Soil fertility decline and fuelwood scarcity are among the major constraints affecting livelihoods of resource poor farmers in Tanzania. An agroforestry option that can address these twin problems is rotational woodlot technology, which involves rotating arable crops with planted tree-fallows. A study was conducted in Shinyanga region, Tanzania to evaluate woodlots of three tree species (Leucarna leucocephala, Acacia polyacantha and Acacia nilotica) for their effects on soil fertility improvement and subsequent maize yields compared with natural grass fallow (control). The trees were intercropped with maize during the first three years of their growth and then left as tree-fallows for another three years. Following six years of growth, strong differences were noted among tree species in terms of pre-season nitrogen accumulated and maize yields.
Publication year
2004
Authors
Banzi F M; Otsyina R M; Asenga D
Language
English
Keywords
fallow, fuelwood, maize, rotational cropping, soil fertility
Geographic
Tanzania
