Alley crop system with leguminous tree of high and low quality of biomass replace slash-and burn system and humid tropic

Objective
Test the effects of various combinations of legumes promoting nutrient recycling
Description
Alley cropping is characterised by planting leguminous trees between rows of crop species of economic interest aiming at facilitate, the decomposition of biomass of leguminous trees as well as, the return of nutrients to the soil for use by crops and decrease the water transpiration
Data Access Statement
Available to collaborators only
Data license
Don't know
Data policy
Yes (not online)
Organization
Maranhão State University
research organisation
Person
Prof Dr Emanoel Gomes de Moura
principal investigator
Professor
Agroecology

Site: Alley Cropping

Type
research farm
Location
São Luís
Maranhão
Brazil
Geographic location
-3.250209, -44.2150279
+−
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Elevation
130 Metres
Visits permitted?
Yes
Visiting arrangements
booking by email
Soil type
ferralsol
Soil description
ultisol sandy loam
Climatic type
warm semi-arid climate

Design period: Main period (2000—)

Design Type
cross over
Description
This system can be described as the planting of trees in two multiple rows. The space between sets is of 0.5 by 4 m, determined by the quantity of biomass required for the soil management. Before and during the cropping period the leguminous branches are periodically pruned and laid down on soil surface between leguminous tree sets. Alley cropping offers the advantage of bringing together in the same space and at the same time cropping cultivation and soil fertility
Design description
Treatments: Leucaena + Acácia; Leucaena + Clitoria; Leucaena + Gliricidia; Gliricidia + Clitoria; Gliricidia + Acacia; Control: without legume Crops: Maize, cotton, cassava and rice
Number of plots
24
Number of replicates
4
Number of harvests per year
1
Crops
CropYears grown
cassava
maize
rice
cotton
Factor
Factor name
Factor levels
alley cropping
cobinations of leguminous tree
Leucaena leucocephala
acacia
clitoria
gliciricidia sepium
Factor combinations
treatment 1
alley cropping: Leucaena leucocephala
alley cropping: acacia
treatment 2
alley cropping: Leucaena leucocephala
alley cropping: clitoria
treatment 3
alley cropping: Leucaena leucocephala
alley cropping: gliciricidia sepium
treatment 4
alley cropping: gliciricidia sepium
alley cropping: clitoria
treatment 5
alley cropping: gliciricidia sepium
alley cropping: acacia

Related publications

  • Gypsum and Legume Residue as a Strategy to Improve Soil Conditions in Sustainability of Agrosystems of the Humid Tropics