Soil fertility enhancement by planted tree-fallow species in the humid lowlands of Cameroon |
| |
Authors: | J Kanmegne B Duguma J Henrot N O Isirimah |
| |
Institution: | (1) Institute of Agronomic Research (IRA), and IRA/ICRAF Project, P.O. Box 2067, Yaounde, Cameroon;(2) International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) and IRA/ICRAF Project, Cameroon;(3) International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) HFS, Cameroon;(4) Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria |
| |
Abstract: | Four shrub/tree species, Alchornea cordifolia, Pennisetum purpureum, Chromolaena odorata, and Calliandra calothyrsus were
evaluated for their potential contribution to soil fertility restoration after two years fallow. Standing biomass, root distribution,
nutrient content in the biomass, decomposition and nutrient release patterns, and association with mycorrhizae were the evaluation
parameters. Alchornea and Pennisetum produced thehighest above-ground biomass, 66 t and 54 t/ha respectively. Pennisetum had
more than 19 t/ha of root, 92% of which was in the 20 cm top soil. Alchornea had 74% of it roots in this soil layer, mostly
as coarse roots while Calliandra had a deeper root system. Alchornea fallow accumulated more N and Ca, and Pennisetum fallow,
more K than others, and mycorrhizae were mostly associated with Alchornea roots. The ranking of the different species for
the decomposition rate was: Chromolaena > Pennisetum > Calliandra = Alchornea. Also release of nutrients during decomposition
followed the order K > N > Ca. Alchornea and Pennisetum could be recommended as green manure species especially when high
quantities of material are needed for weed or erosion control. Calliandra and Chromolaena, because of the flush of nutrient
during early mass, loss can be used as mulch when the crop demand of nutrient is high. Alchornea decomposed slowly and therefore
could be used to improve Chromolaena mulch, thus contributing to the build up of soil organic N and providing both short-
and long-term nutrient release.
This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
| |
Keywords: | litter decomposition mycorrhizae nutrient release root distribution standing biomass |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|