Green leaf biomass of Tithonia diversifolia is high in nutrients and recognised as a potential source of nutrients for crops. We conducted a field survey in western Kenya to determine the variation in leaf nutrient concentrations in tithonia grown in naturalised hedges and agricultural fields, and to examine whether leaf nutrient concentrations were related to soil nutrient status. Leaf P and K concentrations were higher in naturalised hedges (3.2 g P kg1 and 35 g K kg1) than in unfertilised fields (2.2 g P kg1 and 23 g K kg1). The critical level of 2.5 g P kg1 for net P mineralisation was exceeded by > 90% of the leaves from hedges, but by only 14% from unfertilised fields. Leaf P and K concentration increased linearly with increasing natural logarithm of anion resin extractable soil P and exchangeable soil K, respectively. However, at the same levels of soil available P and K, field-grown tithonia consistently produced lower leaf P and K concentrations than that grown in hedges. This study indicates that biomass from tithonia planted on nutrient-depleted soils would be a less effective source of P and K, via biomass transfer, than tithonia from naturalised hedges.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011896705132Altmetric score:
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Publication year
2001
Authors
George, T.S.; Gregory, P.J.; Robinson, J.S.; Buresh, R.J.; Jama, B.A.
Language
English
Keywords
biomass, nutrient cycling, nutrients, phosphorus, tithonia diversifolia
Geographic
Kenya
