Effect of Intercropping Leguminous Tree Species on Soil Nutrient Status, Growth and Yield of Arable Crops in Ukan Edemaya, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Intercropping improves the usage rate of a land while also maintaining soil fertility. This study is to examine the preliminary intercropping effect of leguminous trees species (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam), Gliricidia sepium (Jacq), and Senna siamae (Lam) on soil nutrient status, growth and yield of arable crops (Zea mays L) in two cropping seasons (2017 and 2018) using a field trial at Ukan Edemaya, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Treatments were randomized within the blocks and reproduced four (4) times on a 0.04 hectare plot of land that was cleared, demarcated into four blocks, and manually tilled. The study was a two-factor factorial using a Randomized Complete Block Design layout (RCBC). The data was analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and treatment means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD < 0.05). The findings revealed that all arable crop growth and production were not significant in weeks 1-6 (WAP), but significant from weeks 7 to 14 (WAP). Arable crops planted in leucaena alleys outperformed those planted in Gliricidia and senna alleys and outperformed those planted in plots without leguminous plants. Leguminous tree species were shown to boost the growth and yield of arable crops, as well as rehabilitate a damaged fertility soil quality, according to the study. Farmers are urged to intercrop their arable crops with leguminous tree species in order to increase yield and provide fuel wood.