Root distribution and below ground interactions in alley cropping of calliandra calothyrsus and leucaena leucocephala with maize at embu, Kenya.
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Date
1998
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A study was conducted to assess the root distribution of Leucaena leucocephala,
Calliandra calothyrsus and Zea mays (maize) when intercropped and that of maize
when monocropped. The effect of leucaena and calliandra prunings on maize was
also evaluated both under monocropping and intercropping. The prunings were
applied at a rate of 6.7 tons/ha in two splits. Measurements were made of soil
moisture, fine root biomass, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, above
ground dry matter yield, leaf area index and maize grain yield.
The hedge trees were found to have a considerable amount of fine root biomass in
the zone occupied by the maize roots with leucaena being more superficially rooted
than calliandra. The maize fine root biomass was higher in alley cropping compared
to monocropping. Addition of prunings reduced the maize fine root biomass.
Comparing the maize and tree fine root biomass at both depths, the maize plants had
more biomass at both depths than the trees.
Trenching slightly improved grain yields though this was not significant. Application
of prunings improved maize crop yields as compared to the control and fertilizer
treatment. Soil moisture competition did not feature in the experiment since there
was plenty of rainfall during the growing season. Based on the fine root distribution, calliandra emerged a better alley cropping tree
than leucaena in this experiment.
Description
Master's Thesis
Keywords
Root distribution, below ground interactions-alley cropping, leucaena leucocephala, Maize- embu, Kenya.