Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biomass allocation and growth performance of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray in coconut plantations in Sri Lanka

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Coconut is a popular plantation crop with a growth habit requiring wide space between palms. With the amount of sunlight that reaches coconut understory, the between-palms space can be used to grow other beneficial plants. Growing fertilizing shrubs within coconut rows can contribute to effective and sustainable use of coconut plantation soil. In the long term, sustainable coconut plantation systems will require shrubs that sprout quickly after periodic cutting to provide sufficient plant nutrients. Here, we report the results of a 4-year experiment on Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray biomass allocation and growth performance in coconut plantations in Sri Lanka. Effects of growing T. diversifolia, pruning frequency and its green manure application on soil properties, moisture, organic matter, bulk density and microbial activity were assessed in two agro-ecological research stations. Results revealed increasing dry foliage and wood biomass overtime. At higher pruning frequencies, foliage biomass increased while wood biomass decreased. Inversely, at lower pruning frequencies, wood biomass increased while foliage biomass declined. Growing T. diversifolia in coconut plantations had little effect on soil moisture content especially in humid area. In the long run, mulching reduced bulk density, improved soil nutrient, organic matter and microbial activity and palm leaf macronutrient levels. This study shows that T. diversifolia, when used as green manure crop in coconut plantations, has a great fertilizing capacity and potential to improve in the long term, not only the soil properties, but also the nutrient levels in the palm organs.

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
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdul Khalil HPS, Sohrab Hossain MD, Rosamah E, Azli NA, Saddon N, Davoudpoura Y, Nazrul Islam M, Dungani R (2015) The role of soil properties and its interaction towards quality plant fiber: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 43:1006–1015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JM, Ingram ISI (1993) Tropical soil biology and fertility: a handbook of methods, 2nd edn. C.A.B. International, Wallingford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Blair GJ, Boland OW (1978) The release of P from plant material added to soil. Aust J Soil Res 16:101–111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blankinship JC, Niklaus PA, Hungate BA (2011) A meta-analysis of responses of soil biota to global change. Oecologia 165:553–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bray RH, Kurtz LT (1945) Determination of total, organic, and available forms of phosphorus in soils. Soil Sci 59:39–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brockett BFT, Prescott CE, Grayston SJ (2012) Soil moisture is the major factor influencing microbial community structure and enzyme activities across seven biogeoclimatic zones in western Canada. Soil Biol Biochem 44(1):9–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhari PR, Ahire DV, Ahire VD, Chkravarty M, Maity S (2013) Soil bulk density as related to soil texture, organic matter content and available total nutrients of Coimbatore soil. Int J Sci Res Publ 3(2):1–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cong PT, Merckx R (2005) Improving phosphorus availability in two upland soils of Vietnam using Tithonia diversifolia H. Plant Soil 269:11–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Alwis KA, Panabokke CR (1972) Hand book of the soils of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). J Soil Sci Soc 2:1–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Dharmakeerthi RS (2007) Manual of soil sampling and analysis. In: Dharmakeerthi RS, Indraratne SP, Kumaragamage D (eds) Special publication no. 01, Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka, pp 19–21

  • Duguma B, Kang BT, Okali DUU (1988) Effect of pruning intensities of three woody leguminous species grown in alley cropping with maize and cowpea on an alfisol. Agrofor Syst 6:19–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ella A, Jacobsen C, Stur WW, Blair G (1989) Effect of plant density and cutting frequency on the productivity of four tree legumes. Tropical Grassl 23:28–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Gachengo CN, Palm CA, Jama B, Othieno C (1999) Tithonia and senna green manures and inorganic fertilizers as phosphorus sources for maize in Western Kenya. Agrofor Syst 44:21–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garrity DP, Mercado A (1994) Reforestation through agroforestry: market-driver smallholder timber production on the frontier. In: Raintree JB, Francisco HA (eds) Marketing of multipurpose tree products in Asia. Winrock International, Morrilton, pp 265–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Guevarra AB, Whitney AS, Thompson JT (1978) Influence of intra-row spacing and cutting regimes on the growth and yield of Leucaena. Agron J 70:1033–1037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hafifah H, Sudiarso S, Maghfoer MD, Prasetya B (2016) The potential of Tithonia diversifolia green manure for improving soil quality for cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Brotrytis L.). J. Degrad. Min. Land Manag. 3(2):499–506

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartemink AE, Buresh RJ, Jama B, Janssen BH (1996) Soil nitrate and water dynamic in sesbania fallows, weed fallows and maize. Soil Sci Soc Am J 60:568–574

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jama BA, Palm CA, Buresh RJ, Niang AI, Gachengo C, Nziguheba G, Amadalo B (2000) Tithonia diversifolia as a green manure for soil fertility improvement in Western Kenya: a review. Agrofor Syst 49:201–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jorge-Mustonen PS, Oelbermann M, Kass DCL (2014) Response of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to Tithonia diversifolia (Hamsl.) Gray biomass retention or removal in a slash and mulch agroforestry system. Agrofor Syst 88:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang BT (1997) Alley cropping soil productivity and nutrient recycling. For Ecol Manag 91:75–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kardol P, Cregger MA, Campany CE, Classen AT (2010) Soil ecosystem functioning under climate change: plant species and community effects. Ecology 91(3):767–781

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Latt CR, Nair PKR, Kang BT (2000) Interaction among cutting frequency, reserve carbohydrates, and post-cutting biomass production in Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala. Agrofor Syst 50:27–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin C, Tu S, Huang J, Chen Y (2009) The effect of plant hedgerows on the spatial distribution of soil erosion and soil fertility on sloping farmland in the purple-soil area of China. Soil Tillage Res 105:307–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manual of Analytical Methods (2001) Soils and plant nutrition division. Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila

