International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2016, Volume : 4, Issue : 3
First page : (206) Last page : (215)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2225
Cropping Systems Effects on Sustainable Maize Crop (Zea mays L.) Production on Depleted Tropical Soil
Ayi K. Adden1*, Gbénonchi Mawussi2, Jean M. Sogbedji2, Komla Sanda2 and Kouami Kokou3
1Institut de Conseil et d’Appui Technique (ICAT), BP : 86 Kpalimé, Togo
2Unité de Recherche sur les Agroressources et la Santé Environnementale (URASE)/Ecole Supérieure d’Agronomie/Université de Lomé (Togo)
3Laboratoire de Botanique et d’Ecologie Végétale/Faculté des Sciences/Université de Lomé (Togo)
*Corresponding Author E-mail: ayiadden@gmail.com
Received: 18.02.2016 | Revised: 11.03.2016 | Accepted: 15.03.2016
Abstract
Nutriments depletion in tropical soils is a limiting factor for agricultural productivity. This study aims are to identify appropriate cropping systems which could optimize maize grains yield and prevent from soil nutrients depletion. Field trials were conducted in Southern Togo ferralsol including Mucuna and pigeon pea cover crops in three cropping systems in randomize triplicate split plot design. Cropping systems tested consisted of continuous maize and atypical relay of maize-mucuna and maize-pigeon pea represented in main plot with different mineral fertilizer rates in sub-plot. Results showed that maize grains yield ranged from 3.00 to 6.83 Mg.ha-1 during the first season and from 3.02 to 5.85 Mg.ha-1 during the second season. Mucuna increased maize grain yield by 38-57% compared to continuous maize while pigeon pea increased yield by 30-49%. Nitrogen and P budget showed 93% N and 10% P losses in continuous maize system then 28% N and 11% P losses in maize–pigeon pea system while just 26% N and 7% P were lost in maize–mucuna system. Maize-mucuna atypical relay seem to be the best approach to produce high maize yield and to reduce soil nutrient depletion.
Keys words: Cover crops, Cropping system, Nutrients depletion, Maize yield
Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782
Cite this article: Adden, A.K., Mawussi, G., Sogbedji, J.M., Sanda, K. and Kokou, K., Cropping Systems Effects on Sustainable Maize Crop (Zea mays L.) Production on Depleted Tropical Soil, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.4(3): 206-215 (2016). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2225
