Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T21:40:27.142Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evaluation of the Leaf of a Range of Tree Legumes as a Source of Nitrogen for Crop Growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

R. C. Gutteridge
R. C. Gutteridge
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The leaf mulch of the tree legumes Acacia cunninghamii, A. fimbriata, Calliandra calothyrsus, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Sesbania sesban was evaluated as a source of nitrogen for maize growth in glasshouse pot experiments. The mulch of Sesbania sesban resulted in the largest yields of maize stover but yields were less than those that resulted from application of equivalent rates of fertilizer nitrogen. The mulches of Gliricidia and Leucaena also produced a yield response in maize but those of Calliandra and the two Acacia species were ineffective as sources of nitrogen in the short term. Sesbania mulch at the equivalent of 5 t dry matter ha-1 produced a maize yield similar to that obtained with 75 kg N ha-1. The poor response to Calliandra and Acacia mulch may be associated with the high polyphenol and/or lignin content of the leaf of these species.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , April 1992 , pp. 195 - 202
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ahn, J. H., Robertson, B. M., Elliott, R., Gutteridge, R. C. & Ford, C. W. (1989). Quality assessment of tropical browse legumes: tannin content and protein degradation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 27:147–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dofeliz, G., de la Cruz, J. & Nesbitt, H. J. (1983).Effect of mulching and strip cropping with Ipil-Ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) on the yield of corn. Proceedings of Crop Science Society of the Philippines Conference,Los Baños,Philippines.Google Scholar
Gartner, R. J. W. & Hurwood, I. S. (1976). The tannin and oxalic acid content of Acacia aneura (mulga) and their possible effects on sulphur and calcium availability. Australian Veterinary Journal 52:194–196.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jeyaraman, S., Purushothaman, S. & Govindaswamy, M. (1989). Leucaena as a substitute for nitrogen fertilizer in lowland rice. Leucaena Research Reports 10:24–25.Google Scholar
Kang, B. T., Wilson, G. F. & Lawson, T. L. (1984). Alley cropping a stable alternative to shifting cultivation. International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Mitchell, W. C. & Waterhouse, D. F. (1986). Spread of the leucaena psyllid, Heteropsylla cubana in the Pacific. Leucaena Research Reports 7:6–9.Google Scholar
NAS (National Academy of Sciences) (1984). Leucaena Promising Forage and Tree Crop for the Tropics. Washington DC: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
O'Neill, J. V. & Webb, R. A. (1970). Simultaneous determination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in plant material by automatic methods. Journal of Science, Food and Agriculture 21:217–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ssekabembe, C. K. (1985). Perspective on hedgerow intercropping. Agroforestry Systems 3:339–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vallis, I. & Jones, R. J. (1973). Net mineralization of nitrogen in leaves and leaf litter of Desmodium intortum and Phaseolus atropurpureus mixed with soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 5:391–398.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xu, Z. H. (1991). Nitrogen cycling in leucaena alley cropping. PhD thesis, Division of Australian Environmental Studies, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.Google Scholar