Crop production on soil under some forest plantations in the Sahel

The production of maize (Zea mays L.), guinea corn (Sorghum vulgare L.) and groundnuts (Arachis hypogea L.) grown in pots on soils sampled under neem (Azadiracta indica A. Juss), Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh, and Prosopis juliflora Swartz, plantations in the Sahel region of Nigeria was investigated. Ordinary field soil adjacent to the plantation formed the control against which forest and species effects on the soil were compared.Crops, particularly maize and sorghum, produced higher dry matter on forest influenced soil than on ordinary field soil. The leguminous groundnuts however, appeared to have fixed its own nitrogen and therefore depended less on the inherent fertility advantages of the forest soil. The highest crop yield was obtained on the soil under neem followed by Prosopis, Eucalyptus and ordinary field. Since forest species differed in their effects on crop yield, further indentification, categorization and development of species with positive effects on crop yield was suggested for priority attention.