Cassava-legume intercrop: II. Effects of relative planting dates of legumes on the productivity of legumes

ABSTRACT

The degree of complementarity vis-à-vis competition amongst the component crops, which is influenced by their relative planting dates, may affect the productivity of intercrop systems. This study assessed the effect of the relative planting dates of legumes on yield and yield components of three legume species. Field experiments were conducted in two consecutive years at two sites with contrasting soil types. Grain yield and yield components were determined at harvest maturity. A 4-weeks delay in incorporating legumes caused total yield loss of cowpea at both sites, decreased chickpea yield by 82% at the clay soil site, and led to negligible yield of Bambara groundnut in loamy sand soil. In contrast, sowing legumes 2 weeks after cassava decreased grain yield of cowpea (both sites), chickpea (clay soil) and Bambara groundnut (loamy sand soil). Intercropping decreased grain yield of chickpea (year 1) and Bambara (year 2) at the clay and loamy sand soil sites, respectively, but had no effect on cowpea yield. Although planting the legumes same time with cassava gave the highest grain yield, we suggest more studies, including sowing the legumes prior to planting cassava, before making categorical recommendations.     

Estimated yield and nutrient contributions of legume cover crops intercropped with yam,cassava, and maize in the Benue River basins of Nigeria

Intercropping trials were established in the sandy soils of the Benue River Basins of Nigeria to assess the effect of some food legumes used as cover crops in cassava, yam, and maize based cropping systems. The soil productivity and yield contributions of ground akidi (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), local (Kafanji), and improved (IAR‐355) cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties to the main crops were assessed and presented on a fertilizer‐ equivalent basis. The cowpea varieties and ground akidi helped maize to increase the efficiency of nitrogen (N)‐phosphorus (P)‐potassium (K) fertilizer use by producing an additional 2.74 and 1.59 kg grains/kg, respectively. While an additional six tons of yam tubers was contributed by the kafanji intercrop per hectare, only about three tons was contributed by ground akidi. With the exception of pigeon pea, the test legumes were suitable for use as cover crops for cassava, yam, and maize in the Benue River Basins of Nigeria.     

Growth,yield and water use efficiency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum): response to biochar and phosphorus fertilizer application

Field experiments were conducted during summer (2013/2014) and winter (2014) in two different soil types to evaluate the effect of biochar and P fertilizer application on growth, yield, and water use efficiency of chickpea. Soil types include Rhodic Ferralsols (clay) in Thohoyandou and Leptic Cambisols (loamy sand) in Nelspruit, South Africa. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of four biochar levels (0, 5, 10 and 20 t ha^?1) and two phosphorus fertilizer levels (0 and 90 kg ha^?1) arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Biochar application at 5 t ha^?1 significantly increased biomass, grain yield and water use efficiency of biomass production (WUE_b) in the clay soil compared to 10 and 20 t ha^?1. However, the increase was attributed to the addition of P fertilizer. Biochar application had no effect on yield components in the loamy sand soil, but P fertilizer addition increased number of seeds/pod in the loamy sand soil and number of pods/plant in the clay soil. Biochar and P fertilizer application on growth and yield of chickpea varied in soil types and seasons, as the effect was more prominent in the clay soil than the loamy sand soil during the summer sowing.     

Nitrogen dynamics in tropical soils of Mali,West Africa

Soil samples were collected from a loamy sand and a clayey soil near Cinzana, Mali, for the purpose of documenting the seasonal dynamics of soil inorganic N after 9 years under five crop-management systems. The cropping systems were: continuous grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) or millet (Pennisetum glaucum) without residue return, continuous grain with stalk residue returned to the field every second year, grain in rotation with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and grain in rotation with the green manure crops, sesbania (Sesbania rostrata) and dolichos (Dolichos lablab). A sharp increase in soil N was observed early in the rainy season in both soils. Extractable N concentration in loamy sand and clayey soils, respectively, peaked between 15–22 kg and 33–51 kg N ha^–1 in the upper 10 cm of soil. In the clayey soil, the higher soil N concentrations associated with the early season flush lasted 8 weeks after the onset of rain. Nitrogen addition through rotational crops and crop residue was low. Significant improvement of cereal grain yield may not be possible solely by rotation with sesbania and dolichos green manure or cowpea without additional nutrient input. Earlier cereal planting, where feasible, is recommended to improve synchrony of soil N mineralization and crop demand.     

