Economic evaluation of alley cropping leucaena with Maize-Maize and Maize-Cowpea in Southern Nigeria

Ngambeki, D.S.

doi:10.1016/0308-521x(85)90037-x

Cited by 47 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…A second problem is the shortage of labour in Northern Province due to the attraction of mine work in the Copperbelt. Introduction of a technology such as alley cropping that can require up to 50% more labour [Ngambeki, 1985] is unlikely to succeed unless substantial benefits to crop yields can be demonstrated. While there is adequate land, the return to labour is likely to be greater from expanding the cropped area, rather than intensifying an existing area [Stromgaard, 1984].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential of alley cropping im improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia II. Maize production

et al. 1992

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Three trials to evaluate the potential of alley cropping in maize production on the low fertility, acidic soils in Northern Zambia are described. Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania sesban, Albizia falcataria, Flemingia congesta, and Cassia spectabilis, were grown in alley crops with hybrid maize and soybean. All trials received recommended rates of P and K fertillser; N fertiliser was applied at three rates as a subplot treatment. One trial received lime before establishment.Only in the limed trial was there a significant improvement in maize yields through alley cropping; when no N fertiliser was applied, incorporation of Leucaena leucocephala pranings resulted in an increase of up to 95% in yields, with a smaller improvement being produced by Flemingia congesta. There was a significant correlation between the quantity of prunings biomass applied and the proportional increase in maize yields over the control treatment. It is suggested that the lack of effect of most of the tree species on crop yields was due to low biomass production.An economic analysis showed that alley cropping with limed Leucaena was only profitable when fertiliser costs were high in relation to maize prices. However, lime is both expensive and difficult to obtain and transport for most small scale farmers in the region, and is therefore not a practical recommendation. It is suggested that future alley cropping research should focus on screening a wider range of tree species, including other species of Leucaena, for acid tolerance and higher biomass production.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential of alley cropping im improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia II. Maize production

et al. 1992

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“…Despite additional labor for pruning and mulching, it appears that alley cropping with vegetable crops can be profitable for small-scale vegetable farmers in the tropics. In previous studies, economic analysis of alley cropping with maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unquiculata, Walp L.) indicated higher net returns than traditional systems [11,12]. This study has shown that alley cropping with Leucaena can benefit vegetable crop production in the tropics.…”

Section: Crop -~;mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of alley cropping with Leucaena leucocephala and fertilizer application on yield of vegetable crops

1992

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Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of alley cropping vegetable crops with Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit for two seasons on a sandy loam Oxic paleustalf in southwestern Nigeria. Four vegetable crops (Amaranthus cruentus L.; Celosia argentea L.; Okra, Hibiscus esculentus L.; and tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were grown in control plots and in 4-m wide alleys between established Leucaena hedgerows without and with fertilizer (30 N-13 P-24 K kg ha-l). Leucaena pnmings yielded large dry biomass and nutrients during both seasons. Yield of four vegetable crops responded more to fertilizer in control than in alley cropped treatments. Better yield of vegetables in alley cropped plots was in part due to fallowing effect of the Leucaena hedgerows. Fertilizer application increased mean yields of Amaranthus, Celosia, okra and tomato by 325, 164, 47 and 94% in control plots and by 36, 26, 4 and 20% in alley cropped plots, respectively. For both seasons, yields were not significantly different between alley cropped with and without fertilizer and the control with fertilizer treatments. Yield was least in control without fertilizer. Alley cropping with Leucaena can reduce fertilizer requirement for vegetable production. Cost and return analysis using 1988 prices indicated that alley cropping with vegetable crops can be profitable.

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“…The economics of such systems are hard to evaluate. The system may be economical under severe cash constraints and where hired labor is available at relatively low cost [Verinumbe et al, 1984;Ngambeki, 1985].…”

Section: Grain Yieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agroforestry systems and soil surface management of a tropical alfisol: I: Soil moisture and crop yields

Lal

1989

Agroforest Syst

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Field experiments were conducted on a tropical Alfisol at Ibadan, Nigeria, to evaluate the effects on soil moisture and crop yields of three agroforestry systems. Effects of agroforestry treatments involving two perennial shrubs (Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium), each at 2-m and 4-m row spacings, were compared with no-till and plow-till systems of seedbed preparation. Measurements were made for soil properties, runoff and erosion, nutrient losses in runoff, and crop growth and yield for a uniform maize (Zea mays) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) rotation. All of the six plots, each measuring 70 x 10m, were established on a natural slope of about 7%. Alterations in soil properties and effects on crop growth were evaluated for six consecutive years from 1982 through 1987.Seed germination and seedling establishment of Leucaena hedgerows were satisfactory while establishment of Gliricidia from stem cuttings was unsatisfactory. Maize germination and crop stand were normal while that of cowpea were suppressed by both Leucaena and Gliricidia. Maize growth and yield were suppressed only in the vicinity of hedgerows. Maize grain yield in agroforestry systems averaged about 10 percent lower than that of the control. In contrast with maize, agroforestry systems drastically suppressed cowpea grain yield. The average cowpea yield in agroforestry systems was 30 to 50% of the control. Regardless of the mangement system, grain yields declined over time at the rate of 340 and 96 kg ha-~ yr -~ for maize and cowpea, respectively.Hedgerows of Leucaena and Gliricidia acted as windbreaks, Consequently, soil moisture content in the top 0-5 cm layer in agroforestry systems was generally higher than that in the control during both wet and dry seasons.

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Economic evaluation of alley cropping leucaena with Maize-Maize and Maize-Cowpea in Southern Nigeria

Cited by 47 publications

References 4 publications

The potential of alley cropping im improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia II. Maize production

The potential of alley cropping im improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia II. Maize production

Effect of alley cropping with Leucaena leucocephala and fertilizer application on yield of vegetable crops

Agroforestry systems and soil surface management of a tropical alfisol: I: Soil moisture and crop yields

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