Nitrogen Dynamics in Cropping Systems in Southern Malawi Containing Gliricidia sepium, Pigeonpea and Maize

This study tested the hypothesis that incorporation of green leaf manure (GLM) from leguminous trees into agroforestry systems may provide a substitute for inorganic N fertilisers to enhance crop growth and yield. Temporal and spatial changes in soil nitrogen availability and use were monitored for various cropping systems in southern Malawi. These included Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. trees intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.), with and without pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.), sole maize, sole pigeonpea, sole gliricidia and a maize + pigeonpea intercrop. Soil mineral N was determined before and during the 1997/1998, 1998/1999 and 1999/2000 cropping seasons. Total soil mineral N content (NO₃⁻ + NH₄⁺) was greatest in the agroforestry systems (p<0.01). Pre-season soil mineral N content in the 0–20 cm horizon was greater in treatments containing trees (≤85 kg N ha⁻¹) than in those without (<60 kg ha⁻¹; p<0.01); however, soil mineral N content declined rapidly during the cropping season. Uptake of N was substantially greater in the agroforestry systems (200–270 kg N ha⁻¹) than in the maize + pigeonpea and sole maize treatments (40–95 kg N ha⁻¹; p<001). Accumulation of N by maize was greater in the agroforestry systems than in sole maize and maize + pigeonpea (p<0.01); grain accounted for 55% of N uptake by maize in the agroforestry systems, compared to 41–47% in sole maize and maize + pigeonpea. The agroforestry systems enhanced soil fertility because mineralisation of the applied GLM increased pre-season soil mineral N content. However, this could not be fully utilised as soil N declined rapidly at a time when maize was too small to act as a major sink for N. Methods for reducing losses of mineral N released from GLM are therefore required to enhance N availability during the later stages of the season when crop requirements are greatest. Soil mineral N levels and maize yields were similar in the gliricidia + maize and gliricidia + maize + pigeonpea treatments, implying that addition of pigeonpea to the tree-based system provided no additional improvement in soil fertility.     

Aboveground and belowground competition between intercropped cabbage and young Eucalyptus torelliana

An expanding market for planted timber in the Philippines is providing a strong incentive for upland farmers to incorporate trees into their farming systems. Farmers often intercrop young timber species with well-fertilized annuals in expectation that inter- species competition for nutrients and light will be minimal while the trees are small, and that the trees will benefit from intensive nutrient and weed management of the intercrop. The relative level of aboveground and belowground competition in a vegetable/timber intercropping system was investigated in the uplands of Mindanao, the Philippines. Eight 5-m² microplots were established containing one nine-month-old Eucalyptus torelliana and four rows of cabbage (two on each of the north and south sides of the tree, 0.5 and 1.0 m from the stem base). The tree canopy shaded north rows. Monocrop cabbage microplots (2 m²) were also installed. Four tree/cabbage microplots and all cabbage-only plots were fertilized with ¹⁵ 5N-labeled ammonium sulfate (100 kg N ha⁻¹); remaining microplots received unlabeled fertilizer. Cabbage yields were reduced by 16% in the north rows when compared to the south rows, and by 15% in rows closer to the tree when compared to rows further from the trees. Belowground competition in the first cabbage row, possibly for moisture, is supported by the high proportion of tree roots found in the top 30 cm of soil. Competition did not appear to be for N or other nutrients. Foliar analyses revealed no row differences in mineral concentrations in cabbage, uptake of applied N, or percent of N derived from fertilizer. The modest amount of 15N found in aboveground tree parts (4.5% of N applied to four cabbage rows) improved overall N-use efficiency in the intercropped plots. An improved understanding of the tradeoffs between improved nutrient efficiency and depressed intercrop growth, as well as management options to reduce competition, will help farmers design systems to improve efficiency without increasing competition. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fertilizers in agroforestry systems

