The decomposition of the leaf mulches ofLeucaena leucocephala Gliricidia sepium andFlemingia macrophylla under humid tropical conditions

Abstract

The decomposition of the leaf mulches of Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium and Flemingia macrophylla has been studied under field conditions. Mulch samples were analysed over a period of 70 days on carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium left. Loss rates for the elements show similar patterns for the three mulches. Losses of mulch material are caused by. decomposition as well as removal by soil-dwelling fauna (insects, arthropods, etc.) feeding on the mulch.Based on the data decomposition-and nutrient release functions are developed for the three mulches. These functions are useful in alley-cropping system analysis and models.

Effects of chemical composition on nitrogen mineralization from green manures of seven tropical leguminous trees

“…Mesh bags (Palm et al, 1988;Palm and Sanchez, 1990;Wilson et al, 1986;Yamoah et al, 1986) or open frames (Budelman, 1988) assume that the disappearance of N from recoverable plant materials is equivalent to mineralization. The magnitudes of fragmentation loss, soluble organic N leaching, volatilization, or contamination with soil N are unclear.…”

Effect of the application of the leaf mulch of Gliricidia sepium on early development, leaf nutrient contents and tuber yields of water yam (Dioscorea alata)

“…Making use of the various specific qualities of perennial species new or improved cropping systems can be designed, and appropriate management procedures can be devised. Such an excercise requires intimate knowledge of properties and aspects of the woody species involved; biomass productivity, nutrient content, quality of the leaf mulch [2,3,4], but also tree architecture, root area index and distribution, wood quality, etcetera ~ .…”

The potential of alley cropping in improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia I. Chitemene and Fundikila

“…In relation to the quality of prunings, Budelman [1988a] found slower decay, lower leaf nutrient content and a high C/N ratio of 21 in the prunings of Flerningia congesta compared to Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium. As a C/N ratio of less than 10 is generally regarded as necessary to prevent the immobilisation of N by the incorporation of organic matter into the soil [Budelman, 1988a], addition of Flemingia prunings may actually reduce rather than increase the level of N available to the crop.…”

“…As a C/N ratio of less than 10 is generally regarded as necessary to prevent the immobilisation of N by the incorporation of organic matter into the soil [Budelman, 1988a], addition of Flemingia prunings may actually reduce rather than increase the level of N available to the crop. Flerningia also had the lowest overall level of nutrients (Table 3).…”