The Potential of Leucaena leococaphala alley Cropping as an Intervention for Soil Fertility Improvement in Ghana

Abstract

A three-year old leucaena leococephala alley cropping with maize was evaluated with respect to soil chemical pro-perties and grain and stover yields on a Coastal Savanna Soil of Ghana. The four treatments established between the leucaena hedgerows were: half rate of recommended fertilizer for maize (T1); full rate of recommended fertilizer for maize (T2); pruning of leucaena leococephala alone (T3); and pruning of leucaena leococephala plus half fertilizer rate (T4). The experimental design was randomized complete block design with three replicates. The pruning was applied as mulch over the soil surface. Soil chemical analysis indicated that organic carbon and total nitrogen increas-ed significantly when leucaena pruning alone was added. Addition of mineral fertilizer to pruning caused a decrease in soil organic carbon but an increase in the total available nitrogen. The amount of phosphorus added to the soil did not improve with addition of leucaena pruning. Addition of mineral fertilizer to leucaena pruning increased the yield of maize grain but the yield was not significantly different from adding leucaena pruning alone. Therefore, for the resource-poor farmer in the humid tropics, alley cropping with leucaena could be a recommended sustainable soil management practice discounting some limitations such as labour that goes with the practice during the cropping season.

Journal of Applied Science & Technology (JAST), Vol. 4, Nos. 1 & 2, 1999, pp. 59 – 66