Effects of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Stend and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit on growth and development of Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel
Field studies carried out in a forest transition site on a tropical Alfisol in southwestern Nigeria, show that shading by gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit) hedgerow species reduced density of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel) by 67 percent and 51 percent, respectively. Shoot biomass of speargrass decreased by 81 percent and 78 percent in gliricidia and leucaena hedgerows, respectively. Reduction in speargrass rhizome biomass in gliricia plots was 96 percent while rhizome reduction in the leucaena plots was nearly 90 percent. Rhizome mortality was significantly higher in gliricidia plots than in leucaena and control plots. The bulk of rhizomes was found between 10 cm and 20 cm of soil depth but rhizome did not penetrate further than 30 cm depth in the Alfisol in which this study was carried out. Gliricida was better than leucaena hedgerow species in suppressing speargrass
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
1991
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| Subjects: | AGROFORESTERIA, LEGUMINOSAS ARBOREAS, CONTROL DE MALEZAS, GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM, LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA, IMPERATA CYLINDRICA, |
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| Summary: | Field studies carried out in a forest transition site on a tropical Alfisol in southwestern Nigeria, show that shading by gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit) hedgerow species reduced density of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel) by 67 percent and 51 percent, respectively. Shoot biomass of speargrass decreased by 81 percent and 78 percent in gliricidia and leucaena hedgerows, respectively. Reduction in speargrass rhizome biomass in gliricia plots was 96 percent while rhizome reduction in the leucaena plots was nearly 90 percent. Rhizome mortality was significantly higher in gliricidia plots than in leucaena and control plots. The bulk of rhizomes was found between 10 cm and 20 cm of soil depth but rhizome did not penetrate further than 30 cm depth in the Alfisol in which this study was carried out. Gliricida was better than leucaena hedgerow species in suppressing speargrass |
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