Contribution of Agroforestry Tress for Integrated Nutrient Management to Improve Maize Yield on Smallholder Fields

2016

English

A major tenet of agroforestry is that trees maintain soil fertility and it is based on observation of higher crop yields near trees or where trees have been grown before. This hypothesis is based on studies of effective transfer of nutrients from litter to trees in natural ecosystem. A research was conducted at Central Agricultural Station, Kwadaso to assess the contribution of multipurpose trees and sole fertilizer to improve maize yield on smallholder fields. Six (6) treatments were applied in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three (3) replicates. The treatments were: T1 = Control, T2 = NPK 90-60-60, T3 = Gliricidia sepium (4t/ha), T4 = Moringa oleifera (4t/ha), T5 = Gliricidia sepium (2t/ha) + NPK 60-30-30 and T6 = Moringa oleifera (2t/ha) + NPK 60-30-30. Maize variety, Obatampa was used in the experiment. The results showed that for the three successive years of maize harvest, the performances of biomass application from the two MPTs are comparable to the full rate blanket fertilizer application rate for all ecological zones (NPK 90-60-60). There were indications that either of the two species of MPTs, Moringa and Gliricidia could be applied with or without fertilizer to raise maize yields at the rates indicated and also sustainably improve soil productivity

Gaisie, E.; Adams, S.; Quansah, G.; Ofori, P.