Response of soil exchangeable and crop potassium concentrations to variable fertilizer and cropping regimes in long-term field experiments on different soil types

Annual potassium (K) balances have been calculated over a 40‐year period for five field experiments located on varying parent materials (from loamy sand to clay) in south and central Sweden. Each experiment consisted of a number of K fertilizer regimes and was divided into two crop rotations, mixed arable/livestock (I) and arable only (II). Annual calculations were based on data for K inputs through manure and fertilizer, and outputs in crop removal. Plots receiving no K fertilizer showed negative K balances which ranged from 30 to 65 kg ha^?1 year^?1 in rotation I, compared with 10–26 kg ha^?1 year^?1 for rotation II. On sandy loam and clay soils, the K yield of nil K plots (rotation I) increased significantly with time during the experimental period indicating increasing release of K from soil minerals, uptake from deeper soil horizons and/or depletion of exchangeable soil K (K_ex). Significant depletion of K_ex in the topsoil was only found in the loamy sand indicating a K supply from internal sources in the sandy loam and clay soils. On silty clay and clay soils, a grass/clover ley K concentration of ～2% (dry weight) was maintained during the 40‐year study period on the nil K plots, but on the sandy loam, loam and loamy sand, herbage concentrations were generally less than 2% K.     

Effect of fertilizer treatments and planting time on the yield of some grain legumes of the benue river basins of Nigeria

A selection process for an ideal cover crop for yarn, maize, and cassava was initiated in 1993 cropping season in Makurdi, Nigeria. Four types of food legume crops grown locally were selected for the trials. The yield potentials of akidi (Phaseolus vulgaris), ground akidi (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), odudu (Phaseolus lunatus), and kafanji (Vigna unguiculata) were evaluated in two cropping seasons and under conditions where either no fertilizers, 50 kg nitrogen‐potassium‐phosphorus (NKP)/ha or 21 kg P/ha from single superphosphate (SSP) source were applied. The crops were planted in April and repeated in August of the same year in a 4 x 3 factorial in a split‐plot design. Fertilizer NKP generally increased the grain yield of all the crops significantly. The yield differences due to P fertilizers for odudu and akidi were not statistically significant (P=0.05). The P fertilizer resulted in significant increases in the grain yield of kafanji (from 1.113 to 1.7 mt/ha) and ground akidi (0.97 to 1.27). The biomass, root systems, and nodule yields were also increased proportionally by P application for all the legumes. No significant yield differences was observed between early and late crops in grain yield when no fertilizer was used. However, the crops produced about 30–40% less nodules, biomass, and root yield due to late planting (August).     

Nitrogen use in maize-grain legume cropping systems in semi-arid Kenya

Locally suitable cultivars of maize, beans, and cowpeas were grown in field experiments for four seasons in semi-arid Kenya. For three seasons, the dry matter production and grain yield of maize and beans were not increased by N fertilizer additions up to 120 kg N ha^-1. Fertilizer recoveries measured by ¹⁵N isotope dilution techniques were low, less than 20%. Inoculated and uninoculated beans failed to fix N₂. By contrast the cowpea derived 50% of its N from fixation, equivalent to 197 kg N ha^-1. The N content of the grain generally exceeded 40 kg N ha^-1, and the N content of the seeds from the grain legumes were greater than those from the cereals. Large inputs of N fertilizer or N by fixation are required if maize-grain legume cropping system in semiarid Kenya are to be sustained in the long term.     

Copper,nitrogen, and Rhizobium japonicum relationships in determinate soybean

A relationship among Cu, N, and Rhizobium japonicum was hypothesized because previous research had shown that (a) 35% or more legumes in the Atlantic Coastal Plain have Cu concentrations of 6 mg kg^‐1 or less, (b) Cu influences N fixation in some legumes, and (c) irrigated soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) can accumulate most of its N through fixation. Soybean were grown on a Cu‐deficient Norfolk (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Paleudult) loamy sand with 3 fertilizer sources of Cu, 2 strains of R. japonicum, and with or without 336 kg ha^‐1 of N fertilizer. Application of Cu significantly increased the number of pods plant^‐1 suggesting pod abortion in determinate soybean may be caused by low Cu, but seed yield was not increased. Fertilization with N increased vegetative growth, but not total biomass or seed yield. Inoculation with R. japonicum strain 110 significantly increased seed yield by 0.3 Mg ha^‐1 compared to strain 587. The yield increase was similar with or without fertilizer N application indicating strain response was not totally caused by improved N efficiency. There was no relationship between seed yield and nodule occupancy as measured by the ELISA technique.     

