Alley cropping or hedgerow intercropping is one of the many sub-systems of agroforestry technology. A 5 x 3 factorial experiment in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was used to determine the effect of four alley woody species and three plantain cultivars on the yield of ITA 331 upland rice grain in the 2017 and 2018 farming seasons. The Alley species, plantain  cultivars and Alley species x plantain cultivars treatment interactions showed no significant effects (p>0.05) on ITA 331 upland rice grain yield. Student t-test on the two farming seasons showed significant increase in yield of ITA 331 upland rice grain in 2018 than in 2017. The non-significantly different rice grain yield in the alley species treatment plots could be due to the generally high nutrient release of the decomposed legume-based alley species. Agroforestry combination of alley plants species and plantain cultivars is suitable for ITA 331 upland rice production. Key words: alley cropping, yield, ITA 331 upland rice grain, alley woody species, plantain cultivars

Alley cropping or hedgerow intercropping is one of the many sub-systems of agroforestry technology. A 5 x 3 factorial experiment in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was used to determine the effect of four alley woody species and three plantain cultivars on the yield of 60-day cowpea grain in the 2017 and 2018 farming seasons. The Alley species, plantain cultivars and Alley species x plantain cultivars treatment interactions showed no significant effects (p<0.05) on cowpea grain yield. Students t-test on the two farming seasons showed significant increase in yield of cowpea grain in 2018 than in 2017. Alley cropping technology could increase 60-day cowpea grain yield due to improved soil fertility in the system. Keywords: alley cropping, yield, 60-day cowpea, alley woody species, plantain cultivars

Nutrition is one of the major constraints to livestock production in the tropics. This research aimed at assessing the nutritive contents of Allanblackia floribunda leaves from different sylvopastoralism locations in the southeastern agroecological zone of Nigeria: Ikwuano L.G.A. in Abia state, Ikom L.G.A. in Cross River state and Eleme L.G.A. in Rivers State. Leaf samples were analysed in the laboratory to determine their nutritive contents. The results of the proximate, minerals and vitamins analysis of Allanblackia floribunda leaves from Ikwuano, Ikom and Eleme as follows; crude protein: 9.51%, 8.46%, 9.86%; fat: 4.64%, 3.69%, 4.19%; Crude fibre: 17.32%, 15.24%, 17.12%; ash: 5.26%, 4.10%, 4.50%; carbohydrate: 0.46%,0.41%, 0.46% and moisture: 10.07%, 9.90%, 9.60%. For the mineral contents, calcium:14.70mg/100g,14.6970mg/100g, 15.37mg/100g; magnesium: 11.20 mg/100g, 11.33 mg/100g, 10.40 mg/100g; phosphorus: 287.88 mg/100g, 280.53 mg/100g, 290.05 mg/100g; potassium: 217.67 mg/100g, 219.12 mg/100g, 220.13 mg/100g and sodium: 21.07 mg/100g, 21.70 mg/100g, 20.67 mg/100g. For the vitamins, vitamins C: 15.25 mg/100g, 11.73 mg/100g, 14.66 mg/100g; thiamine: 0.04 mg/100g, 0.06 mg/100g, 0.04 mg/100g; riboflavin: 0.06 mg/100g, 0.06 mg/100g, 0.04 mg/100g; niacin: 0.18 mg/100g, 0.22 mg/100g, 0.16 mg/100g. The Anova results showed significant differences (p<0.05) in the proximate, minerals and vitamins contents, and such could reflect the variation in the types of soil and water availability in the areas. Generally, Allanblackia floridunda leaves are good source of forage for livestock. Keywords: Nutritive contents, Allanblackia floribunda leaves, sylvopastoralism, southeastern agroecological zone

Alley farming is an agroforestry system that utilizes trees for maintaining soil fertility and improving livestock production. This research assessed the nutrients and nutritive values of the leaves of four alley woody species: Cajanus cajan, Gliricidia sepium, Flamingia macrophylla and Leucaena leucocephala used at the agroforestry research farm of Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. Umudike. The results obtained showed that the leaves of the alley woody species contained: N, P, K, Ca, Mg and heavy metals like: Fe, Pb, Zn, and Cd in significant quantity while Cr was trace amount. Ni content was not significant (P>0.05). They also contained high moisture, Crude fibre, Crude protein, Carbohydrate and vitamins. The four alley woody species could be an ideal combination in alley farming system in revitalizing poor agricultural soil through litterfall and nutrient cycling and as well provide forage for livestock production. Keywords: Alley farming, alley woody species, nutrient content, nutritive value