Biomass production and some soil properties under a Leucaena leucocephala fallow.
1993
Kung'u J.B.
Total above ground biomass production was highly significant for the different fallow periods. The five year old fallow fields had the highest net above ground biomass production. Nutrient concentration in different plant component was not significantly affected by the fallow period. The nutrient accumulation in the above ground biomass (kg/ha) was significantly affected by the fallow period. Duncan Multiple Range Test revealed that, the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium accumulation in the above ground total biomass was not significantly different for the first three years of the fallow period. The ratio of the nutrient content in the leaf biomass to the total above ground biomass decreased with the progress of the fallow period. The soil chemical properties was affected by the fallow period though analysis of variance of many of these soil chemical property changes did not show any significant differences among the fallow periods. Soil pH decreased with the progress of the fallow period while the organic matter content increased in the first three years of the fallow period. The available phosphorus was significantly affected by the fallow period and it increased with the progress of the fallow period up to three years. Other soil properties that was affected by the duration of the fallow period was the water holding capacity, soil moisture and particle density, though the effect was not significantly different. Soil texture was not affected by the fallow period.
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