This review encompasses results of fertilization experiments on several agroforestry systems—alley cropping, perennial shade systems, home gardens—in which fertilizer use is a likely management alternative. Fertilizer response was found to be most common in alley cropping, variable in perennial shade systems, and rarely reported in home gardens. Level of nutrient removal in harvested products is probably the overriding factor in determining fertilizer response; greater accumulation of organic residues, slower growth under shade, and longer periods of nutrient uptake probably also contribute to the relatively smaller fertilizer response of the perennial shade systems and home gardens. Considerable knowledge gaps exist regarding the breakdown of organic residues, and interactions between mineral and organic amendments. Systems based on annual crops (e.g., alley cropping) are likely to be less nutrient-efficient and sustainable than systems based on perennial crops, due to reduced fixation and transfer of N to the crops, the tendency of the trees to compete for and sequester nutrients, relatively high P requirements of the crops, and the high labor cost of tree management. The possible benefits of fertilization of specific components in home gardens, and relative advantages of including low-value tree legumes, high-value shade trees, and fertilization in shaded perennial systems are only beginning to receive research attention.     

Root activity patterns in an Amazonian agroforest with fruit trees determined by 32P, 33P and 15N applications

In a multi-strata agroforestry system in the central Amazon near Manaus, we studied the root activity distribution of different fruit trees and a legume cover crop in comparison to monocultures and a secondary forest site. Uptake of applied ³²P, ³³P and ¹⁵N from 0.1, 0.6 and 1.5 m depth was compared in both the dry and wet season. The results obtained with ³²P were similar to those with ¹⁵N but showed a higher variability, probably due to the lower mobility of P than N in soil and thus the labeling of a smaller soil volume with ³²P. During the dry season, topsoil root activity measured with ¹⁵N was around 80% for all species with the exception of the palm tree Bactris gasipaes Kunth., which had a higher uptake from 0.6 m (50%) than from 0.1 m (30%). The subsoil (1.5 m) root activity was higher, when Bactris was not regularly cut for heart of palm harvest but grown for fruit production. Additionally, relative subsoil root activity of Theobroma increased and topsoil root activity of both Bactris and Theobroma decreased when intercropped in comparison to the monoculture. During the rainy season, the topsoil tree root activity slightly increased attributable to increasing water availability near the soil surface. The lowest isotope enrichment was noted for the secondary forest trees despite their low above ground biomass. The magnitude of the isotope enrichment was related to the foliar P and less pronounced to the foliar N contents, indicating higher nutrient cycling for nutrient-rich plant species. Despite the significant subsoil root activity (1.5 m) there was little evidence that large amounts of nutrients below 1 m depth can be recycled by the investigated tree species. More important may be a rapid recycling of nutrients from 0–1 m depth.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of black locust on productivity and nitrogen nutrition of intercropped barley

Effects of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) on productivity and N nutrition of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were evaluated under various management regimes (2 soil types, 3 levels of N fertilizer, and 3 cropping systems — barley alone, and barley intercropped with trees pruned or unpruned).Intercropping did not affect productivity and N nutrition of barley in 1988 when trees were small. However, there was a significant yield decline in 1989 as the trees grew bigger. On average, productivity of the sole crop was 8% higher in both soil types. Pruning and mulching moderated the yield reduction compared with the unpruned treatment. Competition for soil moisture was considered a major constraint. Nonetheless, the overall productivity (barley+black locust) from the intercropped treatments was 53% higher than sole cropping.In 1989 and 1990, intercropped barley had significantly higher grain and straw N concentrations (%). In 1989, for example, grain N content was 11% higher than in the sole crop. Removal of trees in 1990 resulted in significant increase in productivity and N content of subsequent barley crop relative to continuous sole cropping. From N nutrition viewpoint, barley from previously intercropped treatments showed superior quality and it had, on average, 23% higher grain N content than the sole crop. This was attributed to N₂-fixation and N return by black locust. It was estimated that black locust contributed about 36 kg N ha^–1 to the system.This study underscores the role black locust is potentially capable of playing in the development of sustainable and low-input agricultural systems in temperate regions. Nonetheless, the study also illustrates the importance of the below and above-ground interactions that occur in intercropped systems and the need for further research in this area.     

