Soil fertility changes and response of maize and beans to green manures of leucaena, sesbania and pigeonpea

Abstract

Three multipurpose tree species (MPTS)-leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), sesbania (Sesbania sesban var. nubiea) and pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) were pruned at a height of 60 cm above the ground every two months, and resulting plant biomass was incorporated into the soil as green manure. For comparison, maize (Zea mays) stover was also incorporated into some plots, while some other plots were left fallow. Varying quantities of plant biomass which were incorporated into the soil over a period of 12 months caused large changes in major soil plant nutrients, and it substantially improved soil fertility. To test for improved soil fertility, test crops of maize and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) were grown on the test plots after six biomass incorporations of 4806, 13603, 16659 and 7793 kg. ha tyr ~ for pigeonpea, sesbania leucaena and maize, respectively. Responses of the test crops indicated that sesbania and leucaena green manures improved maize stover, cobs and grain yields; and bean haulms and grain yields by 77.6% when compared to fallow plots. Residual effects of green manures still resulted in significant (P < 0.05) yield differences in the test crop in the third testing season. Economic significance of green manures in increasing food crop yields to small scale farmers is discussed.

The effects of green manure and NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L) in the mount Cameroon region

“…A higher cob and grain yield in the third planting than in the first planting might be as a result of green manure. Onim et al (1990) reported similar results on the residual effects on green manure of Leucaena, Sesbania, and Cajanus species in cropping systems. Sharma and Acharya (2000) also indicated an increase in maize yield after three cropping seasons due to mulching with the cover crop Triticum aestivum.…”

Living Mulch Performance in a Tropical Cotton System and Impact on Yield and Weed Control

“…In vertisol soils of Ethiopia, sesbania subjected to multiple cuts has been reported to produce up to 1.5 tons ha −1 of dry matter in 105 days [41]. Onim et al [20] reported 14 tons ha −1 of aboveground dry matter from a 12-month sesbania crop in western Kenya. Therefore, sesbania has the capacity to use a longer growing season to produce large quantities of biomass.…”

“…Therefore, sesbania has the capacity to use a longer growing season to produce large quantities of biomass. Onim et al [20] also estimated nitrogen fixation by the sesbania crop at approximately 450 kg ha −1 . In our trials, considering an average dry matter production of 5 tons ha −1 , sesbania could have contributed 170 kg ha −1 of nitrogen, which is more than the recommended rate of nitrogen (100 kg ha −1 ) for cotton cultivation in Vidarbha.…”

“…Green manure species like sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) and sesbania [Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.] can produce considerably greater biomass [20] and fix more nitrogen [21] than pigeon pea, thereby offering potentially greater advantages as intercrops.…”

Efeito sazonal e de sistemas de manejo com pastagens de <em> Brachiaria decumbens </em> Stapf sobre as características químicas num Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo

“…Onim et al (1990) constataram o efeito positivo de Sesbânia na fertilidade do solo, devido à incorporação de sua biomassa produzida, resultando Acta Sci. Agron.…”