Control of nitrogen mineralization from decomposing Gliricidia septum leaves to optimize nitrogen uptake by maize crop
| dc.contributor.author | Baptiste, Nduwayezu Jean | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-01-08T09:28:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-01-08T09:28:27Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1997 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | Decomposition (mass loss) and Mineralization studies were Kitete Village z conducted at Kilosa District,Tanzania during the 1995/96 cropping season. The aim was to control rates the of decomposition Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) and Walp.Release nitrogen from leaves through widening their C/N ratios using Sawdust. Litter bags containing a fixed amount of Gliricidia leaves (150g/bag) and variable amounts of Sawdust (0, 25, 50, 75,100% of fixed Gliricidia) were used in the decomposition experiment. Different Gliricidia leaf rates (1.5, 1.15, 0.76 and 0.38 kg dry leaves/plot or 60 z 45, 30 and 15 kg respectively) N/ha and various Gliricidia and Sawdust mixtures containing a fixed amount of Gliricidia leaves (1.5 kg/plot) and variable amounts of Sawdust were used in the mineralization experiment conducted within a maize farm. The decomposition and mineralization studies revealed that, treatments with Gliricidia alone had significantly (P=0.002) higher mass loss percentage and nitrogen release but decreased with increasing C/N ratio Sawdust mixtures. in Gliricidia- Rates of mass loss were influenced by placement depth. Most of the nitrogen from the Gliricidia alone treatments was released within six weeks.In the mineralization experiment nitrate nitrogen was found to dominate the mineral nitrogen ranging from 67 to 81 percent. The nitrogen uptake by maize plantsz maize height increment and maize crop yields were significantly higher in plots with correspondingly higher C/N ratios with a positive correlation between nitrogen uptake and maize growth (r= 0.762) and maize yield (r= 0.858). A 3-8 weeks period is a critical period of high nutrients demand by the maize crop in the study area ・ It wasz therefore, concluded that the Gliricidia (1.5 kg) -Sawdust (1.0 and 1.25 kg) mixtures or 21:1 and 23:1 C/N ratios should be adopted in the study area for effective control of the rates of decomposition and nitrogen release and hence availability of nitrogen for crop growth and yield. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | ICRAF | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7213 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Nitrogen mineralization | |
| dc.subject | Nitrogen immobilization | |
| dc.subject | Maize crop | |
| dc.subject | Kitete Village | |
| dc.subject | Gliricidia leaves | |
| dc.title | Control of nitrogen mineralization from decomposing Gliricidia septum leaves to optimize nitrogen uptake by maize crop | |
| dc.type | Thesis |