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza effects on Gliricidia sepium and Senna siamea in a fallowed alley cropping system

Nitrogen fixing and non-N₂ fixing legumes such as Gliricidia speium and Senna siamea have been used in alley cropping systems for soil improvement and source of N for food crops. However their establishments could be limited by P and moisture deficiencies in degraded soils. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can help to overcome these deficiencies. We examined the effects of a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus, Glomus deserticola, on the performance of sole hedgerow trees of Gliricidia sepium and Senna siamea and their mixtures (interplanted) in a fallowed alley cropping experiment on a degraded Alfisol in southwestern Nigeria. Percentage root infection by VAM fungi was higher in inoculated plants than in uninoculated ones irrespective of whether they were interplanted or non-interplanted. Inoculation with G. deserticola increased dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake (N. P, Mg and K) but there was no significant interaction between mycorrhizal inoculation and interplanting for growth and nutrient uptake except for the uptake of P, Mg and K in G. sepium. Inoculation with G. deserticola reduced leaf shedding of G. sepium by 50% but did not have the same effect for S. siamea. For both tree species inoculated plants extracted more water from 0–30 cm depth than the uninoculated ones.     

Five native tree species and manioc under slash-and-mulch agroforestry in the eastern Amazon of Brazil: plant growth and soil responses

Throughout the Amazon of Brazil, manioc (Manihot esculenta) is a staple crop produced through slash-and-burn agriculture. Nutrient losses during slash-and-burn can be large and nutrient demand by food crops so great that fields are often abandoned after two years. In recent decades, farmers have reduced the fallow phase from 20 to ~5 years, limiting plant nutrient accumulation to sustain crop yields. Improved fallows through simultaneous planting of trees with food crops may accelerate nutrient re-accumulation. In addition, slash-and-mulch technology may prevent loss of nutrients due to burning and mulch decomposition may serve as a slow-release source of nutrients. This study in Pará, Brazil, in a 7-year-old secondary forest following slashing and mulching of the vegetation, involved two main plot treatments (with and without P and K fertilizers) and two sub-plot treatments (with or without a N₂-fixer Inga edulis). A mixed-culture of trees and manioc was planted in all plots. P and K fertilizer increased tree mortality due to weed competition but growth of surviving trees in four of the five tree species tested also increased as did biomass production of manioc. In the N₂-fixer treatment trends of greater growth and survival of four of five tree species and manioc biomass were also observed. Fertilization increased the biomass of competing vegetation, but there was a fertilizer by N₂-fixer interaction as I. edulis caused a reduction in competing biomass in the fertilized treatment. After one year, fertilization increased decomposition of the mulch such that Ca, Mg, and N contents within the mulch all decreased. In contrast, P and K contents of mulch increased in all treatments. No influence of the N₂-fixer on 0–10 cm soil N contents was observed. Two years after establishment, this agroforestry system succeeded in growing a manioc crop and leaving a well-maintained tree fallow after the crop harvest.     

Absorption and partitioning of applied 15N in a black pepper + erythrina system in Kerala, India

The fate of applied N in soil and its relative uptake by black pepper vine and erythrina tree on which the vine was trailed, were determined using ¹⁵N-labelled urea. Rapid depletion of ¹⁵N from 0-50 cm root zone was noticed due to heavy leaching during rains. The isotope content of the soil fell below the detection limit within one month of urea application. Both the vine and support tree absorbed N from the labelled fertilizer applied to the soil basin of the vine. Fertilizer use efficiency in black pepper vine was very low, in the range of 6 to 12%. On the other hand, the contribution of applied urea towards N uptake by erythrina support tree was 24 to 40%. Poor utilization of the applied N by the vine was, besides leaching of the nutrient, due to the severe root competition from the support tree. The overall utilization of the applied N was 51.4% by the vine and tree put together when N was applied at the rate of 25 g plant^–1 and 31.0% for the dose of 50 g N plant^–1.     

