Abstract
A maize-leguminous tree alley cropping system was studied on N-deficient soils in Hawaii to determine mulch effects on maize yields. Calliandra calothyrsus, Cajanus cajan, Cassia siamea, Gliciridia sepium, KX1 — Leucaena hybrid (L. pallida X L. diversifolia), L. leucocephala, L. pallida, L. salvadorensis, and Sesbania sesban were evaluated for green manure and yield of intercropped maize. S. sesban, G. sepium, L. pallida, and KX1 produced between 5 and 12 dry t/ha/yr green manure with nitrogen yields between 140 and 275 kg N/ha in 4 prunings.
Maize yields responded linearly to nitrogen applied as green manure. Maize yield increased 12 kg for each kg of nitrogen applied. Additions of prunings from hedge rows were able to support maize grain yields at about 1800 kg/ha for two consecutive cropping seasons, while control plot yields averaged less than 600 kg/ha. Maize yields reflected the amount of nitrogen applied as green manure, regardless of tree species from which the nitrogen was derived.
In March, maize yields decreased 34% in the row spaced 40 cm from the hedge, relative to the one spaced 110 cm away. In July, increasing the distance away from the hedge to 60 cm and coppicing the hedge earlier in maize growth, significantly improved grain yield. Grain yields decreased only 10% in the row closest to the trees.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brewbaker JL (1985) The tropical environment for maize cultivation. In: Brandolini A and Salamini F, eds, Breeding Strategies for Maize Production Improvement in the Tropics, pp. 47–77. FAO/UN and Inst Agron L'Oltremare, Firenze, Italy
Chen YS, Kang BT and Caveness FE (1989) Alley cropping vegetable crops with Leucaena in Southern Nigeria. HortScience 24(5): 839–840
Dutt AK and Pathamia U (1986) Effect of different spacing on growth and wood production in S. sesban. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Res Rpts 4: 13
Escalada R (1987) Experiences, work and observations on some aspects of the psyllid/Leucaena problem. Leu Res Rept 7 (2): 79–80
Evensen CL (1984) Seasonal yield variation, green leaf manuring, and eradication of Leucaena Leucocephala (L.) de Wit. MS thesis, Department of Agronomy, University of Hawaii, 124 pp
Evensen CL (1989) Alley cropping and green manuring for upland crop production in West Sumatra. PhD dissertation, Department of Agronomy, University of Hawaii, 231 pp
Guevarra AB (1976) Management of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit for maximum yield and nitrogen contribution of intercropped corn. PhD dissertation, Department of Agronomy, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 126 pp
IITA (1983) International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Annual Report of 1983, Ibadan, Nigeria
IITA (1986) International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Annual Report of 1986, Ibadan, Nigeria
IITA (1986) International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Annual Report of 1986, Ibadan, Nigeria
Jong SK, Brewbaker JL, and Lee CH (1982) Effects of solar radiation on the performance of maize in 41 successive monthly planting in Hawaii. Crop Sci 22: 13–18
Kang BT, Wilson GF and Sipkens L (1981) Alley Cropping maize (Zea mays) and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) in southern Nigeria. Plant and Soil 63: 165–179
Kang BT, van der Kruijs AC, and Couper DC (1989) Alley cropping for food crop production in the humid and subhumid tropics. In: Alley Farming in the Humid and Subhumid Tropics, pp 16–26, proceedings of an international workshop held at Ibadan, Nigeria, 10–14 March 1986. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
Lal R (1989) Agroforestry systems and soil surface management of a tropical alfisol: I: soil moisture and crop yields. Agroforestry Systems 8: 7–29
McIntosh MS (1983) Analysis of combined experiments. Agron J 75: 153–155
Nair PK (1984) Soil Productivity Aspects of Agroforestry. International Council of Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) Science and Practice of Agroforestry 1, 85 pp
Nelson DW and Sommers LE (1980) Total nitrogen analysis of soil and plant tissues. J Assoc Food Anal Chem 63 (4): 770–778
Oduol PA and Akunda EW (1990) Growth rates and wood productivity of perennial Sesbania. In: Perennial Sesbania Species in Agroforestry Systems, pp 63–71, proceedings of a workshop held at ICRAF, Nairobi, 27–31 March 1989. NFTA, Hawaii
Oglesby KA (1990) Nitrogen release from green manure and the effect of its application and removal on soil nitrogen mineralization rates. MS thesis, Department of Agronomy, University of Hawaii, 115 pp
Palm CA (1988) Mulch quality and nitrogen dynamics in an alley cropping system in the Pe Peruvian Amazon. PhD dissertation, Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University
Pan FJ (1987) Psyllid resistance of leucaena species in Taiwan. Leu Res Rept 7(2): 35–38
Singh RP, Ong CK, and Saharan N (1989) Above and below ground interactions in alley-cropping in semi-arid India. Agroforestry Systems 9: 259–274
Tropsoils/NCSU (1987) Technical Report for 1986/87. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 168 pp
Wheeler RH (1988) Leucaena psyllid trial at Waimanalo, Hawaii. Leu Res Rept 9: 25–31
Yamoah CF, Agboola AA and Wilson GF (1986) Nutrient contribution and maize performance in alley cropping systems. Agroforestry Systems 4: 247–254
Yamoah CF and Getahun A (1990) Alley cropping and crop yield enhancement with Sesbania species. In: Perennial Sesbania Species in Agroforestry Systems, pp 109–122, proceedings workshop held at ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya, 27–31 March 1989. NFTA, Hawaii
Yamoah CF and Burleigh JR (1990) Alley cropping Sesbania sesban (L) Merill with food crops in the highland region of Rwanda. Agroforestry Systems 10: 169–181
Yantasath K and Watanakul J (1987) New psyllid pest on leucaena in Thailand. Leu Res Rept 7(2): 83
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rosecrance, R.C., Brewbaker, J.L. & Fownes, J.H. Alley cropping of maize with nine leguminous trees. Agroforest Syst 17, 159–168 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00053120
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00053120