DOCSLIB.ORG

Evaluation on Living Organisms and Their Effects on Soil Fertility Maintenance

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Evaluation on Living Organisms and Their Effects on Soil Fertility Maintenance Vol.5 (2), pp. 65-76, February 2017 ISSN 2354-4147 International Standard Journal Number (ISJN) e-ISJN: A4372-2604 Article Number: DRJA293117601 Copyright © 2017 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article Direct Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science http://directresearchpublisher.org/aboutjournal/drjafs Review Evaluation on living organisms and their effects on soil fertility maintenance Ibigweh, M. N*. and Asawalam, D. O. Department of Soil Science and Meteorology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. PMB 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. *Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]. Received 1 December 2016; Accepted 6 January, 2017 Soil is a habitat of the most diverse assemblages of living interest in maintenance of soil ecosystems and monitoring organisms. Living organisms in the soil environment of soil health is growing. As the biological activities of the includes bacteria, fungi, protozoa and micro and macro soils are intimately linked with soil fertility maintenance flora and fauna which contribute to the maintenance and and productivity, sound understanding of various aspects productivity of agro-ecosystems. These organisms are of these soils flora and fauna in the maintenance of soil involved in major soil process, such as nutrient cycling, fertility in crop production systems and clean-up of biological pest control, and stabilization of soil aggregates environment is vital. Effective ways of promoting this and mixing of organic and mineral substance, formation microbial activity in agro-ecosystems include conservation and maintenance of soil structure and degradation of tillage, crop rotation, proper nutrient management and agrochemicals and pollutants. These activities positively application of organic manure. These processes should be influence the physicochemical properties of soil and practiced to foster the development of healthy and diverse consequently soil fertility and quality. But in the present communities of living organisms, improve soil health and day high intensity agricultural production systems, more food/crop production. Therefore the paper reviews on emphasis is placed on application of fast reactive chemical various living organisms and their effects on soil fertility fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides leading to imbalance in maintenance. the sensitive soil ecosystem, decline and deterioration in soil fertility and environment. This decline in soil fertility and inadequate response of chemical fertilizers (i.e. inputs) Key words: living organisms, soil fertility and maintenance, in terms of the output on account of deterioration in soil flora, fauna. health is recognised as a major problem of recent times. So INTRODUCTION Within the soil, is one of the most diverse assemblages of action of worms with observations on their habits.” Since living organisms (Giller et al., 1997). The role of living then, several studies have been undertaken to highlight organisms in soil fertility is known since 1881, when the soil living organisms contribution to the sustainable Darwin (1809–1882) published his last scientific book function of all ecosystems (Bhadauria and Saxena, entitled “The formation of vegetable mould through the 2010). Direct Res. J. Agric. Food Sci. 66 Soil fertility changes and the nutrient balances are period of soil inhabitation habitat preference or biological taken as key indicators of soil quality (Jansen et al., activity. 1995). Soil fertility is commonly defined as the inherent They state that feeding and locomotion are the other capacity of a soil to supply plant nutrients in adequate two main activities that divide the organism in the amounts, forms, and in suitable proportions required for different groups. Based on locomotion the soil animals maximum plant growth (Von Uexkuell, 1988). Soil quality can be distinguished as burrowing ones from the other has been defined as the capacity of the soil to function that move on the soil surface or through the pore spaces/ within ecosystem and land use boundaries, to sustain channels/cavities in the soil. In terms of feeding activity biological productivity, maintain environmental quality and the soil animals can be classified into five major groups. promote plant, animal and human health (Doran et al., They also classified living organisms on the basis of 1996). High quality soils not only produce better food and kingdom. All living things can be classified into one of the fibre, but also help establish natural ecosystems and five fundamental kingdoms of life namely; Moriera, enhance air and water quality (Griffiths et al., 2010). Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia and are well The fertility of soil is central to the sustainability of both represented in soil ecosystem, natural and managed ecosystems (Sharmila et al., 2008). The natural ecosystems maintain their production through (i) Kingdom Moriera: includes prokaryotes-single cell well balanced above and below ground biological organisms that do not possess nucleus e.g bacteria, processes which serve to conserve the nutrients, water actinomycetes and blue green algae. and soil organic matters within the systems. Swift and (ii) Kingdom Protista: include single cell organisms that Anderson (1993), stated that in natural ecosystems, the do possess nucleus e.g nucleated algae and slime internal regulation of functions is largely a result of plant modules. biodiversity that influence the magnitude of and temporal (iii) Kingdom fungi: These non-motile eukaryotes lack distribution of carbon and nutrient flows; however, this fragella and developed spores like yeast, moulds, and