Nitrogen fertilization and aspects of fruit yield in a Missouri black walnut alley cropping practice

Increasing nut production through cultural practices is important to landowners for maximizing economic gain from agroforestry plantings. This project studied the effects of applying low rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer during either the spring or late summer, on pistillate flowers formed, fruits retained, and fruit quality (percentage kernel) in black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) grown under alley cropping management. Treatments consisted of two forms of nitrogen fertilizers (NH₄NO₃ and NaNO₃) applied in mid-April, or mid-August of 1995 and 1996, and a nonfertilized control group. Pistillate flowers counted in May, 1996, showed that fertilized trees, regardless of timing or form of N applied, produced from 2.3 to 3.4 times the number of pistillate flowers as unfertilized control trees. Through the season, the fertilized trees had greater fruit retention, and ended with 2.9 to 4.8 times more walnuts (on a whole tree basis) than nonfertilized control trees. In addition, all fertilizer treatments resulted in increased nut yields from 1995 to 1996, while unfertilized control tree yields decreased approximately 70%. Summer application of fertilizer showed the greatest benefit to kernel weight. Average kernel weights of nuts from the summer-fertilized trees increased from 1995 to 1996, while kernel weight averages from spring-fertilized and nonfertilized trees remained unchanged or decreased. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Brazil nut conservation through shifting cultivation

The regeneration of Brazil nut trees depends on tree-fall gaps in the forest. However, shifting cultivation fallows also create comparable biotic and abiotic opportunities for the dispersion and establishment of this gap-loving species. At the same time, the ability of Brazil nut trees to resprout enables fallow individuals to survive successive slash-and-burn cycles. Recognizing the importance of shifting cultivation for the food security of forest dwellers, we investigated whether the high level of Brazil nut regeneration found in cultivation fallows could be explained by the resprouting capability of Brazil nut trees, the number of cultivation cycles, past agricultural use and distance to the nearest conspecific productive adults. We found that the Brazil nut tree population density increased from 8.86 trees ha⁻¹ to 13.69 trees ha⁻¹ and 27.09 trees ha⁻¹ at sites after one, two and three or more shifting cultivation cycles, respectively. As a consequence of resprouting, after a certain number of shifting cultivation cycles, the fallows become dominated by Brazil nut trees, and the landholders may decide to preserve them and to exclude enriched sites from future agricultural use. Protected for their extractive value, the secondary forests spontaneously enriched with Brazil nut trees are allowed to develop into nut-producing forests that have reduced chances of conversion into crops or pastures, thus reversing the classical process of Amazon forest degradation.     

Tracer methods to assess nutrient uptake distribution in multistrata agroforestry systems

Separate assessment of nutrient uptake by individual plants in mixed cropping with trees is impossible without tracer techniques. The different ¹⁵N-to-¹⁴N isotope ratio of atmospheric and soil N can be used to study the contribution of biologically fixed N to the nutrition of associated trees. In most cases, the assessment of nutrient uptake distribution is an appropriate way of evaluating how to improve the transfer of biologically fixed N. Radioisotopes (e.g., ³²P), stable isotopes (e.g., ¹⁵N) and rare elements (e.g., Sr) can be used to determine relative root activity distribution by applying the tracer to different soil depths or distances from trees. A broadcast application of the tracer instead of point application makes it possibe to calculate uptake values per unit area. The direct determination of nutrient pathways with such robust experiments offers considerable advantages for improving nutrient use efficiency and complementarity in multistrata agroforestry systems. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pruning effects on root distribution and nutrient dynamics in an acacia hedgerow planting in northern Kenya

Tree pruning is a common management practice in agroforestry for mulching and reducing competition between the annual and perennial crop. The below-ground effects of pruning, however, are poorly understood. Therefore, nutrient dynamics and root distribution were assessed in hedgerow plantings of Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L. Wendl. after tree pruning. Pruning to a height of 1.5 m was carried out in March and September 1996. In July and October 1996, the fine root distribution (< 2 mm) and their carbohydrate contents were determined at three distances to the tree row by soil coring. At the same time, foliar nutrient contents were assessed, whereas nutrient leaching was measured continuously. The highest root length density (RLD) was always found in the topsoil (0–0.15 m) directly under the hedgerow (0–0.25 m distance to trees). Pruning diminished the RLD in the acacia plots at all depths and positions. The relative vertical distribution of total roots did not differ between trees with or without pruning, but live root abundance in the subsoil was comparatively lower when trees were pruned than without pruning. In the dry season, the proportion of dead roots of pruned acacias was higher than of unpruned ones, while the fine roots of unpruned trees contained more glucose than those of pruned trees. Pruning effectively reduced root development and may decrease potential below-ground competition with intercropped plants, but the reduction in subsoil roots also increased the danger of nutrient losses by leaching. Leaching losses of such mobile nutrients as NO₃^– were likely to occur especially in the alley between pruned hedgerows and tended to be higher after pruning. The reduced size of the root system of pruned acacias negatively affected their P and Mn nutrition. Pruning also reduced the function of the trees as a safety net against the leaching of nutrients for both NO₃^– and Mn, though not for other studied elements. If nutrient capture is an important aim of an agroforestry system, the concept of alley cropping with pruning should be revised for a more efficient nutrient recycling in the system described here.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Approaches to modelling the uptake of water and nutrients in agroforestry systems