Soil Nutrients Balance in Sweet Orange Intercropped with Some Arable Crops

Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L) Osbeck Cv. Agege) was intercropped between 1996 and 1999 on an alfisol (Oxic Paleustalf), at the National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan Nigeria. The objectives were to determine the best compatible crops that would provide stable environmental conditions for sweet orange growth and yield. The companion crops were maize (M) (Zea mays L. DMR-LSR-W) in the early planting season, followed by cowpea (CP) (Vigna unguiculata L., Walp cv. Ife-brown) in the late planting season of each year, cassava (CA) (Manihot esculenta, Crantz cv. TMS30572), and pineapple (P) (Ananas comosus,cv. Smooth cayenne). For comparison, there were sole plots of sweet orange (SCT), maize (SM), cowpea (SCP), Cassava (SCA), and pineapple (SP) to serve as controls. The treatments were assigned to plots using a randomized complete block design (RCB). The growth of sweet orange intercropped with cassava was not as good as that of sole orange or orange intercropped with maize/cowpea (CT + M/CP) and pineapple (CT + P). Sweet orange in pure stands and CT + M/CP produced flowers 24 months after transplanting, with 75% and 87% of trees producing flowers and fruits, respectively. Forty-two months after transplanting sweet orange, SCT, CT + M/CP, and CT + CA had 1.63, 1.45, and 0.05 citrus fruit t/ha, respectively. Sweet orange intercropped with pineapple did not produce fruits. The effects of the crop mixtures on the soil showed that pH decreased by 2.17, which was a 5.2% decrease for all the cropping systems after three years of continuous cropping. There was a build up of nitrogen (N) and organic carbon in the soil for all the intercrops after the third year of the study. The cropping mixture of CT + M/CP and SCT had the highest N value of 0.70 g N/kg soil as compared to 0.30 g N/kg pre-planting. Zinc (Zn) a major nutrient of citrus, decreased from 3.16 mg/kg to 0.37 mg/kg under SCT and SP cropping systems. Sweet orange leaf analysis for N in all the treatments showed that leaf N was higher than the 2.5–2.7% optimum level, except for citrus intercropped with cassava, which had a leaf N concentration of 2.36%. Sweet orange intercropped with maize/cowpea had the highest phosphorus (P) level of 0.17%, followed by SCT, while sweet orange intercropped with cassava or pineapple had the lowest P values. Potassium (K) was in the adequate range in the sweet orange leaves for all the cropping systems, but the Zn content was below the satisfactory range of 20–50 ppm. The nutrient dynamics were results of the interaction among cropping systems, soil depth, and cropping cycle. Maize intercropped in the early planting season followed by cowpea in the late season was the most compatible crop with sweet orange in terms of fruit yield.     

Potential of indigenous bradyrhizobia versus commercial inoculants to improve cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. walp.) and green gram (Vigna radiata L. wilczek.) yields in Kenya

Limited information is available on reduced cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) and green gram (Vigna radiata L.Wilczek.) yields in Kenya. Declining soil fertility and absence or presence of ineffective indigenous rhizobia in soils are assumptions that have been formulated but still require to be demonstrated. In this study, soils were collected from legume growing areas of Western (Bungoma), Nyanza (Bondo), Eastern (Isiolo), Central (Meru) and Coast (Kilifi) provinces in Kenya to assess indigenous rhizobia in soils nodulating cowpea and green gram under greenhouse conditions. Our results showed that highest nodule fresh weights of 4.63 and 3.32?g plant^?1 for cowpea and green gram were observed in one soil from Isiolo and another from Kilifi, respectively, suggesting the presence of significant infective indigenous strains in both soils. On the other hand, the lowest nodule fresh weights of 2.17 and 0.72?g plant^?1 were observed in one soil from Bungoma for cowpea and green gram, respectively. Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation by cowpea and green gram was highest in Kilifi soil with values of 98% and 97%, respectively. A second greenhouse experiment was undertaken to evaluate the performance of commercial rhizobial inoculants with both legumes in Chonyi soil (also from Coast province) containing significant indigenous rhizobia [>13.5?×?10³ Colony Forming Units (CFU) g^?1]. Rhizobial inoculation did not significantly (P?相似文献   

