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Multipurposes tree prunings as a source of nitrogen to maize under semiarid conditions in Zimbabwe |
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| Authors: | P L Mafongoya P K R Nair B H Dzowela |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Research and Specialist Services, Agronomy Institute, Causeway, P.O. Box CY594, Harare, Zimbabwe 2. School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 118 Newins-Ziegler Hall, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA 3. Department of Research and Specialist Services, SADC/ICRAF Agroforestry Project, Causeway, P.O. Box CY594, Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Abstract: | Time of pruning application and mixing prunings of varying qualities could be important management options to increase the rate of nitrogen recovery from multipurpose-tree prunings that are used as a source of nitrogen to crops. A field experiment was conducted in the semiarid zone of Zimbabwe to test this hypothesis, using prunings of calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), alone and in mixtures, and maize (Zea mays) as the test crop. Time of pruning application significantly improved N uptake, N recovery, and grain yield of maize. Applying prunings of calliandra at maize planting was significantly better in terms of N uptake, N recovery, and grain yield than applying them four weeks after planting. However, with leucaena, time of prunings application had no significant effects on N recovery. Mixing prunings of leucaena and calliandra had no effect on maize N uptake, N recovery, and grain yield. Split application of available prunings during the crop growth cycle had no effect on N recovery compared to one-time application of entire amounts of prunings at planting. |
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