Effect of fallow periods of cajanus cajan, sesbania sesban and tephrosia vogelh on soil fertility improvement and maize and firewood production at Gairo in Morogoro,Tanzania.
| dc.contributor.author | Mgangamundo,Mashaka Ayubu | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-25T16:09:48Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-25T16:09:48Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2000 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study was carried out at Gairo, a semi-arid area, in Morogoro, Tanzania to evaluate the effects of fallow periods and fallow types and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on soil fertility improvement, maize growth and yield and firewood production. A split-split plot experimental design with three replications was adopted. The major factor was: fallow period (1, 2 and 3 year fallows) and the sub-major factor was fallow type {Sesbania sesban (L) Merril, Tephrosia vogelii (F) Hook. Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp, natural fallow and continuous cropping, while the minor factor was fertilization (0 kg N and 0 kg P ha"1; 0 kg P and 40 kg N ha-1; 0 kg N and 40 kg P ha'1; 40 kg N and 40 kg P ha'1). Tree/shrub species differed significantly (P<0.05) in total biomass production with C. cajan outranking others in 1 year fallow i.e. 10 t ha'1 and the least value coming from T. vogelii (5.44 t ha'1). In 2 year fallow. S. sesban was outstanding (69.84 t ha-1) and the lowest value being achieved by C. cajan (6.79 t ha" )while in 3 year fallow, S. sesban was still outstanding with 46.02 t ha"and the lowest value was from C. cajan (8.25 t ha'1). Shrub wood and foliage N and P concentration also differed significantly with fallow period and shrub species. Wood N concentration from 2 year fallow of S. sesban was the highest (1.08%) and the lowest value in 2 year fallows was from T. vogelii (0.95%). In wood P concentration, 2 year fallow of T. vogelii outranked the other shrub species (0.136%) and the lowest value in 2 year fallows came from C. cajan (0.31%). For foliage N concentration, 2year fallow of S. sesban was outstanding (2.94%) and the least foliage N concentration value in 2 year fallows was from C. cajan (2.52%). In foliage P concentration from 2 year fallows T. vogelii had the highest value (0.198%) and the lowest P concentration value in 2 year fallows came from C. cajan (0.179%). In litter N concentration the values were T. vogelii (1.75%), C. cajan (1.67%) and S. sesban (1.61%). While the values for litter P concentration were T. vogelii (1.85%), S. sesban (1.79%) and C. cajan (1.36%). Greater improvement in soil fertility was achieved by S. sesban. The soil electrical conductivity ranged from 0.11 dS m'1 for 3 year natural fallow to 0.21 dS m-1 for 3 year S. sesban fallow, organic carbon 1.33% (3 year natural fallow) to 2.41% (3 year S. sesban), total N 0.11% (3 year natural fallow) to 0.26% (3 year S. sesban), available P 5.73 mg P kg'1 (3 year natural fallow) to 14.45 nig P kg*1 (3-year S. sesban). Maize growth, yield and N and P uptake and maize leaf N and P concentration and content were significantly (P<0.05) affected by fallow periods. types and fertilization. Maize heights were highest in 3 year fallows than in 2 and 1 year fallows. The range of maize height from 1 to 3 year fallows was T. vogelii (1.23 一 1.25 m), S. sesban (1.12 - 1.25 m). C. cajan (1.12 - 1.24 m), natural fallow (1.00 - 1.17 m) and continuous cropping (1.14 - 0.88 m). Tephrosia vogelii was outstanding in maize yield improvement. The range in maize yield from 1 to 3 year fallow without fertilizer application was T. vogelii (4.80 一 6.55 t ha-1), S. sesban (2.54 一 3.95 t ha'1), C. cajan (2.09 一 5.43 t ha'1), natural fallow (1.61 一 3.03 t ha'1) and continuouscropping (2.66 - 1.63 t ha'1). When fallow period, fallow type and fertilization are considered, maize grain yield from 1, 2 and 3 year unfertilized fallow plots was from T. vogelii (3.32, 4.41 and 5.38 t ha'), S. sesban (1.97, 2.48 and 3.24 t ha1), C. cajan (1.66, 2.47 and 4.78 t ha'), natural fallow (1.02, 1.25 and 2.47 t ha*1) and continuous cropping (2.16, 1.80 and 1.16 t ha'1). Maize grain yield from 1, 2 and 3 year fallow plots which received half of recommended dose ofN and recommended full dose of P was T, vogelii (7.30, 6.85 and 8.30 t ha1), S. sesban (3.28, 4.26 and 5.04 t ha'1), C. cajan (2.87, 7.53 and 6.79 t ha-1), natural fallow (2.16, 2.21 and 3.59 t ha*1) and continuous cropping (3.21, 2.87 and 2.01 t ha'1). Maize grain and stover N and P concentration and content was also found to increase with increasing fallow periods and the highest values being obtained from improved fallows than the natural fallow and continuously cropped plots. It is therefore concluded that improved follows oi 1: vogelii, S. sesban and C. cajan have the potential of improving soil fertility and subsequent maize yield and so reduce the problems associated with a decline in soil fertility. Two years is the optiniuni fallow period for T. vogelii and S. sesban while fbr C. cajan the period is 3 years under the Gairo conditions. Based on the findings of this study the following are recommended: (i) For greater crop yield improvement T. vogelii should be used as a fallow species at Gairo and other areas with similar ecological conditions; (ii) For optimal maize crop yield following a fallow period the use of 40 kg N ha-1 and 40 kg P ha'1 is recommended; (iii) On-farm trials of 71 vogelii should be initiated; (iii) Further investigations should be carried out on the same site to examine nutrient dynamics and sustainability of maize crop yield after fallow. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7449 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Shifting cultivation | |
| dc.subject | Declining soil fertility | |
| dc.subject | Sesbania sesban | |
| dc.subject | Cajanus cajan | |
| dc.title | Effect of fallow periods of cajanus cajan, sesbania sesban and tephrosia vogelh on soil fertility improvement and maize and firewood production at Gairo in Morogoro,Tanzania. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |
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