Weed seedbank characteristics of arable fields under different fallow management systems in the humid tropical zone of southeastern Nigeria

The composition and pattern of weed flora in arable fields are determined by their seedbank structure; but the influence of fallow management practices on weed seedbank structure is presently unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate weed seedbank characteristics and weed population dynamics in arable fields in natural and planted-fallow systems. The study plots were at Mbaise, a densely populated area of southeastern Nigeria, where farmers regenerate their exhausted soils by maintaining planted fallows of Dactyladenia barteri (Hook. F. ex Oliv.) Prance & F. White, and at Umuahia, a less-densely populated area in the same region, where farmers depend on natural bush fallow for soil regeneration. The effect of three years of fallow on the weed flora of arable fields in the two fallow management systems differed remarkably. The first flush of weeds on fields that were cultivated after three years of planted D. barteri fallow (Mbaise) consisted of 80% broadleaf weeds, 7% grass weeds and 13% sedges. On the other hand, the first flush of weeds on the natural bush fallow fields (Umuahia) of the same fallow duration as the D. barteri fallow system consisted of 17% broadleaf weeds, 70% grasses and 13% sedges. Three years of planted fallow caused 36% decrease in weed seedbank at Mbaise relative to the cropped field while the same duration of natural bush fallow caused a 31% increase in weed seedbank at Umuahia. These results show that the planted D. barteri fallow system has a higher potential to reduce weed pressure in smallholder agriculture than the natural bush fallow system and may explain in part why farmers in this humid forest zone have adopted the practice. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Water balance and maize yield following improved sesbania fallow in eastern Zambia

Sesbania [Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.] fallows are being promoted as a means for replenishing soil fertility in N-depleted soils of small-scale, resource-poor farmers in southern Africa. Knowledge of soil water distribution in the soil profile and water balance under proposed systems is important for knowing the long-term implications of the systems at plot, field and watershed levels. Soil water balance was quantified for maize (Zea mays L.) following 2-year sesbania fallow and in continuous maize with and without fertilizer during 1998–1999 and 1999–2000 at Chipata in eastern Zambia. Sesbania fallow increased grain yield and dry matter production of subsequent maize per unit amount of water used. Average maize grain yields following sesbania fallow, and in continuous maize with and without fertilizer were 3, 6 and 1 Mg ha⁻¹ with corresponding water use efficiencies of 4.3, 8.8 and 1.7 kg mm⁻¹ ha⁻¹, respectively. Sesbania fallow increased the soil-water storage in the soil profile and drainage below the maximum crop root zone compared with the conventionally tilled non-fertilized maize. However, sesbania fallow did not significantly affect the seasonal crop water use, mainly because rainfall during both the years of the study was above the normal seasonal water requirements of maize (400 to 600 mm). Besides improving grain yields of maize in rotation, sesbania fallows have the potential to recharge the subsoil water through increased subsurface drainage and increase nitrate leaching below the crop root zone in excess rainfall seasons. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soil microarthropod populations under natural and planted fallows in southwestern Nigeria

Microarthropods, such as soil mites (Acari) and springtails (Collembola), with body width between 0.08 mm and 0.5 mm play important roles in soil fertility maintenance through their regulatory activities in decomposition and nutrient turnover. Observations were made at IITA, Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria to evaluate the effects of natural regrowth of vegetation — mainly the shrub Chromolaena odorata — and three planted woody fallow species (Acacia leptocarpa, Senna siamea, and Leucaena leucocephala) on soil microarthropods in a degraded Alfisol. Populations of soil microarthropods were higher in the rainy season than the dry season, and populations were greater under natural fallow than for continuous cropping with maize (Zea mays) and cassava (Manihot esculenta). Populations of soil microarthropods were comparable under leucaena and natural fallow, but populations in the rainy season were 38% higher under senna than natural fallow and 36% higher under acacia than natural fallow. Regression analysis indicated that soil microarthropod population under fallow species was positively correlated with the lignin contents of leaf litter.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soil water regime under rotational fallow and alternating hedgerows on an Ultisol in southern Cameroon