A study of some tillage practices for sustainable crop production in India

Soil tilth has been defined in terms of a ‘Physical Index’ based on the product of the ratings of eight physical properties — soil depth, bulk density, available water storage capacity, cumulative infiltration or apparent hydraulic conductivity, aggregation or organic matter, non-capillary pore space, water table depth and slope. The Physical Index and a tillage guide were used to identify the tillage requirements of different soils varying in texture from loamy sand to clay in the semi-arid tropics. The physical index was 0.389 for a loamy sand, 0.518 for a black clay loam and 0.540 for a red sandy loam soil and the cumulative rating indices in summer and winter seasons were 45 and 44 for loamy sand, 52 and 51 for red sandy loam and 54 and 52 for black clay loam soils, respectively. The compaction of the loamy sand by eight passes of a 490 kg tractor-driven roller (0.75 m diameter and 1.00 m length) increased the physical index to 0.658 and chiselling of the red sandy loam and black clay loam increased the physical indices to 0.686 and 0.729, respectively. The grain yields of rainfed pearl millet and guar and irrigated pearl millet, wheat and barley increased significantly over the control (no compaction) yields by compaction.

The chiselling of the soils varying in texture from loamy sand to clay at 50 to 120-cm intervals up to 30–40 cm depth, depending upon the row spacing of seedlines and depth of the high mechanical impedance layer, increased the grain yields of rainfed and irrigated maize on alluvial loamy sand, rainfed maize on alluvial sandy loam and red sandy loam, rainfed sorghum on red sandy loam and black clay loam, irrigated sorghum on black clay loam and rainfed black gram on red sandy loam, pod yield of rainfed groundnut, tuber yield of irrigated tapioca and fresh fruit yield of rainfed tomato on red sandy loam and sugarcane yield on black clay soil, significantly over the yields of no-chiselling systems of tillage such as disc harrow and country plough.     

Effect of phosphorus fertilizer application on the performance of maize/soybean intercrop in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria

Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria in 2007 and 2008 to determine the effects of phosphorus fertilizer application on performance of intercropped maize and soybean. The experiments, arranged as a split plot in a randomized complete block design, replicated four times. A cropping system with sole maize, sole soybean and maize/soybean intercrop formed the main plot treatments while P rates with 0, 15 and 30 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 were the subplot treatments. For both years, neither P fertilizer application nor cropping systems had a significant effect on maize grain yield. However, soybean grain yield was significantly higher (92.3% in 2007 and 44.5% in 2008) under sole cropping than under maize/soybean intercropping. On average, N fixed by soybean increased with the increase in P rate (from 51.8% without P to 60.5% with 30 P), but there was no significant difference in N fixed by sole soybean and soybean/maize intercrop. However, the interaction effect on N fixed between cropping systems and P rates was significant (P ≤ 0.05). N, P and K contents in maize grain were significantly higher (>100%) in intercropped maize than in sole maize. The cropping systems had no significant effect on post-harvest soil chemical characteristics. The land equivalent ratio was 1.52 in 2007 and 1.78 in 2008. The result shows that in utilizing legumes for N enrichment, the alleviation of P deficiency can enhance N₂-fixation by legumes. Furthermore, P replenishment in a maize/soybean intercrop may improve maize grain quality even though yield is not increased.     

Broiler litter and inorganic fertilizer effects on seed yield and productivity of buckwheat and fenugreek in row intercropping

We present data of a 2 years field experiment on influence of intercropping and N source on yield and yield components of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)–buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) intercrops. The experiment was conducted at the research farm, College of Agriculture, Shahrekord, Iran during 2014 and 2015. Treatments included sole cropping of fenugreek (F), sole cropping of buckwheat (B), and three intercropping ratios. Second factor was N fertilizer type: mineral chemical fertilizer (CF) or broiler litter (BL). Intercropping improved yield of fenugreek and buckwheat compared with sole cropping and BL was the more effective fertilizer especially in intercrops. Fenugreek and buckwheat in intercrops used available environmental resources for increasing pods plant^?1, seeds pod^?1, 1000-seed weight, and harvest index (HI) (for fenugreek) and clusters plant^?1 and 1000-seed weight (for buckwheat) compared to the respective sole crops in both years. The resulting land equivalent ratios (LERs) of intercrops varied from 0.99 to 1.72 and the highest LER was observed in F:B = 2:1 treated with BL. This study shows a potential yield benefit of fenugreek–buckwheat intercropping under semiarid growing conditions when planting fenugreek and buckwheat at a ratio of 2:1, respectively, and applying BL compared with sole cropping with inorganic fertilizer application.     

