SUBSTITUTION OF NITROGEN REQUIREMENT OF MAIZE THROUGH LEAF BIOMASS OF LEUCAENA LEUCEPHALA

Abstract

THE EFFECTS OF SUBSTITUTION OF NITROGEN OF MAIZE THROUGH LEUCAENA LEAVES WERE STUDIED ON RUNOFF , SOIL LOSS , MAIZE AND WHEAT YIELD AND ECONOMIC RETURNS. THE TREATMENTS WERE (1) 80 KG N ha-1 ALL THROUGH LEUCAENA LEAVES ( 80L) , (2) 40 KG N THROUGH LEUCAENA LEAVES+ 40 KG N ha-1 THROUGH FERTILIZER ( 40 L+ 40 F), (3) 20 KG N THROUGH LEUCAENA LEAVES + 60 KG N ha-1 THROUGH FERTILIZER ( 20 L+ 60 F) , (4) 80 KG N ha-1 ALL THROUGH FERTILIZER ( 80 F) AND (5) CONTROL ( NO FERTILIZER) . GREEN LEUCAENA LEAF BIOMASS ( CONTAINING 3.3% N ON DRY BASIS) WAS INCORPORATED EVERY YEAR IN 15cm TOP SOIL TWO WEEKS BEFORE SOWING OF SUMMER MAIZE. RUNOFF WAS REDUCED MARGINALLY IN TREATMENT 20L= 60F . MEAN MINIMUM SOIL LOSS ( 6.202 t ha - 1) ALSO OCCURRED IN TREATMENT 20 L+ 60 F . RESIDUAL EFFECT OF INCORPORATION OF LEUCAENA LEAVES TO MAIZE CROP WAS OBSERVED ON WHEAT YIELD . SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER MEAN NET RETURNS ( RS 6,811 ha - 1 ONE US$ = RS 30) WERE OBTAINED WITH 20L + 60F . THE STUDY SUGGESTS THAT SUBSTITUTION OF N THROUGH LEUCAENA LEAVES EVEN IN SMALL QUANTITY MAY BE HELPFUL.