Decomposition of crotalaria and leucaena green manures and their nutrient release patterns
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Date
1992
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The decomposition of Crotalaria and ochroleuca Leucaena leucocephala green manures. contained in litter bags and placed on the surface (8- 10 cm), was The study was or buried 12 weeks of incubation. studied during conducted under laboratory conditions determine and compare decomposition and patterns of the two of green manure subsequent nutrient in soil microbial
determined and the release was manure residual nutrient release Changes investigated numbers with
and decomposition on application to green manures. The effect of method related into the soil to decomposition. materials, and were time incubation Analyses of counting microbial were done at three week intervals. The rate of decomposition was expressed dry matter. organic carbon phosphorus in parameters the in terms of total nitrogen and residual material organic. All these were expressed as percentages of the original quantities added through the manure. Generally six weeks decomposition was fast during the first of incubation and slowed down thereafter rate of decomposition was similar in and decomposed by almost 50 and weeks of incubation, respectively.
The both green manures, 70% after in six and 12 addition they had incorporated manure soil releasing capacities. However similar nutrient more decomposed faster and released nutrients than surface-applied. In treated microbial numbers incubation after The soil there during rapid were the
first which populations soil-incorporated green microbial numbers than increases in weeks of six almost levelled off. manure resulted in the surface-applied one. Larger In the control soil such changes were small. From the that when results of used the this study two green it was manures z
incorporated into the soil at least six period when the intended nutrients. crop has This will allow speculated should be weeks before the its maximum need for synchronization of maximum nutrient release with high nutrient demand by the crop.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Green manure, Legume growth, Nitrogen, Leucocephala green manures