Nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in west Africa

Recycling of plant residues, fertilizer use and inclusion of trees and perennials in crop fields are key components in systems for improved food crop production on infertile soils in the forest regions of West Africa. 2 On Alfisols of pH 5.5 or higher in the forest and forest-savanna transitional zo...

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Main Authors: Juo, A.S., Kang, B.T.
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: 1989
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/98745
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author Juo, A.S.
Kang, B.T.
author_browse Juo, A.S.
Kang, B.T.
author_facet Juo, A.S.
Kang, B.T.
author_sort Juo, A.S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Recycling of plant residues, fertilizer use and inclusion of trees and perennials in crop fields are key components in systems for improved food crop production on infertile soils in the forest regions of West Africa. 2 On Alfisols of pH 5.5 or higher in the forest and forest-savanna transitional zones, systems including food crop-cover crop rotation, minimum tillage and the judicial use of fertilizer can sustain yields on small farms for 10 years or more without reverting land to bush fallow. Inter-planting leguminous trees such as Leucaena leucocephala with annual food crops is shown to improve food crop yields. The leguminous trees fix atmospheric nitrogen, recycle mineral nutrients from the subsoil, and prevent soil erosion and run-off water on sloping land. 3 On strongly leached acid soils (i.e. Ultisols and Oxisols) in high-rainfall regions, nutrient cycling and green manuring are less effective because of subsoil infertility. Intensive food crop production on such soils requires costly inputs of fertilizer and lime. However, experiments have shown that periodic application of small dosages of lime can sustain a moderate crop yield. Gradual saturation of subsoil horizons with calcium is a prerequisite for effective recycling of nutrients in agricultural systems in the high-rainfall region.
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spelling CGSpace987452023-06-08T15:20:16Z Nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in west Africa Juo, A.S. Kang, B.T. food crops nutrients land fertilizers soil nutrient Recycling of plant residues, fertilizer use and inclusion of trees and perennials in crop fields are key components in systems for improved food crop production on infertile soils in the forest regions of West Africa. 2 On Alfisols of pH 5.5 or higher in the forest and forest-savanna transitional zones, systems including food crop-cover crop rotation, minimum tillage and the judicial use of fertilizer can sustain yields on small farms for 10 years or more without reverting land to bush fallow. Inter-planting leguminous trees such as Leucaena leucocephala with annual food crops is shown to improve food crop yields. The leguminous trees fix atmospheric nitrogen, recycle mineral nutrients from the subsoil, and prevent soil erosion and run-off water on sloping land. 3 On strongly leached acid soils (i.e. Ultisols and Oxisols) in high-rainfall regions, nutrient cycling and green manuring are less effective because of subsoil infertility. Intensive food crop production on such soils requires costly inputs of fertilizer and lime. However, experiments have shown that periodic application of small dosages of lime can sustain a moderate crop yield. Gradual saturation of subsoil horizons with calcium is a prerequisite for effective recycling of nutrients in agricultural systems in the high-rainfall region. 1989 2018-12-19T07:04:56Z 2018-12-19T07:04:56Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/98745 en Limited Access Juo, A.S. & Kang, B.T. (1989). Nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in West Africa. In J. Proctor, Mineral nutrients in tropical forest and savanna ecosystems. Minnesota, United State: Blackwell, (p. 289-300).
spellingShingle food crops
nutrients
land
fertilizers
soil nutrient
Juo, A.S.
Kang, B.T.
Nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in west Africa
title Nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in west Africa
title_full Nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in west Africa
title_fullStr Nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in west Africa
title_full_unstemmed Nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in west Africa
title_short Nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in west Africa
title_sort nutrient effects of modification of shifting cultivation in west africa
topic food crops
nutrients
land
fertilizers
soil nutrient
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/98745
work_keys_str_mv AT juoas nutrienteffectsofmodificationofshiftingcultivationinwestafrica
AT kangbt nutrienteffectsofmodificationofshiftingcultivationinwestafrica