An alley cropping system with maize and Calliandra was examined on a depleted tropical ferralsol/oxisol at Maseno, Kenya. The experiment was carried out on a flat depleted farmers field with phosphorus as the main limiting factor. The objectives of the research were: 1) to determine the productivity and sustainability of calliandra/maize alley cropping in the area; 2) to determine the reasons for the success or failure of the technology by assessing the influence of Calliandra hedges, mulch and phosphorus application on maize yield and the main soil resource - uptake determinants, nutrient availability, root densities and soil water content
Publication year
1999
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
alley cropping, calliandra calothyrsus, crop yield, ferralsols, nutrients, phosphorus, plant competition, soil fertility, zea mays
Geographic
Kenya
