Abstract
Young leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit) and gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq) Steud) alley-cropped with food crops on farmers' fields in southwestern Nigeria showed marked variability in growth and foliage coloration. A field study was undertaken to determine whether variability in soil fertility was responsible for the differential growth of the two tree species. Plant height of leucaena and gliricidia at 6 and 9 months after planting (MAP) were significantly correlated with soil organic C and total N. Dry matter yield at 12 MAP was also significantly correlated with plant height, soil organic C and total N for leucaena but not for gliricidia. Soil and plant N concentrations were significantly higher in farms with normal than those with chlorotic plants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atta-Krah AN and Kolawole GO (1987) Establishment and growth of leucaena and gliricidia alley cropped with peppe and Sorghum. Leucaena Res Report. 8: 46–47
Duguma B (1982) Early response of four woody fallow species grown in acid Ultisols to liming and phosphorus application. M.Sc. thesis, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 49 pp
Hutton EM (1983) Introduction. Leucaena Research in the Asian-Pacific Region. IDRC. Ottawa, Canada, pp 23–26
Jones RJ and Bray RA (1983) Agronomic research in the development of Leucaena as a pasture legume in Australia. In: Leucaena Research in the Asian-Pacific Region. IDRC, Ottawa, Canada, pp 41–48
Juo ASR (1979) Selected methods for soil and plant analysis. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. Manual series No. 1, 70 pp
Kang BT and Mulongoy K (1987) Gliricidia sepium as a source of green manure in an alley cropping system. In: Gliricidia sepium (Jacq) Valp: Management and improvement. NFTA special publication 87–01. pp 44–49
Kang BT, Wilson GF and Lawson TL (1984) Alley cropping: A stable alternative to shifting cultivation. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, 23 pp
Wilson GF and Kang BT (1981) Developing stable and productive biological cropping systems for the humid tropics. In: Stonehouse B (ed). Biological husbandry: A scientific approach to organic farming. Butterworth, London, pp 193–203
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cobbina, J., Kang, B.T. & Atta-Krah, A.N. Effect of soil fertility on early growth of Leucaena and Gliricidia in alley farms. Agroforest Syst 8, 157–164 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00123118
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00123118