    Google Scholar 

  • Mapa RB, Dassanayake AR, Nayakekorale HB (2005) Soils of the intermediate zone of Sri Lanka: morphology, characterization and classification. Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya

    Google Scholar 

  • Mensah S, Glèlè Kakaï R, Seifert T (2016) Patterns of biomass allocation between foliage and woody structure: the effects of tree size and specific functional traits. Ann For Res 59(1):49–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nziguheba G, Palm CA, Buresh RJ, Smithson PC (1998) Soil phosphorus fractions and absorption as affected by organic and inorganic sources. Plant Soil 198:159–168

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nziguheba G, Merckx R, Palm CA, Mutuo P (2002) Combining Tithonia diversifolia and fertilizers for maize production in a phosphorus deficient soil in Kenya. Agrofor Syst 55:165–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ojeniyi SO, Odedina SA, Agbede TM (2012) Soil productivity improving attributes of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) and siam weed (Chromoleana odorata). Emir J Food Agric 24:243–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Palm CA, Mukalama J, Agunda J, Nekesa P, Ajanga S (1996) Farm hedge survey: composition, management, use and potential for soil fertility management. Summary report for African Highlands Initiative. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Programme (TSBF), Nairobi

  • Partey ST (2011) Effect of pruning frequency and pruning height on the biomass production of Tithonia diversifolia (Helms) A. Gray. Agrofor Syst 83:181–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Partey ST, Quashie-sam SJ, Thevathasan NV, Gordon AM (2011) Decomposition and nutrient release patterns of the leaf biomass of the wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia): a comparative study with four leguminous agroforestry spices. Agrofor Syst 81:123–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pii Y, Mimmo T, Tomasi N, Terzano R, Cesco S, Crecchio C (2015) Microbial interactions in the rhizosphere: beneficial influences of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on nutrient acquisition process. A review. Biol Fertil Soils 51:403–415. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-015-0996-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quinkenstein A, Wöllecke J, Böhm C, Grünewald H, Freese D, Schneider BU, Hüttl RF (2009) Ecological benefits of the alley cropping agroforestry system in sensitive regions of Europe. Environ Sci Pol 12:1112–1121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutunga V, Karanja NK, Gachene CKK, Palm C (1999) Biomass production and nutrient accumulation by Tephrosia vogelii and Tithonia diversifolia fallows during the six-month growth period at Maseno, Western Kenya. Biotechnol Agron Soc Environ 3(4):237–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos GA, Batugal PA, Othman A, Baudouin L, Labouisse J-P (1996) Manual on standardized research techniques in coconut breeding. Int Plant Genet Resour Inst, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Senarathne SHS, Samarajeewa AD, Pererea KCP (2003) Comparison of different weed management systems and their effects on yield of coconut plantations in Sri Lanka. Weed Biol Manag 3:158–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simard RR (1993) Ammonium acetate Extractable Elements. In: Martin R, Carter S (eds) Soil sampling and methods of analysis. Lewis Publisher, Boca Raton, pp 39–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Smestad BT, Tiessen H, Buresh R (2002) Short fallows of Tithonia diversifolia and Crotalaria grahamiana for soil fertility improvement in western Kenya. Agrofor Syst 55:181–194. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020501627174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tennakoon A (1988) Organic manure for crop production. Coconut Bull 5(2):13–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas G (1996) Soil pH and soil acidity. In: Bigham JM, Bartels JM (eds), methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods. ASA-SSSA, Madison, pp 475–490

  • Thomas G, Shantaram MV (1984) In situ cultivation and incorporation of green manure legumes in coconut basins: an approach to improve soil fertility and microbial activity. Plant Soil 80:373–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Ranst E, Verloo M, Demeyer A, Pauwels JM (1999) Manuals for the soil chemistry and fertility laboratory. University of Gent, Gent

    Google Scholar 

  • Vijayaraghavan H, Ramachabdran TK (1989) Effect of in situ cultivation and incorporation of green manure crops on the yield of coconut. Cocos 7:26–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Tang L, Wang X, Chen F (2010) Effects of alley crop planting on soil and nutrient losses in the citrus orchards of the three Gorges Region. Soil Tillage Res 110:243–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan H, Liang C, Li Z, Liu Z, Miao B, He C, Sheng L (2015) Impact of precipitation patterns on biomass and species richness of annuals in a dry steppe. PLoS ONE 10(4):e0125300. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125300

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the Coconut Research Board, Sri Lanka for funding this research. Our thanks are extended to the technical staff of the Agronomy Division of Coconut Research Institute, who helped in data collection and sample analysis process. We also acknowledge the two anonymous reviewers for the constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China

    Anjana J. Atapattu

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100094, China

    Anjana J. Atapattu

  3. Agronomy Division, Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila, 61150, Sri Lanka

    Sumith H. S. Senarathne, Anjana J. Atapattu & Thilina Raveendra

  4. Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d’Estimations Forestières, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 1525, Cotonou, Benin

    Sylvanus Mensah

  5. Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Kithsiri B. Dassanayake

Authors
  1. Sumith H. S. Senarathne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anjana J. Atapattu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thilina Raveendra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sylvanus Mensah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kithsiri B. Dassanayake
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sylvanus Mensah.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Senarathne, S.H.S., Atapattu, A.J., Raveendra, T. et al. Biomass allocation and growth performance of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray in coconut plantations in Sri Lanka. Agroforest Syst 93, 1865–1875 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-018-0290-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-018-0290-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation