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

Abstract

This study was carried out in the Mount Cameroon region to evaluate the effects of green manure and fertilizer on the growth and yield of maize. There were eight treatments: Calliandra prunings, Calliandra prunings + fertilizer (60kg/ha NPK), Gliricidia prunings, Gliricidia prunings + fertilizer, Senna prunings, Senna prunings + fertilizer, fertilizer only (120 kg/ha NPK) and control. Results showed that biomass of prunings in the first pruning was highest in Calliandra (5314kg/ha) and this was significantly different from those of Senna (2909kg/ha) and Gliricidia (2112kg/ha). Nitrogen input from the prunings was highly significant (P<0.05) in Calliandra prunings (217 kgN/ha) and least in Gliricidia species (69.0kgN/ha). Maize grain yield in the different treatments was not significantly different in the first and second planting seasons. The highest grain yield during the third cropping season was observed in Calliandra + fertilizer (4696kg/ha) and least in control (3332kg/ha). It was also noted that nitrogen uptake was highest in plots supplied with fertilizer only and lowest in control. Weed biomass was highest in control and in plots supplied with fertilizer only. Soil chemical changes after three cropping periods showed variable changes in treatments. There was decrease in bulk density in plots supplied with Calliandra prunings.

Effect of mulch types on nutrient composition, maize (Zea mays L.) yield and soil properties of a tropical Alfisol in Southwestern Nigeria

“…Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia (5.69 and 5.67) mulched plots recorded higher soil pH levels over other mulched plots, control plot and NPK standard (Table 3). The increase in soil pH might be due to the effect of the chopped herbaceous mulch and shrub which tend to improve on soil exchangeable bases while reducing exchangeable acidity thereby reducing soil acidity, similar results were also observed by Egbe et al (2012). Soil organic carbon (SOC) of mulched plots was also increased significantly with Calopogonium mucunoides (1.99 g/kg) recording the highest SOC rate over all other treatments which includes the control and NPK treatment.…”

“…The slightly higher value recorded for Gliridia sepium may be ascribed to the fact that the treatment had high concentrations of N and P which after decomposition are released by mineralization for plant uptake. Egbe et al (2012) reported that application of Gliricidia sepium leaf litter positively affected growth and yield of maize.…”

Growth, yield and vitamin C content of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) as affected by green biomass of Parkia biglobosa and Tithonia diversifolia

“…Organic means of replenishing the soil include the use of green biomass, plant residues and plant litters, animal wastes and so on, which decompose and nitrify the soil. Plants through its litter fall or the direct incorporation of its leaves and residues into the soil has helped to improve the soil nutrient level through decomposition (Mafongoya et al 1997), as well as ameliorating soil physical properties to sustain crop production (Egbe et al 2012). Application of organic materials as soil amendments is an important management strategy that can improve and uplift soilquality characteristics and alter the nutrient cycling through mineralization or immobilization turnover of added materials (Abbasi et al 2015).…”

Cercas vivas en sistemas de producción tropicales: una revisión mundial de los usos y percepciones

“…Provisión de madera: La extracción de madera fue descrita en el 18 % de los artículos en la región neotropical, seguido del 5 % y el 1 % de las regiones tropicales de África y Asia, respectivamente. Los artículos que reportaron este uso describen que intencionalmente los agricultores y ganaderos siembran especies maderables dentro de las cercas vivas (Erythrina berteroana, Samanea saman, Minquartia guianensis y Lysiloma divaricatum), para posteriormente aprovechar su madera (Romero, Chana, Montenegro, Sanchez, & Guevara, 1991;Ayuk, 1997;Betancourt, Ibrahim, Harvey, & Vargas, 2003;Muñoz, Harvey, Sinclair, Mora, & Ibrahim, 2003;Villacis, Harvey, Ibrahim, & Villanueva, 2003;Harvey et al, 2005;Zahawi, 2005;Love et al, 2009;Nascimento et al, 2009;Chavarría, Detlefsen, Ibrahim, Galloway, & de Camino, 2011;Pérez et al, 2011;Egbe, Fonge, Mokake, Besong, & Fongod, 2012;Grechi et al, 2013;Siles et al, 2013;Ruiz-Guerra, Rosas & López-Acosta, 2014;Sousa, Detlefsen, Virginio, Tobar, & Casanoves, 2016).…”