Growth and nutrient contents of leguminous covers in oil palm plantations in Malaysia [cover crops]
1982
Han, K.J. | Chew, P.S.
The ease of establishment, growth, dry matter production and nutrient recycling of four leguminous species with apparent different growth characteristics and shade-tolerance in the inter-rows of oil palms on Serdang series (Typic Paleudult) and Selangor series (Typic Tropaquept) were investigated. The leguminous species tested were Pueraria phaseoloides, Calopogonium caeruleum, Centrosema pubescens and Desmodium ovalifolium. P. phaseoloides and C. pubescens were observed to establish rapidly in both the experiments. C. caeruleum and D. ovalifolium were slow to establish but grew vigorously after establishment. D. ovalifolium produced 15 tons dry matter per hectare, the highest among the cover treatments at twenty months after planting on Selangor series. C. caeruleum ranked second followed by C. pubescens and P. phaseoloides. On Serdang series, D. ovalifolium also produced the highest dry matter followed by C. caeruleum, P. phaseoloides and C. pubescens. The leguminous species tested immobilised significantly higher than P. phaseoloides. C. pubescens returned higher amount of nitrogen in leaf litter than the three other species in both experiments. Potassium content in the vegetation of C. caeruleum on Selangor series at 20 months after planting was found to be higher than P. phaseoloides and C. pubescens. On Serdang series, the difference was not significant. Vegetative growth of palms was better in the leguminous cover treatment than grasses on Selangor series at twenty months after planting. Nitrogen and phosphorous status of the palms were also improved. No significant difference was obtained on Serdang series at twelve months after planting. C. caeruleum appeared the most promising species and maximum benefits are likely to be derived from the leguminous covers if C. caeruleum is favoured as the dominant leguminous species particularly in organic clay and Selangor series areas
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