings and the soil type. In a greenhouse study undertaken on two contrasting Zimbabwean soils, there was a significant interaction of pruning quality with time and method of pruning application on nitrogen recovery by maize and residual effects on a subsequent maize crop on both soil types. Incorporating prunings in the soil at planting gave higher nitrogen recovery compared to surface application at two or four weeks after planting for all three MPT species used.Flemingia macrophylla showed prolonged N immobilization on an Alfisol (sandy clay loam) but not on the Psamment (sandy soil). Nitrogen recovery by the second maize crop (residual effect) was influenced by pruning quality, time of application, and soil type. Low-quality prunings such asFlemingia macrophylla andAcacia angustissima applied four weeks after planting gave higher residual effect on N recovery on the Alfisol than on the Psamment (3% vs. 6%).
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Amato M, Ladd JN, Ellington A and Walsgot P (1987) Decomposition of plant material in Australian soil: IV. Decomposition in site of13C and15Nlabelled legume and wheat materials in a range of Australian soils. Aust J Soil Res 25: 95–105
Christensen BT (1985) Wheat and barley straw decomposition under feed conditions: effect of soil type and plant cover on weight loss, nitrogen and potassium content. Soil Biol Biochem 17: 691–697
Costa FJSA, Bouldin DR and Suhet AR (1990) Evaluation of N recovery from mucuna placed on the surface or incorporated in a Brazilian Oxisol. Plant and Soil 124: 91–96
Ezenwa IV and Alasin KO (1991) Use of leguminous tree leaves as a nutrient source for maize in a lateritic soil. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Res Rep 8: 93–84
Glasener KM and Palm CA (1995) Ammonia volatilization from tropical legume mulches and green manures and unlimed soil. Plant and Soil 177: 33–41
Handayanto E, Cadisch G and Giller KE (1995) Manipulation of quality and mineralization of tropical legume tree prunings by varying nitrogen supply. Plant and Soil 176: 149–160
Harris GH and Hesterman OB (1990) Quantifying the nitrogen contribution from alfalfa to soil and two succeeding crops using nitrogen-15. Agron J 82: 129–134
Jama BA, Nair PKR and Rao MR (in press) Productivity of hedgerow shrubs and maize under alleycropping and block planting systems in semi-arid Kenya. Agrofor Syst 31: 257–274
Janzen HH and McGinn SM (1991) Volatile loss of nitrogen during decomposition of legume green manure. Soil Biol Biochem 23: 291–297
Janzen HH, Bole JB, Biederbeck VO and Slinkard AE (1990) Fate of N applied as green manure or ammonium fertilizer to soil subsequently cropped with spring wheat at three sites in Western Canada. Can J Soil Sci 70: 313–323
Jensen ES (1994) Availability of nitrogen in15N-labelled mature pea residue to substitute for nitrogen fertilizer in lowland rice. Leucaena Res Rep 10: 24–25
Kang BT and Mulongoy K (1987)Gliricidia sepium as source of green manure in alley cropping system. In: NFTAGliricidia sepium Management and Improvement, pp 44–58. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association Special Publication 87-01. NFTA, Waimanalo, HI, USA
Kang BT, Wilson GF and Sipkens L (1981) Alley cropping maize (Zea mays L.) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala Lam.) in Southern Nigeria. Plant and Soil 63: 165–179
Karlen DL, Flannery RL and Sadler EF (1987) Nutrient and dry matter accumulation rates for high yielding maize. J Plant Nutrition 10: 1409–1417
Karlen DL, Flannery RL and Sadler EJ (1988) Aerial accumulation and partitioning of nutrients by corn. Agron J 80: 232–242
Kaufusi P and Asghar M (1990) Effects of incorporating plant materials on corn growth. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Res Rep 8: 81–82
Ladd JN, Amato M, Jackson RB and Butler JHA (1983) Utilization by wheat crops of nitrogen from legume residues decomposing in soils in the field. Soil Biol and Biochem 15: 231–238
Mafongoya PL and Nair PKR (1997) Multipurpose tree prunings as a source of nitrogen to maize (Zea mays L.) under semiarid conditions in Zimbabwe. 1. nitrogen recovery rates in relation to pruning quality and method of application. Agrofor Syst 35: 31–46
Mafongoya PL, Nair PKR and Dzowela BH (1997) Multipurpose tree prunings as a source of nitrogen to maize (Zea mays L.) under semiarid conditions in Zimbabwe. 2. Nitrogen recovery rates and crop growth as influenced by mixtures of prunings. Agrofor Syst 35: 47–56
Mugendi DN, Mochoge BO, Coulson CL, Stigter CJ and Sang FK (1994) Decomposition ofCassia siamea loppings in semiarid Machakos, Kenya. Arid Soil Res Rehabil 8: 363–372
Mulongoy K (1987) Relative nitrogen contribution of prunings in alley cropping with cassia, gliricidia and leucaena. In: IITA Resource and Crop Management Program, Annual Report 1987, pp 36–37. IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria
Mulongoy K and Sanginga MK (1990) Nitrogen contribution by leucaena in alley cropping system. IITA Res 1: 14–17
Mulongoy K, Ibewono BE, Oseni O, Kulumba N, Opara-Nadi AO and Osobuni O (1993) Effect of management practices on alley cropped maize utilization of nitrogen derived from prunings on a degraded alfisol in southwest Nigeria. In: Mulongoy K and Merckx R (eds) Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Sustainability of Tropical Agriculture, pp 223–230. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, UK
Nair PKR, Rao MR and Fernandes ECM (1994) Tree-crop interactions in sustainable agroforestry systems. In: Virmani SM and Sekhon GS (eds) Soil Technology for Sustainable Agriculture, pp 110–137. Symposium VIa, XV World Soils Congress, Acapulco, Mexico
SAS (1982) SAS User's Guide. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA
Sorensen LH (1975) The influence of clay on the rate of decay of amino acid metabolites synthesized in soil during decomposition of cellulose. Soil Biol Biochem 171–177
Swift, MJ, Kang BT, Mulongoy K and Woomer P (1991) Organic-matter management for sustainable soil fertility in tropical cropping systems. In: Dumanski J, Pushparajah E, Latham M and Myers R (eds) Evaluation for Sustainable Land Management in the Developing World 2, Technical Papers, IBSRAM Proceedings No. 12(2), pp 307–326. Bangkok, Thailand
Xhu Z, Liu C and Jiang B (1984) Mineralization of organic nitrogen in some paddy soils of China. In: Organic Matter and Rice, pp 259–272. IRRI. Los Baños, The Philippines
Xu ZH, Saffigna PG, Myers RJK and Chapman AL (1993) Nitrogen cycling in leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) alley cropping in semi-arid tropics. I. Mineralization of nitrogen from leucaena residues. Plant and Soil 148: 63–72
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series Number R-05491.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mafongoya, P.L., Nair, P.K.R. & Dzowela, B.H. Multipurpose tree prunings as a source of nitrogen to maize under semiarid conditions in Zimbabwe. Agroforest Syst 35, 57–70 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02345329
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02345329