Soil moisture depletion during dry seasons by planted hedgerows to lower levels than under natural fallow, would reduce drainage and nutrient losses in the following rainy season when food crops are grown. The volumetric water content of the 0–150 cm soil profile was measured under planted hedgerows (alternating Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium) and natural fallow, both either annually cropped to sole maize or in a two-year crop/two-year fallow rotation, in the humid forest zone (annual rainfall 1700 mm) of southern Cameroon during the 1995–1996 and 1996–1997 dry seasons. Hedgerows were cut to 0.05 m height, largely eliminating trees’ water consumption during cropping phases. Differences in total soil water content at 0–150 cm depth, between systems, occurred only in the early phases of the 1996–1997 dry season. In both dry seasons, differences between systems in water content were found in some soil layers, all within 0–60 cm depth, yet, without consistent advantage of any system in exploiting the topsoil water resources. Soil water content was lower under L. leucocephala than G. sepium at 20–40 cm depth only. Below 60 cm depth, no differences in water regimes between systems were found. Under southern Cameroonian conditions it is unlikely that any of the systems has an advantage in accessing or recovering water and thus, if available, nutrients from the sub-soil. None of the systems examined was capable of delaying drainage and thus it appears unlikely that downward displacement of nutrients is delayed after the start of the rains.     

Effects of topography and planted trees on the distribution of naturally regenerated broad-leaved trees in a 140-year-old <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis> plantation in northern Kyushu,Japan

We investigated factors affecting the distribution of naturally regenerated broad-leaved trees in a 140-year-old Cryptomeria japonica plantation. We used path analysis to examine the relationship among microtopography, the biomass of planted trees, and the biomasses of canopy and subcanopy trees of broad-leaved species. The study plot was divided into three topographic types (ridge, slope, and valley), and we discuss how the different topographic types are affected. For all topographic types, the biomass of canopy trees of broad-leaved species decreased with convexity. For slope and valley topographies, the biomass of subcanopy trees of broad-leaved species also decreased with convexity. For ridge topography, the biomass of subcanopy trees of broad-leaved species increased with the biomass of planted trees, and decreased with the biomass of canopy trees of broad-leaved species. These results suggest the effects of microtopography on the biomass of subcanopy trees were much larger than the effects of canopy trees for slope and valley topographies, while the effects of microtopography were smaller for ridge topography.     

Detecting forest stress and decline in response to increasing river flow in southwest Florida, USA

Forest stress and decline resulting from increased river levels were investigated in Myakka River State Park (MRSP), FL, USA. Since 1977, land-use changes around the upper Myakka River watershed have resulted in significant increases in water entering the river, which have caused extensive mortality in the upper watershed. The present study assessed whether similar forest stress and mortality was occurring downstream within the park. Our objectives were to (1) determine if tree die-off and/or stress resulting from increased river levels were present in MRSP and (2) determine the relationship between historical and present river levels regimes and growth of actively managed forested stands undergoing restoration located both above and below a dam. We used two methodological approaches. The first was recording indications of tree stress and decline (crown dieback, crown thinning, trunk rot, foliage discoloration, and parasitism) in Fraxinus caroliniana Miller dominated forested wetlands, Pinus elliottii Englem. var. densa Little & Dorman dominated mesic pine flatwoods, and Quercus laurifolia Michaux dominated oak palm hammocks. Our second approach was tree-ring analyses, which allows for more detailed analyses of growth in response to precipitation and river flow (a surrogate variable for water table depth) in the pine flatwoods stands.

Our results indicate significant stress and decline in some forested wetlands upstream of the dam, significant mortality in wet-mesic pine flatwoods sites close to the river, and significant amounts of stress in wet-mesic pine flatwoods sites upstream of the dam. F. caroliniana sites located upstream of the dam had more individuals with symptoms of stress than those downstream of the dam (67% versus 43%, P=0.031). In Q. laurifolia sites, 70–85% of the trees had evidence of flooding stress and mortality, which is comparable to distributions found in severely disturbed forest in the upper watershed. P. elliottii var. densa sites located <1000 m from the river had higher mortality than sites located >1050 m from the river (P<0.01), and the stressed trees in sites upstream of the dam had significantly lower growth rates in the 1990s versus the 1960s than those downstream. Although, the onset of stress and decline coincided with increasing river levels, we found that river levels were positively correlated with tree growth, both before and after flow increases in the system. Increasing river levels may play an indirect role through increased competition in the stress and decline in wet-mesic pine flatwoods, however, increased river levels seems to be the direct cause for stress and decline found in forested wetland stands.     