This review presents information about root systems of crops and trees and describes approaches that have been used to model uptake of water and nutrients in crops that may have application to agroforestry systems. Only a few measurements of the distribution of tree roots in agroforestry systems have been published and these are predominantly in alley cropping systems with young trees. Therefore, a major limitation to developing water and nutrient uptake models for trees is the lack of adequate measurements and conceptual models for describing the distribution of roots spatially and temporally. Most process-based modelling approaches to water and nutrient uptake integrate the activities of a single root over the whole root system. Several difficulties can be foreseen with applying these approaches to roots of older trees including the presence of mycorrhizal associations so that the root surface is not the site of uptake, the uncertainty as to whether all tree roots are active in taking up water and nutrients, and the fact that, unlike annual crops, trees have substantial reserves of nutrients that can be mobilised to support growth so that the notion of a plant demand regulating uptake may prove difficult to define. The review concludes that a programme of experimental measurements is required together with modelling using approaches both in which roots are implicit, and in which process-based models with roots allow competitive ability to be assessed.     

Nitrogen and fine root length dynamics in a tropical agroforestry system with periodically pruned Erythrina poeppigiana

The effect of pruning all branches (complete pruning) or retaining one branch (partial pruning) on the dynamics of nitrogen cycling in aboveground biomass, nitrogen supplying power of an amended Eutric Cambisol, and fine root length, was studied in an Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.F. Cook—tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) alley cropping practice in Turrialba, Costa Rica during 1999–2000. Over the 1 year pruning cycle, in which trees were completely or partially pruned four times, respective aboveground biomass production was 4.4 Mg or 7 Mg ha⁻¹ (2-year-old trees) and 5.5 Mg or 9 Mg ha⁻¹ (8-year-old trees); N cycled in aboveground biomass was 123 kg or 187 kg ha⁻¹ (2-year-old trees) and 160 kg or 256 kg N ha⁻¹ (8-year-old trees); mean fine root length was 489 or 821 m (2-year-old-trees), 184 or 364 m per tree (8-year-old-trees). Pruning intensity did not significantly affect net N mineralisation and net nitrification rates during the tomato-cropping season. For the tomato crop, pre-plant mean net N mineralisation rate of 2.5 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹ was significantly lower than 16.7 or 11.6 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹ at the end of vegetative development and flowering, respectively. Mean net nitrification rates of 3.5, and 4.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹, at pre-plant and end of vegetative development, respectively, were significantly higher than 0.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹ at end of flowering. In humid tropical low-input agroforestry practices that depend on organic inputs from trees for crop nutrition, retention of a branch on the pruned tree stump appears to be a good alternative to removal of all branches for reducing N losses through higher N cycling in aboveground biomass, and for conserving fine root length for higher N uptake, although it might enhance competition for associated crops.     

The agronomic and economic performance of banana,bean and tree intercropping in the highlands of Burundi: an interim assessment

