Crop-tree interactions in alley cropping systems on alluvial soils of the Upper Amazon Basin (original) (raw)

Abstract

A crop/hedgerow interface design was used to test three leguminous species,Inga edulis, Leucaena leucocephala and_Erythrina_ sp., for their potential use for alley cropping on alluvial soils in the upper Amazon Basin. Prunings were applied as mulch at three rates 0, 3.3 and 6.7 Mg dry matter/ha/crop. Competition, crop yields, nutrient budgets, and weed control were monitored for three consecutive crops of upland rice. Crop yield reductions were evident up to 1.5 m from each of the hedgerow species, but were more pronounced with_Leucaena_ hedgerows. Additional mulch was able to compensate for these reduced yields close to the hedges in_Leucaena leucocephala_ and_Erythrina_ but not in_Inga edulis_ systems. In general rice yields were higher with_Leucaena leucocephala_ and_Erythrina_ mulch as compared to_Inga_ mulch, perhaps because of higher levels of available N provided by the rapidly decomposing leaves of_Leucaena leucocephala_ and_Erythrina_ sp. as compared to_Inga_. Weed control was greater, however, with the slowly decomposing_Inga_ mulch. For all three hedgerow/crop systems there was a net export of P from the system which was exhibited by declining soil P levels and decreasing crop yields.

Resumen

Un diseño de interfase cultivo/hilera de árboles se uso para ensayar tres especies leguminosas:Inga edulis, Leucaena leucocephala, y Erythrina sp. con el propósito de conocer su potencial para ser usadas en cultivos en callejones en suelos aluviales de la parte alta de la cuenca amazónica. Se aplicaron podas en 3 cantidades, 0. 3.3, y 6.7 Mg ha−1 por cultivo. El efecto de competencia, rendimiento del cultivo, balance de nutrientes y control de malezas fueron medidos durante tres cultivos consecutivos de arroz de altura. Reductiones en el rendimiento del cultivo fueron evidenctes hasta 1.5 m de distancia de las hileras de árboles, las reducciones fueron mayores con hileras de_Leucaena_ e_Inga_. Incrementos de las cantidades de podas aplicada fueron capaces de incrementar los rendimientos cerca de las hileras de_Leuceana leucocephala_ y_Erythrina_ pero no de_Inga_. En general los rendimientos de arroz fueron más altos con podas de_Leucaena_ y_Erythrina_ en comparación con podas de_Inga_, debido quizás a los niveles más altos de nitrógeno disponible proveído por las podas de_Leucaena_ y_Erythrina_, que son de más rápida descomposición. Para las 3 especies estudiadas en interfase, hubo una exportación neta de nutrientes con el grano y rastrojo de arroz que se observó en el declinar de los niveles de P en el suelo y en el declinar de los rendimientos.

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Author notes

  1. L. T. Szott
    Present address: Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigación y Ensenanza (CATIE), Turrialba, Costa Rica
  2. C. A. Palm
    Present address: Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Program, Nairobi, Kenya

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria y Agroindustrial, Yurimaguas, Perú
    A. Salazar
  2. Department of Soil Science, N.C. State University, Raleigh, NC
    L. T. Szott & C. A. Palm

Authors

  1. A. Salazar
  2. L. T. Szott
  3. C. A. Palm

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Salazar, A., Szott, L.T. & Palm, C.A. Crop-tree interactions in alley cropping systems on alluvial soils of the Upper Amazon Basin.Agroforest Syst 22, 67–82 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707472

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