Note on effects of a Mucuna pruriens var. utilis crop on the growth of maize (Zea mays) on an acid ultisol in southeastern Nigeria
1996
A:PS
Details
Title
Note on effects of a Mucuna pruriens var. utilis crop on the growth of maize (Zea mays) on an acid ultisol in southeastern Nigeria
Publication Date
1996
Call Number
A:PS
Summary
An experiment was conducted on a highly degraded Ultisol with the aim of quantifying the effect of a previous crop of mucuna (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis) on growth of maize. Maize cv. TZSR-Y was sown after either mucuna or a natural grass fallow (with or without 40 kg N ha-1 as urea). Leaf area, height, biomass, and yield of maize varied in the order: fallow regrowth + urea > mucuna fallow > fallow regrowth without urea. The proportion of leaf to total dry matter of maize shifted from 70% to 30% between the period 6 to 10 weeks after sowing. Grain yield was significantly correlated to ear-leaf N, Ca, Mg and K contents. Grains constituted 27, 20 and 15% of maize biomass on urea, mucuna, and fallow regrowth plots, respectively. It is suggested that sowing Mucuna pruriens var. utilis as a relay cover crop may reduce the need to apply synthetic N-fertilizer.
Journal Citation
v.48(2-3):135-140, FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
Contact Information
harvest@worldveg.org
Record Appears in
Research > Published Articles