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Tithonia diversifolia : variations in leaf nutrient concentration and implications for biomass transfer

Tithonia diversifolia : variations in leaf nutrient concentration and implications for biomass... Green leaf biomass of Tithonia diversifolia is high in nutrients and recognised as a potential source of nutrients for crops. We conducted a field survey in western Kenya to determine the variation in leaf nutrient concentrations in tithonia grown in naturalised hedges and agricultural fields, and to examine whether leaf nutrient concentrations were related to soil nutrient status. Leaf P and K concentrations were higher in naturalised hedges (3.2 g P kg −1 and 35 g K kg −1 ) than in unfertilised fields (2.2 g P kg −1 and 23 g K kg −1 ). The critical level of 2.5 g P kg −1 for net P mineralisation was exceeded by > 90% of the leaves from hedges, but by only 14% from unfertilised fields. Leaf P and K concentration increased linearly with increasing natural logarithm of anion resin extractable soil P and exchangeable soil K, respectively. However, at the same levels of soil available P and K, field-grown tithonia consistently produced lower leaf P and K concentrations than that grown in hedges. This study indicates that biomass from tithonia planted on nutrient-depleted soils would be a less effective source of P and K, via biomass transfer, than tithonia from naturalised hedges. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Agroforestry Systems Springer Journals

Tithonia diversifolia : variations in leaf nutrient concentration and implications for biomass transfer

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References (19)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2001 by Kluwer Academic Publishers
Subject
Life Sciences; Agriculture; Forestry
ISSN
0167-4366
eISSN
1572-9680
DOI
10.1023/A:1011896705132
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Green leaf biomass of Tithonia diversifolia is high in nutrients and recognised as a potential source of nutrients for crops. We conducted a field survey in western Kenya to determine the variation in leaf nutrient concentrations in tithonia grown in naturalised hedges and agricultural fields, and to examine whether leaf nutrient concentrations were related to soil nutrient status. Leaf P and K concentrations were higher in naturalised hedges (3.2 g P kg −1 and 35 g K kg −1 ) than in unfertilised fields (2.2 g P kg −1 and 23 g K kg −1 ). The critical level of 2.5 g P kg −1 for net P mineralisation was exceeded by > 90% of the leaves from hedges, but by only 14% from unfertilised fields. Leaf P and K concentration increased linearly with increasing natural logarithm of anion resin extractable soil P and exchangeable soil K, respectively. However, at the same levels of soil available P and K, field-grown tithonia consistently produced lower leaf P and K concentrations than that grown in hedges. This study indicates that biomass from tithonia planted on nutrient-depleted soils would be a less effective source of P and K, via biomass transfer, than tithonia from naturalised hedges.

Journal

Agroforestry Systems – Springer Journals

Published: Aug 1, 2001

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