Influence of line-planted trees and phosphorus application on water
Abstract
Planting of trees in rows is common on farms in western Kenya where phosphorus deficiency is also a major constraint to maize production. The influence of soil P status and simultaneous agroforestry systems on water us have, however, not been reported in the region. Effects of line-planted Grevillea robusta (upperstorey trees), Calliandra calothyrsus and Senna spectabilis (both managed as hedges) and P on water use efficiency were investigated in maize. The experiment was laid out as a split-plot with tree species forming main plots while 250 kg P/ha and no P formed sub-plots. Seasonal evapotranspiration was greater under Grevillea by 40.8 mm (5.2%) in the Long Rains (LR) and by 49.3 mm (10.2%) in the Short Rains (SR). Phosphorus significantly increased seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) by 1.7% in the LR and 2.4% in the SR. Maize water use efficiency was higher with P (6.9 kg/ha/mm in the LR and 9.5 kg/ha/mm in the SR) than without P (0.8 kg/ha mm in the LR and 2.1 kg/ha/mm in the SR) The results revealed enormous potential for increasing maize WUE in these soils by overcoming P deficiency. Combining Grevillea trees with P enhanced use of seasonally available water.
Copyright Notices
1. Policy for Journals That Offer Open Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Proposed Policy for Journals That Offer Delayed Open Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication, with the work [SPECIFY PERIOD OF TIME] after publication simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