To meet their wood, fodder and fruit needs, resource-poor farmers with only small land holdings are forced to mix trees in their food crop plots. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of nine tree species planted at 312.5 trees ha^–1 (4×8 m) on the yield of bananas planted at 625 stools ha^–1 (4×4 m) and beans (80000 plants ha^–1) as well as the wood production of the trees when intercropped. In addition, an economic analysis was done to compare the different tree/banana/bean associations.After three and one-half years, wood volume (in m³ ha^–1) ofGrevillea robusta (18.1), was highest and that ofErythrina poeppigiana (2.7),Cedrela odorata (2.4) orMarkhamia lutea (0.8) was the lowest. Volume ofCedrela serrata (13.7) was not significantly different from that ofAlbizia chinensis (12.8) but was significantly higher than that ofLeucaena diversifolia (6.8),Acrocarpus fraxinifolius (6.7) orCalliandra calothyrsus (6.0).None of the tree species had a significant influence on the yields of the bananas and none affected the yield of the bean crops until the seventh cropping season, three years after the trees were planted. In that year, Grevillea reduced bean yield by 29%, Albizia by 34% and Leucaena by 36%. From the economic analyses, all the treatments except Leucaena and Markhamia had positive net benefits relative to the control (banana/bean) but the results were highly variable.C. serrata was found to be the best tree to be intercropped in a banana/bean system.     

Arthropod diversity in alley cropped black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) stands in eastern Missouri, USA

Knowledge of the complex interactions among trees, crops and their associated fauna is necessary to determine the viability of a particular agroforestry practice. Information is lacking concerning these interactions, particularly in temperate agroforestry practices. We examined the effects of two forages on the growth, nut production, and arthropod communities of alley cropped eastern black walnut, Juglans nigra L. Experimental plots of eastern black walnut, intercropped with alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., smooth bromegrass, Bromis inermis Leyss., or no vegetation were sampled with sweep nets prior to each cutting date for the forages. Comparisons were made between treatments and sampling dates. Tree growth measurements, nut yield and other nut quality measurements were taken at the end of each growing season. There were no differences in tree growth among alleyway treatments. The first season's nut yield was greater from trees with vegetation-free alleyways; otherwise nut production did not differ among the treatments. Arthropods were more numerous and diverse in alley cropped alfalfa than in alley cropped bromegrass or in the vegetation-free controls. Alley cropped bromegrass supported a more diverse population of arthropods than did the vegetation-free control. Arthropod diversity in the tree canopies did not differ among treatments. Alley cropped forages supported a more diverse and even arthropod fauna than did adjacent monocropped forages. We conclude that alley cropped forages had a relatively minor impact on the growth and nut yield of walnut trees.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Testing the safety-net role of hedgerow tree roots by 15N placement at different soil depths

Trees which root below crops may have a beneficial role in simultaneous agroforestry systems by intercepting and recycling nutrients which leach below the crop rooting zone. They may also compete less strongly for nutrients than trees which root mainly within the same zone as crops. To test these hypotheses we placed highly enriched ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium sulphate at three depths in the soil between mixed hedgerows of the shallow-rooting Gliricidia sepium and the deep rooting Peltophorum dasyrrhachis. A year after the isotope application most of the residual ¹⁵N in the soil remained close to the injection points due to the joint application with a carbon source which promoted ¹⁵N immobilization. Temporal ¹⁵N uptake patterns (two-weekly leaf sub-sampling) as well as total ¹⁵N recovery measurements suggested that Peltophorum obtained more N from the subsoil than Gliricidia. Despite this Gliricidia appeared to compete weakly with the crop for N as it recovered little ¹⁵N from any depth but obtained an estimated 44–58% of its N from atmospheric N₂-fixation. Gliricidia took up an estimated 21 kg N ha^–1 and Peltophorum an estimated 42 kg N ha^–1 from beneath the main crop rooting zone. The results demonstrate that direct placement of ¹⁵N can be used to identify N sourcing by trees and crops in simultaneous agroforestry systems, although the heterogeneity of tree root distributions needs to be taken into account when designing experiments. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soil water dynamics in cropping systems containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gliricidia sepium</Emphasis>, pigeonpea and maize in southern Malawi

