Alley cropping of maize with calliandra and leucaena in the subhumid highlands of Kenya: Part 2. Biomass decomposition, N mineralization, and N uptake by maize

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dc.contributor.authorMugendi, D.N.
dc.contributor.authorNair, P. K. R.
dc.contributor.authorMugwe, J. N.
dc.contributor.authorO'Neill, M. K.
dc.contributor.authorSwift, M. J.
dc.contributor.authorWoomer, P.
dc.date.accessioned2014-01-28T13:40:43Z
dc.date.available2014-01-28T13:40:43Z
dc.date.issued1999
dc.descriptionDOI 10.1023/A:1006269217882en_US
dc.description.abstractA major challenge in developing agroforestry approaches that utilize tree-leaf biomass for provision of N to crops is to ensure synchrony between the N released from decomposing prunings and N demand by crops. A study was conducted in the subhumid highlands of Kenya to assess the rate of decomposition and mineralization of soil-incorporated Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner (calliandra) and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (leucaena) tree biomass and maize roots (Zea mays L.) both in an alley cropping and a sole cropping system. The amount of mineralized N peaked four weeks after planting (WAP) maize in all the treatments during both seasons of 1995. Cumulative mineralized N at week 20 ranged from 114 to 364 kg N ha−1 season−1, the absolute control treatment giving the lowest and the prunings-incorporated treatments giving the highest amounts in the two seasons. Total N uptake by maize, ranging from 42 to 157 kg ha−1 season−1, was lowest in the 'alley-cropped, prunings-removed' treatments, and highest in the 'non alley-cropped-prunings-incorporated' treatments. The apparent N recovery rate by maize was highest in the fertilizer applied treatments in the two seasons. Decomposition rate constants (kD) ranged from 0.07 to 0.21 week−1, and the rates among the different plant residues were as follows: leucaena < calliandra < maize roots. Nitrogen release rate constants (kN), ranging from 0.04 to 0.25 week−1, followed a similar pattern as the rate of decomposition with leucaena releasing the highest amount of N followed by calliandra and lastly by maize roots.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAgroforestry Systems 06-1999, Volume 46, Issue 1, pp 51-64en_US
dc.identifier.issn1572-9680
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/8842
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherKluwer Academic Publishersen_US
dc.subjectchemical compositionen_US
dc.subjectmineral-Nen_US
dc.subjectN recoveryen_US
dc.subjectrate constantsen_US
dc.subjectsynchronyen_US
dc.titleAlley cropping of maize with calliandra and leucaena in the subhumid highlands of Kenya: Part 2. Biomass decomposition, N mineralization, and N uptake by maizeen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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