The establishment of winter wheat root system architecture in field soils: The effect of soil type on root development in a temperate climate

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop in the temperate climates of western Europe. Root system architecture is a significant contributor to resource capture and plant resilience. However, the impact of soil type on root system architecture (RSA) in field structured soils is yet to be fully assessed. This work studied the development of root growth using deep cultivation (250 mm) during the tillering phase stage (Zadock stage 25) of winter wheat across three soil types. The three sites of contrasting soil types covered a geographical area in the UK and Ireland in October 2018. Root samples were analysed using two methods: X-ray computed tomography (CT) which provides 3D images of the undisturbed roots in the soil, and a WinRHIZO^™ scanner used to generate 2D images of washed roots and to measure further root parameters. Important negative relationships existed between soil bulk density and root properties (root length density, root volume, surface area and length) across the three sites. The results revealed that despite reduced root growth, the clay (Southoe) site had a significantly higher crop yield irrespective of root depth. The loamy sand (Harper Adams) site had significantly higher root volume, surface area and root length density compared with the other sites. However, a reduction in grain yield of 2.42 Mt ha⁻¹ was incurred compared with the clay site and 1.6 Mt ha⁻¹ compared with the clay loam site. The significantly higher rooting characteristics found in the loamy sand site were a result of the significantly lower soil bulk density compared with the other two sites. The loamy sand site had a lower soil bulk density, but no significant difference in macroporosity between sites (p > 0.05). This suggests that soil type and structure directly influence crop yield to greater extent than root parameters, but the interactions between both need simultaneous assessment in field sites.     

Impact of addition of different rates of rice-residue biochar on C and N dynamics in texturally diverse soils

Impacts of crop residue biochar on soil C and N dynamics have been found to be subtly inconsistent in diverse soils. In the present study, three soils differing in texture (loamy sand, sandy clay loam and clay) were amended with different rates (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 4%) of rice-residue biochar and incubated at 25°C for 60 days. Soil respiration was measured throughout the incubation period whereas, microbial biomass C (MBC), dissolved organic C (DOC), NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–N were analysed after 2, 7, 14, 28 and 60 days of incubation. Carbon mineralization differed significantly between the soils with loamy sand evolving the greatest CO₂ followed by sandy clay loam and clay. Likewise, irrespective of the sampling period, MBC, DOC, NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–N increased significantly with increasing rate of biochar addition, with consistently higher values in loamy sand than the other two soils. Furthermore, regardless of the biochar rates, NO₃^–-N concentration increased significantly with increasing period of incubation, but in contrast, NH₄⁺-N temporarily increased and thereafter, decreased until day 60 in all soils. It is concluded that C and N mineralization in the biochar amended soils varied with the texture and native organic C status of the soils.     

Rock phosphate-enriched organic fertilizer with phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms improves nodulation,growth, and yield of legumes

ABSTRACT

Phosphorus availability from rock phosphate (RP) can be increased via composting with organic fertilizer and phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) in the soil. Incubation and pot experiments were conducted to investigate the comparative efficacy of RP-enriched organic fertilizer with PSMs vs. diammonium phosphate (DAP) as a control to enhance the production of legumes. In incubation studies, RP-enriched organic fertilizer with PSM₂ significantly increased soil aggregate stability (37%) and P-release (2.35 folds) as compared to control, whereas, in pot study, the number and dry weight of nodules plant^?1, shoot length, number of pods plant^?1, and grain yield of chickpea increased by 23%, 13%, 17%, 15%, and 15% with RP-enriched organic fertilizer + PSM₂ compared to control. Similarly, nitrogen and phosphorus contents in straw (11 and 42% respectively) and grains (11 and 13% respectively) and protein contents (16%) of chickpea were also increased. A similar trend was observed regarding the growth and yield parameters of lentil. The use of RP-enriched organic fertilizer with PSM could produce results similar to that of DAP for the optimum production of legumes.     

不同供氮水平对水稻/花生间作系统中氮素行为的影响

水稻旱作／花生间作栽培是一种新兴的节水农业技术。用”N稀释标记法在盆栽条件下研究了间作系统在15kghm^-2、75kghm^-2和150kghm^-23个氮素供应水平条件下花生生物固氮以及水稻旱作／花生间作系统中氮素的转移，同时用^15N的富积标记法研究了花生根系腐解对间作系统氮素转移的贡献。结果表明，在15和75kghm^-22个氮素水平下，间作水稻比单作水稻的干物质量分别增加了23．5％和12．2％，在P=0．05的水平有显著差异。间作水稻和单作水稻的氮素吸收量分别为135、143mg株 ^-1和117、131mg株^-1，分别比单作增加14．8％和8．8％。不同栽培方式对花生的干物质积累和氮素吸收影响很小。在3个氮素水平下间作花生和单作花生的固氮量分别为76．1％、53．3％、50．7％和72．8％、56．5％、35．4％，在低氮水平下的生物固氮显著高于高氮条件，间作对花生的生物固氮有一定促进作用。间作系统中的氮素转移率和转移量在3个氮素水平分别为12．2％、9．2％、6．2％和16．3、13．0、10．4mg株^-1，氮素的转移率和转移的数量显著地随氮素水平的增加而减少。用^15N花生叶片标记直接证明了氮素从花生体内向水稻的转移，随刈割时间氮素转移量显著下降，表明花生根系腐解对间作系统的氮素转移有积极作用。     