The water dynamics of cropping systems containing mixtures of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp trees with maize (Zea mays L.) and/or pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) were examined during three consecutive cropping seasons. The trees were pruned before and during each cropping season, but were left unpruned after harvesting the maize; prunings were returned to the cropping area in all agroforestry systems to provide green leaf manure. The hypothesis was that regular severe pruning of the trees would minimise competition with crops for soil moisture and enhance their growth by providing additional nutrients. Neutron probe measurements were used to determine spatial and temporal changes in soil moisture content during the 1997/98, 1998/99 and 1999/00 cropping seasons for various cropping systems. These included gliricidia intercropped with maize, with and without pigeonpea, a maize + pigeonpea intercrop, sole maize, sole pigeonpea and sole gliricidia. Soil water content was measured to a depth of 150 cm in all treatments at 4–6 week intervals during the main cropping season and less frequently at other times. Competition for water was apparently not a critical factor in determining crop performance as rainfall exceeded potential evaporation during the cropping season in all years. The distribution of water in the soil profile was generally comparable in all cropping systems, implying there was no spatial complementarity in water abstraction by tree and crop roots. However, available soil water content at the beginning of the cropping season was generally lower in the tree-based systems, suggesting that the trees continued to deplete available soil water during the dry season. The results show that, under rainfall conditions typical of southern Malawi, the soil profile contains sufficient stored water during the dry season (ca. 75–125 mm) to support the growth of gliricidia and pigeonpea, and that gliricidia trees pruned before and during the cropping season did not deleteriously compete for water with associated crops. Water use efficiency also appeared to be higher in the tree-based systems than in the sole maize and maize + pigeonpea treatments, subject to the proviso that the calculations were based on changes in soil water content rather than absolute measurements of water uptake by the trees and crops.     

A strategy for tree-perennial crop productivity: nursery phase nutrient additions in cocoa-shade agroforestry systems

Shade tolerant species response to nutrient additions and light regulation by canopy trees in perennial agroforestry systems has been well documented. However, accelerated early growth, particularly in cocoa-shade systems, may be offset by competition for limited resources on nutrient poor sites. To date, few agroforestry management strategies focus on nutrient manipulation of the shade tree component or strategies for precision nutrient application. Our research objective was to diagnose interactions between nutrient supplied shade trees intercropped with cocoa. We established greenhouse trials in Kwadaso, Ghana cultivating Terminalia superba seedlings with four fertility treatment levels: conventional rate (current practices) under linear additions, and half, full and double conventional rate under exponential additions (steady-state nutrition) to determine maximal growth and nutrient uptake. After 4 months of additions in the nursery, pre-fertilized T. superba seedlings were then out-planted into field trials with cocoa seedlings. After 4 months of intercropping, cocoa associated with half rate exponentially supplied T. superba had significantly larger leaf area, greater leaf number, and higher nutrition (N and P uptake) than cocoa associated with full rate conventionally supplied T. superba. This may be attributed to (1) more favorable light conditions under these taller shade seedlings and (2) the internal use of nutrients associated with exponentially supplied T. superba seedlings, which lowered stress on native soil resources. The latter is corroborated with our findings on soil fertility status. This strategy focused on reducing fertilizer inputs and developing precise plant nutrition technology for on-farm use. Our findings suggest that shade seedlings under steady state nutrition can mitigate early growth competition in the field.     

Improving the Traditional Acacia Senegal-Crop System in Sudan: The Effect of Tree Density on Water Use, Gum Production and Crop Yields

The traditional Acacia senegal bush-fallow in North Kordofan, Sudan, was disrupted and the traditional rotational fallow cultivation cycle has been shortened or completely abandoned, causing decline in soil fertility and crop and gum yields. An agroforestry system may give reasonable crop and gum yields, and be more appealing to farmers. We studied the effect of tree density (266 or 433 trees ha⁻¹) on two traditional crops; sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) early maturing variety and karkadeh (Hibiscus sabdariffa), with regard to physiological interactions, yields and soil water depletion. There was little evidence of complementarity of resource sharing between trees and crops, since both trees and field crops competed for soil water from the same depth. Intercropping significantly affected the soil water status, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in trees and crops. Gum production per unit area increased when sorghum was intercropped with trees in low or high density. However, karkadeh reduced the gum yield significantly at high tree density. Yields of sorghum and karkadeh planted within trees of high density diminished by 44 and 55% compared to sole crops, respectively. Intercropping increased the rain use efficiency significantly compared to trees and field crops grown solely. Karkadeh appears to be more appropriate for intercropping with A. senegal than sorghum and particularly recommendable in combination with low tree density. Modification of tree density can be used as a management tool to mitigate competitive interaction in the intercropping system.