Shabani Et Al

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Shabani et al



Greener
Journal of  Agricultural Sciences


Vol. 3 (4), pp.
254-261, April 2013.


 ISSN: 2276-7770 



Research

Paper



Manuscript Number: 021213450

 



Effect of spacing and cutting management on survival,
growth and biomass production of Moringa oleifera
intercropped with maize on-station at Gairo inland
plateau and Ruvu, Coast region – Tanzania

 


1
Ezekiel
Edward,

1
Shabani
 A.O. Chamshama,


*
Mathew
A. Mndolwa


and

1
Yonika
M. Ngaga

 


1
Faculty
of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Sokoine University
of Agriculture,


P. O. Box 3010, Morogoro, Tanzania.


*Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, P. O. Box 95,
Lushoto, Tanzania.

 


*Corresponding Author’s Email: mathewmndolwa @yahoo. com

Abstract:

Evaluation of the effect of spacing and pollarding height of
Moringa oleifera intercropped with maize on growth,
foliar and stems biomass production, maize yields and soil
fertility improvement was conducted at Gairo (semi arid
inland plateau) and Ruvu (sub-humid coastal area). Replicate
trials were planted in a split-split plot design arranged in
a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three
replications. Results showed that maize grain weights as
affected by different spacing and pollarding treatments
differed significantly (P<0.05) in third season at Gairo
site while at Ruvu site nothing was harvested in second and
third seasons other than stover. During first season at
Gairo site, grain weight ranged from 818.90 kg/ha to 1343.19
kg/ha, while for Ruvu site grain weight ranged from 1702.13
kg/ha to 2451.69 kg/ha. Biomass decreased with increasing
spacing in both sites. Increase in soil pH, available
Nitrogen, available P and Electrical conductivity in two
years were observed at Gairo. Moringa showed varied but good
performance in the two sites and pollarding height (50 cm)
and a spacing of 2.5×2.5 m led to more maize production.
Pollarded foliar biomass was inadequate to improve soil
fertility. Intercropping with maize was not detrimental to
Moringa biomass production.
 
Key words: Moringa, intercropped, maize, soil
fertility, biomass.

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