ISHS Acta Horticulturae 380: Symposium on Tropical Root Crops in a Developping Economy
THE SUITABILITY OF GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM IN-SITU LIVE STAKE ON THE YIELD AND PERFORMANCE OF WHITE YAM (DIOSCOREA ROTUNDATA) |
| Authors: | O.I. Otu, A.A. Agboola |
| Abstract:
Gliricidia live stakes were established vegetatively in 10 farmers' fields (2 500 plants ha-1) in March 1988 to assess their suitability as permanent stake support for white yam with a potential to enhance yield and soil fertility. Bamboo stakes were included in the trial for comparative purposes. The live stakes were pruned thrice in 1989. The biomass production at cutback was 3.7 t ha-1 dry matter, and 2.7 t ha-1 and 2.1 t ha-1 at the second and third prunings, respectively. After decomposition, the nutrient contribution from the prunings were 354 kg N, 22 kg P, 134 kg K, 121 kg Ca, and 38 kg Mg ha-1 yr-1. These added nutrients up graded the soil nutrient status. Using with gliricidia prunings as mulch on the soil, there was 14% decrease in soil bulk density, 16% increase in soil moisture content, 14% decrease in weed population density, and 21% decrease in weed dry matter. In the 1988 planting season, yam tuber yield was higher under bamboo-staked plots compared with gliricidia in situ live-staked plots due to shading of yam vines by unpruned gliricidia leaves, but the yield difference was not significant. In the 1989 season, after 3 prunings, the yam tuber yield under gliricidia staked plots was significantly higher, and increased by 16% over that of the bamboo-staked plots. | |
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