Influence of Shea Tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) on Maize and Soybean Production

Abstract

9Vitellaria paradoxa provides many benefits to farmers within the Shea belt. However, 10 increased threats to it necessitate its conservation, and one common approach is the practice 11 of agroforestry. A number of studies have shown that Shea tree has influence on crop 12 production, and yet, some of these studies were done using single season experiments or 13 bioassays using mature Shea tree components. In this study, the seasonal influence of young 14 and mature Shea trees on Maize and Soybean yields was investigated using field experiments 15 in Otuke district of northern Uganda, where, Shea tree parklands are dominant and Maize and 16Soybean are used for food security and income. Our results show that there are differential 17 responses of maize and soybean yield to rainy seasons and physiological differences of 18 Vitellaria paradoxa treatment. We find yield reduction for maize more pronounced than yield 19 reduction for soybeans under different Shea plants (Mature and Young) and for the two rainy 20 seasons. We attribute the difference to the differential maize and soybean responses to 21 Vitellaria paradoxa shading and its differential allelopathic inhibition of these crops. We 22 recommend that Soybeans should be preferred to maize when planting under Shea canopy. 23 24