Herbage decomposition of some agroforestry species and their effects as mulch on soil properties and crop yield
1991
Lasco, R.D.
Results of dry matter and nutrient content analysis revealed that ipil-ipil [Leucaena leucocephala] herbage had the highest dry matter content (26.9%) while katurai [Sesbania grandiflora] and napier [Pennisetum purpureum] (15.7 and 14.6%, respectively). In addition, katurai tissues had the highest N, P, and K contents while napier had the lowest. Katurai tissues decomposed the fastest with 82.4% of the biomass being lost afer six weeks while kakawate tissues had the lowest rate of decomposition with 51.4% loss. Katurai tissues also released a consistently higher N, P, and K than the others. Leachate analysis showed that the herbage tend to make it alkaline. There were no conclusive trend for nitrogen in the leachate while P and K concentration fit a linear equation showing a rapid rate of release by plant tissues. Mulching significantly improved soil organic matter, total soil nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium. While the trend for pH, CEC and soil microorganisms were positive, they were not conclusive. Mulch from woody legumes consistently affected the soil better than the napier grass. Mulching significantly increased the yield and other related variables of upland rice and bush sitao with the greatest effect coming from the woody legumes mulch. Among the woody legumes, katurai mulch seemed to produce the best results. However, the superiority of woody legume mulch over napier grass tended to decline if the crop is also a legume like bush sitao. Overall, it can be concluded that the use of mulch specially from woody legumes exerted a positive influence to soil properties and crop performance.
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