form of control is increasingly lost through agricultural mushrooms. intensification which undoubtedly has degraded soils. (iv) Kingdom Plantae: these eukaryotes develop from The major processes that contribute to soil fertility decline embryos and use chlorophyll like mosses and vascular includes decline in soil organic matter and biological plants. activities, degradation of soil structure and loss of other (v) Kingdom Animalia: the multicellular eukaryotes soil physical qualities, reduction in availability of major develop from a blastula (a halo ball of cells). nutrients (N.P.K) and micronutrients and increase in toxicity due to acidification and pollution (FAO, 2001). The community of living organisms that lives in soil will ACTION OF DIFFERENT ORGANISMS play many important roles in the successful functioning of agricultural ecosystems. Therefore, this review is aimed Soil organisms are very important in agriculture because to identify various living organisms and their effects on they mediate many beneficial processes that include soil fertility maintenance. recycling of plant nutrients: nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur which occur mostly as organic compounds (in manures, compost, crop residues, soil CLASSIFICATION OF ORGANISMS organic matter e.t.c) that are not available for plant uptake. During decomposition, soil organisms break The modern studies have shown that living organisms these compounds and convert the nutrients into inorganic can be broadly classified into two radically different kinds, forms that plant can uptake through their root systems. prokaryotes (less complex cell structure) and eukaryotes Meeting some crop nutrients requirements through (organisms with true nucleus), which further divided into recycling reduces the need for fertilizers (Newton and many other forms. The free-living components of soil Chantal, 2010). According to Adekunle and Dafiwhare biota are bacteria, fungi, algae, actinomyotes and the (2011), microbes (bacteria, Achaea, fungi and protozoa) fauna (Sharmilia et al., 2008) (Tables 1 and 2). According are very important in all processes related to soil function. to Edmundo, (2007) soil organisms have been classified The microbial constituents of soil are entirely responsible on the basis of body width into microflora (1-100µm, e.g for breakdown of organic matter and degradation of toxic bacteria, and fungi), micro fauna (3-120 µm, e.g molecules. Microorganisms are also responsible for the protozoa, and nematodes), mesofauna (80 µm – 2 mm, mineralization process in the forest ecosystem. They act e.g collembolan, acari) and macro fauna (500 µm-50 mm, on the humus to release carbon dioxide (CO 2), water and e.g earthworms, termites) and vascular plants. Sharmilia nutrients which could be absorbed directly by plants. The et al. ( 2008) stated that organism may be grouped either actions of microbes were summarized by Hoff et al. on the basis of body width viz; micro, meso and macro (2004) to include degradation of complex nutrient sources organisms or on the basis of functional groups viz, extra-cellular, transportation of simple nutrients across mycophagous/herbivores, omnivores and predators, cell membranes for metabolic processes and tolerating or Ibigweh and Asawalam 67 Table 1. Classification of soil biota based on body size. Organism Size (mm) Examples Micro flora <1 Bacteria, Algae, Fungi, Actinomycetes Micro fauna <2 Protozoa, Nematodes Meso fauna 2-10 Collembolan, acarine Macro fauna >10 Earthworms, termites, snails, arachimds Source: Sharmilia et al., 2008. Table 2. Classification of soil fauna based on their activity. Organism Activity Carnivores Predators, animal parasites Phytophagus Above ground green plant material, root systems and wood material Sarcophagus Caprophagus, xylophagus, Necrophagus and detrivores. Symbionts VAM and Endophytes Microphytic feeder Fungal hyphae,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Plot-Scale Agroforestry Modeling Explores Tree Pruning and Fertilizer Interactions for Maize Production in a Faidherbia Parkland
    Article Plot-Scale Agroforestry Modeling Explores Tree Pruning and Fertilizer Interactions for Maize Production in a Faidherbia Parkland Aynalem M. Dilla 1,2, Philip J. Smethurst 3,*, Neil I. Huth 4 and Karen M. Barry 2 1 Center for Environmental Science, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 1000, Ethiopia; [email protected] 2 Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 98, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia; [email protected] 3 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Private Bag 12, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia 4 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 203 Tor St, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 16 September 2020; Accepted: 3 November 2020; Published: 4 November 2020 Abstract: Poor agricultural productivity has led to food shortages for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. Agroforestry may improve food security by increasing soil fertility, crop production, and livelihoods. Agroforestry simulation models can be useful for predicting the effects of tree management on crop growth when designing modifications to these systems. The Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) agroforestry tree-proxy model was used to simulate the response of maize yield to N fertilizer applications and tree pruning practices in the parkland agroforestry system in the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia. The model was parameterized and tested using data collected from an experiment conducted under trees and in crop-only plots during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. The treatments contained three levels of tree pruning (100% pruned, 50% pruned, and unpruned) as 1 the main plots, and N fertilizers were applied to maize at two rates (9 or 78 kg N ha− ) as sub-plots.
