Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Soil nitrogen and physical properties and maize yields after mixed planted fallows of tree and herbaceous legumes

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Msekera Research Station from 1998 to 2002 to determine effect of planted fallows of tree species mixed with herbaceous legumes and those of single species fallows on biomass production, soil properties and subsequent maize grain yields. After 2 years of fallow the highest total above ground biomass of 9.2 t ha−1 was recorded in sole Gliricidia. Pre-season soil total inorganic N in 0–20 cm soil depth under tree fallows was highest in Sesbania + Macrotyloma axillare mixture. Sesbania + M. axillare mixture had the highest cumulative water intake at fallow clearing. Among the 7 mixtures and 3 sole species treatments, Sesbania + M. axillare mixture produced the highest maize yield of 2.7 and 1.9 t ha−1 in 2001 and 2002 season, respectively, after 2 years of fallow. The results of the study indicate the complementarity of herbaceous legumes and tree mixtures in improving soil quality. We conclude that mixed species have the potential to increase the amount and quantity of total N added to the soil and increase nutrient cycling. However, maize grain yields were not significantly improved as compared with single species due to low biomass production of the trees. The coiling nature and the added labour requirements for weed control would limit the use of these mixtures by smallholder farmers who are labour constrained. Agroforestry trees and non-twining legumes could be promoted instead.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson JM, Ingram JSI (1993) Tropical soil biology and fertility: a handbook of methods, 2nd edn. CAB International, Wallingford

    Google Scholar 

  • Angus JF, Bolger TP, Kirkegaard JA, Peoples MB (2006) Nitrogen mineralisation in relation to previous crops and pastures. Aust J Soil Res 44:355–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bah AR, Rahman ZA (2001) Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) Green manures as a potential source for maize production in the tropics. In: Optimizing nitrogen management in food and energy production and environmental protection: Proceedings of the 2nd International Nitrogen Conference on Science and Policy. The Scientific World 1

  • Belcher DJ, Cuykendall TR, Sack HS (1950) The measurement of soil moisture and density by neutron and gamma-ray scattering. Tech. Dev. Rep. 127. Civ. Aeronaut. Admin., Washington, DC

  • Bouwer H (1986) Intake rate: cylinder infiltrometer. In: Klute A (ed) Methods of soil analysis, part 1, Physical and mineralogical methods—agronomy monograph number, vol 9. American Society Agronomy, Madison, pp 825–844

    Google Scholar 

  • Brussaard L, deRuiter PC, Broan GG (2007) Soil biodiversity for agricultural sustainability. Agric Ecosyst Environ 121:233–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buresh RJ, Sanchez PA, Calhoun FG (eds) (1997). Replenishing soil fertility in Africa SSSA Special Publication no 51: Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, USA. Proceedings of an International Symposium

  • Chirwa TS, Mafongoya PL, Mbewe DNM, Chishala BH (2000) Changes in soil properties and their effects on maize productivity following Sesbania and Pigeonpea Improved Fallow System in eastern Zambia. M.Sc. thesis, University of Zambia

  • Commissaris ALTM (1975) Detailed Soil Survey of Msekera Research Station. Soil Survey report no. 19

  • Conyers M, Newton P, Condon J, Poil G, Mele P, Ash G (2012) Three long-term trials end with a quasi-equilibrium between C, N and pH and implication for C sequestration. Soil Res 50:527–535

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dasaeger J, Rao MR (2000) Parasitic nematode populations in natural fallows and improved cover crops, and their effects on subsequent crops in Kenya. Field Crops Res 65:41–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dorich RA, Nelson DW (1984) Evaluation of manual cadmium reduction methods for determination of nitrate in potassium chloride extracts of soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48:72–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dubeux JC Jr, Muir JP, Nair PR, Sollenberger LE, Silva HM, de Mello AC (2015) The advantages and challenges of integrating tree legumes into pastoral systems. In: Proceedings of the 1st international conference on forages in warm climates, Lavras, Brazil, pp 141–164

  • FAO-UNESCO (1998) Soil Map of the World (Revised Legend), Rome

  • Gathumbi SM (2000) Nitrogen sourcing by fast-growing legumes in pure and mixed species fallows in western Kenya. Ph.D thesis, Wye College, University of London, Wye, Kent, UK

