Green leaf manuring with prunings of Leucaena leucocephala for nitrogen economy and improved productivity of maize (Zea mays)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

Abstract

Green leaf manuring with prunings of Leucaena leucocephala is regarded as a useful source of N to plants but the actual substitution of N fertilizer, release and recovery of N as well as effects on soil fertility are not adequately studied. The present studies investigated the effect of sole and combined use of Leucaena prunings and urea N fertilizer in different proportions on productivity, profitability, N uptake and balance in maize (Zea mays)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system at New Delhi during 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. Varying quantities of Leucaena green leaf biomass containing 3.83-4.25% N (18.2-20.5 C:N ratio) were applied to provide 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended N (120 kg ha -1 ) to both maize and wheat before sowing. In general, direct application of urea N increased the productivity of both crops more than Leucaena green leaf manure, but the reverse was true for the residual effect of these sources. The productivity of maize increased progressively with increasing proportions of N through urea fertilizer and was 2.41-2.52 t ha -1 with 60 kg N ha -1 each applied through Leucaena and urea, which was at par with that obtained with 120 kg N ha -1 through urea alone (2.56-2.74 t ha -1 ). Similarly, wheat yield was also near maximum (4.46-5.11 t ha -1 ) when equal amounts of N were substituted through Leucaena and urea. Residual effects were obtained on the following crops and were significant when greater quantity of N ([50%) was substituted through Leucaena. Nitrogen uptake and recovery were also maximum with urea N alone, and N recovery was higher in maize (33.4-42.1%) than in wheat (27.3-29.8%). However, recovery of residual N in the following crop was more from Leucaena N alone (8.5-10.3%) than from urea fertilizer (1.7-3.8%). Residual soil fertility in terms of organic C and KMnO 4 oxidizable N showed improvement with addition of Leucaena prunings, which led to a positive N balance at the end of second cropping cycle. Net returns were considerably higher with wheat than with maize, and were comparatively lower with greater proportion of Leucaena because of its higher cost. Nonetheless, it was beneficial to apply Leucaena and urea on equal N basis for higher productivity and sustainability of this cereal-based cropping system.

Moisture conservation and nitrogen recycling through legume mulching in rainfed maize (Zea mays)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

“…Thus, the N recovery was more with maize than wheat, and decreased with increasing N fertilizer rates. A similar trend was observed in our earlier study (Sharma and Behera 2009b) but the recovery values were much lower (30-40%). Higher apparent recovery of directly-applied N fertilizer in the present study might be because of lower temperature and longer growth duration under the moderate climate of Doon valley conditions.…”

Leucaena leucocephala: an underutilized plant for pulp and paper production

“…The species is also used for pulp and paper production (Lopez et al 2008;Diaz et al 2007), wood production (Tewari et al 2004;Prasad et al 2011), green manuring (Sharma et al 1998;Sharma and Behera 2010), phytoremediation and revegetation of fly ash basins and other contaminated areas (Cheung et al 2000;Lins et al 2006), for prevention of slope failure (Normaniza et al 2008), for energy and chemicals from autohydrolysis (Feria et al 2011). L. leucocephala can also be used for soil erosion, for reclamation of marginal and degraded waste land (due to high nitrogen-fixing potential), as ornamental and to control air pollution along roadside, as live fence along cultivated fields and for shade and support for shade loving plants and vines such as pepper, vanilla, and yam etc.…”

Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Mulching in Rainfed Maize—Wheat Cropping System in the Western Himalayan Region of India

“…Mulching or incorporation of tender twigs of Leucaena has been found to be beneficial for moisture conservation and meeting N requirement of maize (Mafongoya, Mugendi, & Pendreira 1997;Soltan, El-Ghandour, & Abdel-Aziz 2001;Sharma & Behera 2010;, with significant residual effects on soil fertility and productivity of subsequent crops (Mureithi, Tayler, & Thorpe 1994;Jones et al 1996;Lehria, Bali, & Singh 2006). Similarly, the use of Peuraria vines as mulch has been found to conserve moisture and supply N to the plants with beneficial effects on soil fertility (Singh 1999).…”