Abstract
Field experiments were conducted on a tropical Alfisol at Ibadan, Nigeria, to evaluate the effects on soil moisture and crop yields of three agroforestry systems. Effects of agroforestry treatments involving two perennial shrubs (Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium), each at 2-m and 4-m row spacings, were compared with no-till and plow-till systems of seedbed preparation. Measurements were made for soil properties, runoff and erosion, nutrient losses in runoff, and crop growth and yield for a uniform maize (Zea mays) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) rotation. All of the six plots, each measuring 70 × 10m, were established on a natural slope of about 7%. Alterations in soil properties and effects on crop growth were evaluated for six consecutive years from 1982 through 1987.
Seed germination and seedling establishment of Leucaena hedgerows were satisfactory while establishment of Gliricidia from stem cuttings was unsatisfactory. Maize germination and crop stand were normal while that of cowpea were suppressed by both Leucaena and Gliricidia. Maize growth and yield were suppressed only in the vicinity of hedgerows. Maize grain yield in agroforestry systems averaged about 10 percent lower than that of the control. In contrast with maize, agroforestry systems drastically suppressed cowpea grain yield. The average cowpea yield in agroforestry systems was 30 to 50% of the control. Regardless of the mangement system, grain yields declined over time at the rate of 340 and 96 kg ha−1yr−1 for maize and cowpea, respectively.
Hedgerows of Leucaena and Gliricidia acted as windbreaks. Consequently, soil moisture content in the top 0–5 cm layer in agroforestry systems was generally higher than that in the control during both wet and dry seasons.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arap Sang FK and Hoekstra DA (1986) Dryland agroforestry research project, first season results of the greenmanure trial. Proc. Workshop on Alley Farming For Humid and Subhumid Regions of Tropical Africa', 10–14 March (1986) IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria
Babalola O and Lal R (1977) Sub-soil grave horizon and maize root growth. Plant Soil 46: 337–357
Benge M (1979) Use of Leucaena for soil erosion control and fertilization. USAID, Washington, DC
Borthakur BN, Prasad RN, Ghosh SP, Singh A, Awasthi RP, Rai RN, Varma A, Datta HH, Sachan JN and Singh MD (1981) Agroforestry-based farming systems as an alternative to Thuming. in: Proc Agroforestry Seminar, ICAR, New Delhi, India: 109–131
CTFT (1979) Conservation des sols de sud du sahars. Second edition, Centre Technique Forestia Tropicale, Nagent, 251 pp
De LeRosa MM (1984) A study on the growth and yield of corn intercropped with varying population of giant ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) on a hillside. Thesis, Visayes State College of Agriculture, Philippines
Fonze PF and Oberholzer E (1984) Use of multi-purpose trees in hill farming systems in western Nepal. Agroforestry Systems 2: 187–197
Gwyer G (1978) Developing hillside farming systems for the humid tropics: the case of the Philippines. Oxford Agrarian Studies 7: 1–37
Haynes RJ (1980) Competitive aspects of the grass-legume association. Adv Agron 33: 227–262
Hoekstra DA (1982) Leucaena leucocephala hedgerows intercropped with maize and beans. An ex-ante analysis of a condidate agro-forestry landuse system for the semi-arid areas in Mechakos District, Kenya. Agroforestry Systems 1: 335–345
Jurion F and Henry J (1969) Can primitive farming be modernized? INEAC Hors Series, Yangam bi, Zaire, pp 457
Kang BT, Sipkens L, Wilson GF and NanJu D (1981a) Leucaena prunings as a nitrogen source for maize. Fertilizer Research 2: 279–287
Kang BT, Wilson GF and Sipkens L (1981b) Alley cropping maize and leucaena in southern Nigeria. Plant and Soil 63: 165–179
Kang BT, Grimme H and Lawson TL (1985) Alley cropping sequentially cropped maize and coepea with Leucaena on a sandy soil in southern Nigeria. Plant and soil 85: 267–277
Lal R (1982) No-till farming. IITA Monograph Series 2, 68 pp
Lal R (1989) Agroforestry systems and soil surface management of a tropical Alfisol II. Soil Physical Properties. Agroforestry Systems (in press)
Lundgren B and Raintree JB (1983) Sustained agroforestry. In: Nestel B, ed, ‘Agricultural Research for Development: Potentials and Challenges in Asia’, ISNAR, The Hague
Nair PKR (1987) Agroforestry in the context of land clearing and development in the tropics. In: Lal R et al., eds, ‘Tropical Land Clearing For Sustainable Agriculture’, IBSRAM Proc. Series 3, Bangkok, Thailand: 29–44
Newman EI and Rovira AD (1975) Allelopathy among some British grassland species. J Ecol 63: 727–737
Newman EI Miller MH (1977) Alleopathy among some British grassland species. II Influence of root exudates on phosphorus uptake. J Ecol 65: 399–411
Ngambeki DS (1985) Economic evaluation of alley cropping Leucaena with maize-maize, and maize-cowpea in southern Nigeria. Agricultural Systems 17: 243–258
Pereira HC, Wood RA, Brzostowski, HW and Hosegood PA (1958) Water conservation by fallowing in semi-arid tropical east Africa. Emp J Exp Agr 26: 203–228
Randhawa, NS and Venkateswarlu J (1986) Farming systems research: Indian experience. IARC's Workshop on FSR, 17–21 Feb 1986, ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India
Reynold L and Atta-krah AN (1986) Alley farming with livestock. Proc. ‘Workshop on Alley Farming for Humid and Sub-Humid Regions of Tropical Africa’, 10–14 March 1986, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria
Singh RP, VanDenBeldt RJ, Hocking D and Korwar GR (1986) Alley-cropping in the semi-arid regions of India. Proc. ‘Workshop on Alley Farming for Humid and Sub-Humid Regions of Tropical Africa’, 10–14 March 1986, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria
Ssakabembe CK (1985) Perspectives on hedgerow intercropping. Agroforestry Systems 3: 339–356
Sukmana S, Suwardjo H, Abdurachman A and Dai J (1985) Prospect of Flemingis congeste for reclamation and conservation of volcanic skeletal soils. Pembr Pen Tanah Dan Pupuk 4: 50–54
Trenbath BR (1974) Biomass productivity of mixtures. Adv Agron 26: 177–210
Verinumbe I, Knipscheer HC and Enabor E (1984) The economic potential of Leguminous tree crops in zero-tillage cropping in Nigeria: a linear programming model. Agroforestry Systems 2: 129–138
Vine PN, Lal R and Payne D (1981) The influence of sand and gravels on root growth of maize seedlings. Soil Sci 131: 124–129
Wijewardene R (1981) Conservation farming. IITA-Sri Lanka Program, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 19 pp
Young A (1986) The potential of agroforestry for soil conservation. ICRAFT Working Paper No. 42, ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya, 68 pp
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lal, R. Agroforestry systems and soil surface management of a tropical alfisol: I: Soil moisture and crop yields . Agroforest Syst 8, 7–29 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00159066
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00159066