  • Genstat 5 Committee (1988) Genstat 5 reference manual. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Gladwin C (1992) Gender impacts of fertilizer subsidy removal program in Malawi and Cameroon. Agric Econ 7:141–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ikerra S, Maghembe J, Smithson P, Buresh R (1999) Soil nitrogen dynamics and relationships with maize yields in gliricidia–maize intercrop in Malawi. Plant Soil 211:155–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jama B, Buresh RJ, Place FM (1998) Sesbania tree fallows on phosphorus-deficient sites: maize yield and financial benefit. Agron J 90:717–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kostiakov AN (1932) On the dynamics of the coefficient of water-percolation in soils and on the necessity for studying it from a dynamic point of view for purposes of amelioration. In: Trans. Sixth International. Society of Soil Science, Russian Part A, pp 17–21

  • Kwesiga F, Coe R (1994) Effect of short rotation Sesbania sesban planted fallows on maize yield. For Ecol Manag 64:199–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwesiga F, Phiri D, Simwanza CP, Mwanza S (1994) Zambia/ICRAF Agroforestry Research Project annual Report. Afrena Report no. 87

  • Kwesiga F, Franzel S, Place F, Phiri D, Simwanza CP (1999) Sesbania sesban improved fallows: their inception, development and farmer enthuasm. Agrofor Syst 47:49–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R (1985) Mechanized tillage systems effects on properties of a tropical Alfisol in watersheds cropped to maize. Soil Tillage Res 6:149–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R (1989) Agroforestry systems and soil surface management of a tropical alfisol: V. Water infiltrability, trasmissivity and soil water sorptivity. Agrofor Syst 8:217–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R, Wilson GF, Okigbo BN (1978) No-tillage farming after various grasses and leguminous cover crops in tropical Alfisols. I. Crop performance. Field Crops Res 1:71–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R, Wilson GF, Okigbo BN (1979) Changes in properties of an Alfisol produced by various crop covers. Soil Sci 127:377–382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mafongoya PL, Katanga R, Mkonda A, Chirwa TS, Chintu R, Matibini J (2000) Zambia/ICRAF Agroforestry Research Project, 2000 Annual Report

  • Maroko JB, Buresh RJ, Smithson PC (1998) Soil nitrogen availability as affected by fallow-maize systems on two soils in Kenya. Biol Fertil Soils 26:229–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarty LB, Hubbard LR, Quisenberry V (2016) Applied soil physical properties, drainage, and irrigation strategies. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 1–72. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-24226-2_1

  • Mekonnen K, Buresh RJ, Jama B (1997) Root and inorganic nitrogen distributions in sesbania fallow, natural fallow and maize fields. Plant Soil 188:319–327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy BW, Crawford MH, Duncan DA, McKenzie DC, Koen TB (2013) The use of visual soil assessment schemes to evaluate surface structure in a soil monitoring program. Soil Use Manag 127:3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira HC, Wood RA, Brozostowski HW, Hosegood PA (1958) Water conservation by fallowing in semi-arid tropical East Africa. Emp J Exp Agric 26:203–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Philips JR (1957) The theory of infiltration: the infiltration equation and its solution. Soil Sci 83:345–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowell DL (1994) Soil science, methods and application. Longman Group UK Limited, Harlow

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheoran V, Sheoran AS, Poonia P (2010) Soil reclamation of abandoned mine land by revegetation : a review. Int J Soil Sediment Water 3(2):1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Sileshi G, Mafongoya PL (2002) Incidence of Mesoplatys ochroptera Stal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Sesbania sesban in pure and mixed species fallows in eastern Zambia. Agrofor Syst 56:225–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sileshi G, Maghembe JA, Rao MR, Ogol CKPO, Sithanantham S (2000) Insects feeding on Sesbania species in natural stands and agroforestry systems in southern Malawi. Agrofor Syst 49:41–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torquebiau EF, Kwesiga F (1996) Root development in Sesbania sesban fallow-maize system in eastern Zambia. Agrofor Syst 34:193–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson GE (1975) Effect of grass fallow rotations on the infiltration of water into a savanna zone soil of northern Nigeria. Trop Agric 52:97–103

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government Republic of Zambia (GRZ) for their financial support to this research. We are grateful to Messers K. Linyunga, S. Chikale, and P. Phiri for field data collection, laboratory analysis and data analysis respectively. Dr. G. Sileshi is also acknowledged for his useful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa

    Paramu L. Mafongoya & Obert Jiri

Authors
  1. Paramu L. Mafongoya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Obert Jiri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Obert Jiri.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mafongoya, P.L., Jiri, O. Soil nitrogen and physical properties and maize yields after mixed planted fallows of tree and herbaceous legumes. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 105, 75–84 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-016-9776-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-016-9776-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation