Microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a Psophocarpus palsustris live mulch grown on a tropical Alfisol

Nitrogen uptake by maize was monitored for five cropping seasons in a live-mulch of Psophocarpus palustris (psopho) established on an Alfisol at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. During the first four cropping seasons, psopho and maize competed for soil N in the l...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Mulongoy, K.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 1986
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175883
_version_ 1855523199288082432
author Mulongoy, K.
author_browse Mulongoy, K.
author_facet Mulongoy, K.
author_sort Mulongoy, K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Nitrogen uptake by maize was monitored for five cropping seasons in a live-mulch of Psophocarpus palustris (psopho) established on an Alfisol at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. During the first four cropping seasons, psopho and maize competed for soil N in the live-mulch, and maize grown in a psopho live-mulch contained less N than maize grown by itself. In the fifth season, psopho contributed 15 kg N ha−1 to maize in the psopho-maize plots that were cropped continuously for five seasons. Maize grown in a psopho live-mulch that had already been established for four cropping seasons contained 36 kg ha−1 more N than maize grown by itself. This positive N contribution came, at least in part, from increases in microbial biomass and in organic matter derived from the cover crop in the form of litter and earthworm casts. These casts represented a supplementary N reserve of 13–21 kg ha−1 under the cover crop. The casts also had a larger biomass C content, and higher percent stress-labile N (PSN), organic C and total N than the corresponding soils. Biomass C and PSN values were the lowest in soils from bare maize plots, indicating that the live-mulch improved soil nutrient availability and biological properties.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace175883
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 1986
publishDateRange 1986
publishDateSort 1986
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1758832025-11-11T10:14:19Z Microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a Psophocarpus palsustris live mulch grown on a tropical Alfisol Mulongoy, K. psophocarpus palustris live mulches alfisols maize tropical soils Nitrogen uptake by maize was monitored for five cropping seasons in a live-mulch of Psophocarpus palustris (psopho) established on an Alfisol at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. During the first four cropping seasons, psopho and maize competed for soil N in the live-mulch, and maize grown in a psopho live-mulch contained less N than maize grown by itself. In the fifth season, psopho contributed 15 kg N ha−1 to maize in the psopho-maize plots that were cropped continuously for five seasons. Maize grown in a psopho live-mulch that had already been established for four cropping seasons contained 36 kg ha−1 more N than maize grown by itself. This positive N contribution came, at least in part, from increases in microbial biomass and in organic matter derived from the cover crop in the form of litter and earthworm casts. These casts represented a supplementary N reserve of 13–21 kg ha−1 under the cover crop. The casts also had a larger biomass C content, and higher percent stress-labile N (PSN), organic C and total N than the corresponding soils. Biomass C and PSN values were the lowest in soils from bare maize plots, indicating that the live-mulch improved soil nutrient availability and biological properties. 1986 2025-07-30T08:59:28Z 2025-07-30T08:59:28Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175883 en Limited Access application/pdf Mulongoy, K. (1986). Microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a Psophocarpus palustris live-mulch grown on a tropical Alfisol. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 18(4), 395-398.
spellingShingle psophocarpus palustris
live mulches
alfisols
maize
tropical soils
Mulongoy, K.
Microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a Psophocarpus palsustris live mulch grown on a tropical Alfisol
title Microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a Psophocarpus palsustris live mulch grown on a tropical Alfisol
title_full Microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a Psophocarpus palsustris live mulch grown on a tropical Alfisol
title_fullStr Microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a Psophocarpus palsustris live mulch grown on a tropical Alfisol
title_full_unstemmed Microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a Psophocarpus palsustris live mulch grown on a tropical Alfisol
title_short Microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a Psophocarpus palsustris live mulch grown on a tropical Alfisol
title_sort microbial biomass and maize nitrogen uptake under a psophocarpus palsustris live mulch grown on a tropical alfisol
topic psophocarpus palustris
live mulches
alfisols
maize
tropical soils
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175883
work_keys_str_mv AT mulongoyk microbialbiomassandmaizenitrogenuptakeunderapsophocarpuspalsustrislivemulchgrownonatropicalalfisol