Crop production on soil under some forest plantations in the Sahel

Abstract

The production of maize (Zea mays L.), guinea corn (Sorghum vulgare L.) and groundnuts (Arachis hypogea L.) grown in pots on soils sampled under neem (Azadiracta indica A. Juss), Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh, and Prosopis juliflora Swartz, plantations in the Sahel region of Nigeria was investigated. Ordinary field soil adjacent to the plantation formed the control against which forest and species effects on the soil were compared.Crops, particularly maize and sorghum, produced higher dry matter on forest influenced soil than on ordinary field soil. The leguminous groundnuts however, appeared to have fixed its own nitrogen and therefore depended less on the inherent fertility advantages of the forest soil. The highest crop yield was obtained on the soil under neem followed by Prosopis, Eucalyptus and ordinary field. Since forest species differed in their effects on crop yield, further indentification, categorization and development of species with positive effects on crop yield was suggested for priority attention.

Millet (Pennisetum typhoides) yield and selected soil attributes as influenced by some tree types of the semi-arid tropics of Sudan

“…The soil pH under the A. senegal tree is the lowest; this may reduce microbial activity and decomposition of organic matter (Motavalli et al, 1995) and also may induce imbalances in nutrients, especially major elements. In the Sahel arid region of Nigeria, Verinumbe (1987) compared production of maize (Zea mays L.), guinea corn (Sorghum vulgare L.) and groundnuts (Arachis hypogea L.) on soils sampled under A. indica, Dehnh (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Swartz (Prosopis juliflora). They reported that crops, particularly maize and sorghum, produced higher dry matter on the soil under A. indica followed by Prosopis, Eucalyptus and the ordinary field.…”

The role of trees for sustainable management of less-favored lands: the case of eucalyptus in Ethiopia

“…13 Leguminous plants bear nodules on the roots than contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Leguminous trees and shrubs use their extensive root systems to absorb substantial quantities of nutrients from lower soil horizons and enrich the topsoil through leaf litter (Verinumbe 1987). planted adjacent to agricultural crops.…”

“…Verinumbe (1987), in a case study from Nigeria examined yields of maize, sorghum and groundnuts planted in pots with composite soil samples from three 12-year old exotic tree plantations-neem, prosopis, E. camaldulensis, and a control (where the control consisted of mixed surface soil from outside and adjacent to plantations). After 60 days of growth, results indicated that yields of maize and sorghum were highest under neem, whereas groundnuts-which are leguminous, produced high yields under the control and prosopis.…”

Agroforestry practices in Nigeria

“…In another agroforestry experiment carried out under 12-year old stands of Azadirachta indica (Neem), Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Prosopis julifora in the Sahel zone (of north eastern Nigeria) involving maize, millet (Sorghum vulgate) and groundnuts (Arachis hypogea), the yields of maize and millet tended to be higher on forest influenced soils, particularly areas sheltered with Neem [Verinumbe, 1987]. Groundnut was however observed to behave differently recording the highest yield in the unsheltered area and with yields in decreasing order from Prosopis to Neem and to eucalypt.…”