Long-term Potassium Contribution of Potassium Forms of Udic Haplustept and Sustainability of Growing Crops

A balance sheet of potassium (K) was prepared in a long-term experiment that was started in 1985 on a loamy sand Udic Haplustept at the Potash Research Institute of India, Gurgaon, Haryana, India, involving a sorghum (fodder)–wheat cropping system. During the 20 cycles of sorghum and wheat, as much as 2,404 kg K ha^?1 was released from the structural form of soil K that contributed 77.3% K to the total K removed by growing sorghum and wheat. However, this K released from the structural form could no longer sustain the growth of sorghum and wheat. Both water-soluble and exchangeable soil K forms contributed 3% K and nonexchangeable K contributed 6.6% K. Groundwater used in irrigation contributed 13.1% K. Potassium fertilizer is needed for the growth of sorghum and wheat on a loamy sand Udic Haplustept as in this long-term experiment and other representative soils both to sustain yield and maintain soil K fertility.     

Decomposability of organic matter in particle size fractions from field soils with straw incorporation

Soils from two field experiments on straw disposal were fractionated according to particle size using ultrasonic dispersion and gravity-sedimentation in water. Samples of whole soils, clay. silt and sand-size fractions were held for 49 days at 20°C and the CO₂ evolution measured on 14 dates by gas chromatography.Recovery of soil solids. C and N was 99, 98 and 93%, respectively. Most of the soil C and N was in the clay (<2μm). (loamy sand, 50% C and 56% N; sandy loam. 65% C and 68% N), the silt (2–20 μm) having smaller proportions (loamy sand, 41% C and 38% N; sandy loam. 29% C and 27% N). The sand fraction (20–6000 μm) accounted for 4–7% of the organic matter, and 1–2% of the C was water soluble. Straw incorporation generally increased the C and N content of whole soils and size fractions.The decomposition rate constants were higher for the sandy loam than for the loamy sand soil. For both soils, the decomposability of the organic matter decreased in the order: sand > clay ⩾ whole soil > silt. Straw incorporation increased the decomposition rate of whole soil and sand organic matter. whereas the effect of straw on clay and silt respiration was small.Between 58 and 73% of the respiration was from clay, 21–25% from silt and 6–19% from the sand size fraction.     

Genotypic variation for phosphorus uptake dinitrogen fixation in cowpea on low‐phosphorus soils of southern Cameroon

In cowpea, efficient N₂‐fixing genotypes are being selected to promote sustainable cropping systems in southern Cameroon (SC). However, N₂ fixation and growth of these genotypes are largely hampered by low levels of soil plant‐available P. To evaluate the genotypic variation in N₂ fixation and P uptake among cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) genotypes, field experiments were conducted over two years on two acid soils low in available P. The experiments were laid out in a split‐block design with four replications on typic (TK) and rhodic (RK) Kandiudult soils with seven cowpea genotypes. Phosphorus (P) fertilizers were applied on the main plots with 0 kg P, 30 kg P ha^–1 as triple superphosphate (TSP) and 90 kg P ha^–1 as Togo phosphate rock (PR). Nodule dry matter (DM), shoot DM, grain yield, and P uptake of cowpea significantly varied with site, P application, and genotype (p < 0.05). The N₂ fixation of the cowpea genotypes ranged from 29 to 51 kg N ha^–1 on both TK and RK soils and was significantly increased with P application. Significant genotypic variations in N₂ fixation were observed with superior ability of the genotypes IT89KD‐391 and IT90K‐59 to fix N₂. The harvest index (HI) did not significantly differ between soils and P application levels (p > 0.05). Four genotypes were selected to investigate root mechanisms responsible for efficient P acquisition in pot experiments. The results suggest that a better root infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in genotype IT90K‐59 and root morphological and physiological characteristics in IT89KD‐391 were the most important factors for increasing P uptake.