Growth and yield response of papaya to intercropping with vegetable crops in southwestern Nigeria

At Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, papaya trees were intercropped with okra, watermelon, sweet potato, bush greens, jews' mallow and Solanum gilo Raddi. The aim of the experiment was to select crops suitable for intercropping in the alleys of papaya plants in orchards. Sweet potato and Solanum gilo Raddi caused marked reduction in the yield of papaya. Land Equivalent Ration (LER) for papaya intercopped with okra, water-melon, sweet potato, bush greens, jews' mallow and Solanum gilo Raddi were 3.86, 3.13, 2.06, 1.86, 1.60 and 1.54, respectively; indicating that all the combinations were more advantageous than the monocrop of papaya. Monetary value of the mixtures, however, indicated that the inclusion of intercrops of sweet potato or Solanum gilo Raddi, is disadvantageous.Although intercropping in papaya orchards is beneficial, it should be limited to the early vegetative and late fruiting phases of papaya when the Leaf Area Index (LAI) of papaya is low. A relay of okra followed by watermelon or bush greens followed by jews' mallow (or sweet potato grown for fodder) is considered suitable for intercropping the alleys of papaya.     

Soil microbial biomass and population in response to seasonal variation and age in Gmelina arborea plantations in south-western Nigeria

We investigated the Effects of plantation development, seasons, and soil depth on soil microbial indices in Gmelina arborea plantations in south-western Nigeria. Soil samples were obtained from the soil depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm from plantations of six different ages during the rainy season, dry seasons, and their transitions. We used plate count and fumigation-extraction methods to determine microbe population and microbial biomass carbon (MB-C) and nitrogen (MB-N), respectively. Plantation age did not affect microbial indices, implying a non-significant effect of plantation development on microbial communities. It could also imply that soil microbial indices had already stabilized in the sampled plantations. Seasonal variation and soil depth had significant effects on microbial indices. At 0-15 cm soil depth, mean MB-C increased from 50.74 μg g-1 during the peak of the dry season (i.e. March) to 99.58 μg g-1 during the peak of the rainy season (i.e. September), while it increased from 36.22 μg g-1 to 75.31 μg g-1 at 15-30 cm soil depth between the same seasonal periods. Bacteria populations and MB-N showed similar increasing trends. Correlations between MB-C, MB-N, microbe populations, and rainfall were positive and linear. Significantly higher microbial activities took place in the plantations during the rainy season, increased with soil wetness, and decreased at greater soil depth.     

Spatial distribution of soil carbon and nitrogen storage and forest productivity in a watershed planted to Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don)

Digital terrain modeling was used to evaluate landscape-level spatial variation of soil C and N storage and site productivity in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) stands. Soil C and N storage were measured in samples from surface soils (0–25 cm depth) of 29 Japanese cedar stands in the 205-ha Myougodani watershed, Toyama Prefecture. The site index (C. japonica tree height at age 40 years) was used as a measure of forest productivity. Seven terrain attributes (elevation, slope gradient, aspect, profile curvature, plan curvature, openness, and wetness index) were calculated from a digital elevation model. Soil C and N storage were negatively correlated with slope gradient and positively correlated with openness. Variation in the site index was closely related to the wetness index. The prediction models using terrain attributes as explanatory variables explained 50% of the variability in soil C storage, 53% of the variability in soil N storage, and 75% of the variability in site index. This result demonstrated that this technique is useful for estimating the spatial distribution of soil properties and productivity in forest landscapes. On the other hand, there was no correlation between site index and soil C and N storage. Use of the prediction models in a geographic information system revealed that the spatial distribution of forest productivity differed considerably from those of soil C and N storage.