Results from intercropping fast-growing trees and food crops at Morogoro, Tanzania
In Morogoro, Tanzania, agroforestry trials were set up to investigate intercropping with primarily eucalypt species. The climate in the region is very similar to Kolar, Karnataka State, India. Three crops-sorghum, bean and maize-were grown annually under Eucalyptus tereticornis at 2.5 m x 2.5 m for three years with a range of weeding practices. Plots that were intercropped with beans showed best results. Shading by the eucalypts after three years resulted in negligible crop yields in all treatments. Three tree spacings of E. camaldulensis (3 m x 3 m, 4 m x 4 m, and 5 m x 5 m) were combined with the intercropping of beans and maize. Beans gave satisfactory yields at all spacings, but the maize showed significantly depressed yields at 3 m x 3 m at 4 m x 4 m, but was similar to pure maize crop at 5 m x 5 m spacing. Overall the extra revenue from a food crop in the first and second year of tree growth increases the return from the land. The short rotation of fast growing trees depleted the soil of nutrients and, as with other crops, the fertility would have to be maintained by applying fertilizer.
- OSTI ID:
- 140033
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9102202-; ISBN 0-471-93561-1; TRN: IM9332%%13
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International symposium on growth and water use of forest plantations, Bangalore (India), 4-7 Feb 1991; Other Information: PBD: 1992; Related Information: Is Part Of Growth and water use of forest plantations; Calder, I.R.; Hall, R.L. [eds.] [Inst. of Hydrology, Wallingford (United Kingdom)]; Adlard, P.G. [ed.] [Oxford Forestry Inst. (United Kingdom)]; PB: 395 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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