Nitrogen mineralization of agroforestry tree mulches under saline soil conditions
Agricultural technique ; Agroforestry ; Agropedology ; Arid area ; Experimentation ; Kenya ; Nitrogen ; Salinity ; Semi-arid area ; Soil properties
Laboratory incubation experiments were conducted to study the effects of mulch incorporations of Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Grevillea robusta and Cassia siamea residues on soil N mineralization under saline conditions for 10 weeks
. The results suggest that agroforestery under saline irrigation should favour salt tolerant species preferring ammonium-N to nitrate-N as a N source. Ammonium production was unaffected by salinity levels suggesting that oorganic mulch incorporation may buffer
involves an assessment of the quality of the potential irrigation waters and an estimation of the minimum leaching requirements to control salinity, sodicity and permeability hazards. This information and estimated crop water requirements for maize are used