    [Show full text]
  • Irrigation Manual for Mango Production in Southern Shan State
    Irrigation manual for mango production in Southern Shan State In cooperation with 1 Irrigation manual for mango production in Southern Shan State Produced by GIZ for the Adaptation of Agricultural Value Chains to Climate Change in Shan State project, Myanmar Wolfram Spreer Yi Yi Thant Hnin Hnin Wah Klaus Spohrer Walter Osenberg Taunggyi, Myanmar and Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2017 2 1 Contents 1.1 Table of contents 1 Contents................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Table of contents ..................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 List of figures ........................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 List of tables............................................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Conversion table ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................ 7 2 Introduction ............................................................................................. 9 2.1 What are the benefits of irrigation of mango? ....................................................................... 9 2.1.1 Traditional production ..................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Managing Soil Fertility and Nutrient Cycles Through Fertilizer Trees in Southern Africa
    19 Managing Soil Fertility and Nutrient Cycles through Fertilizer Trees in Southern Africa Paramu L. Mafongoya, Elias Kuntashula, and Gudeta Sileshi Q1 World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Zambia CONTENTS 19.1 Fertilizer Trees and a Typology of Fallows ................................................................ 274 19.1.1 Use of Non-coppicing Fertilizer Trees.......................................................... 274 19.1.2 Use of Coppicing Fertilizer Trees.................................................................. 275 19.1.3 Mixed-Species Fallows .................................................................................... 276 19.1.4 Biomass Transfer Using Fertilizer-Tree Biomass......................................... 276 19.2 Mechanisms for Improved Soil Fertility and Health................................................ 279 19.2.1 Biomass Quantity and Quality ...................................................................... 279 19.2.2 Biological Nitrogen Fixation and N Cycles ................................................. 279 19.2.3 Deep Capture of Soil Nutrients ..................................................................... 280 19.2.4 Soil Acidity and Phosphorus ......................................................................... 280 19.2.5 Soil Physical Properties................................................................................... 281 19.3 Effects on Soil Biota........................................................................................................ 282 19.4
    [Show full text]
  • Citrus 101: Everything You Wanted to Know About Citrus, but Didn’T Want to Ask!
    Citrus 101: Everything you wanted to know about citrus, but didn’t want to ask! Stephen H. Futch, Ph.D., Extension Agent, Multi‐County [email protected] A Guide to Citrus Diseases Greasy Spot (Mycosphaerella citri) Greasy Spot • Swelling on lower leaf surface • Yellow mottle appears at corresponding point on upper surface • Swollen tissue starts to collapse, turns brown and eventually black in color •Infection causes premature leaf drop – occurs mostly in winter and early spring Greasy Spot Rind Blotch (Mycosphaerella citri) Greasy Spot Rind Blotch • Pinpoint black specks between oil glands with infection on grapefruit •Specks coalesce, gives rise to symptom called pink pitting or greasy spot rind blotch • Living cells adjacent to the specks often retain green color longer than normal Life Cycle of Greasy Spot GREASY SPOT JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Leaf Drop Major Spore Release Leaf Decomposition Spore Germination and Growth Penetration Stomatal Chamber Chemical Control (Spring Flush) Fungal Growth in Leaf Tissue Leaf Symptoms Leaf Symptoms (Visible) (Visible) 30 20 10 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Number of nights in the month relative humidity exceeded 90% more than 6 hours and temperature exceeded 72°F more than 6 hours. Greasy spot seasonal development on Florida citrus. Greasy Spot Management Recommended Chemical Control for Greasy Spot Pesticide Rate/Acre Petroleum Oil 97+% (FC 435‐66, Use label rates. Do not apply FC 455‐88 or FC 470) when temperatures exceed 94°F. Copper fungicide Use label rate. Copper fungicide + Petroleum Oil Use label rate of each.
    [Show full text]
  • Where to Find
    WHERE TO FIND: Aquatics . 5 - 14 Arborist Supplies . .15 - 21 Athletic Field Supplies / Line Marking Supplies . 22 - 35 Erosion Control . .. 36 - 41 Fencing Supplies . .. 42 - 43 Fertilizers . .. 44 - 58 Fungicides . .59 - 64 Gloves . .. 65 - 66 Growth Regulators . .. 67 - 69 Herbicides .. .. 70 - 81 Insecticides/Pesticides. .. .. 82 - 88 Irrigation Supplies . .. 89 - 94 Safety Supplies . .95 - 96 Salt Products / Winter . 97 - 109 Seed / Grass Seed / Mixes / Wildflower . .. 101 - 120 Soil Conditioners . .121 - 125 Spreaders / Sprayers . 126 - 130 Tools . 131 - 148 Wetting Agents / Spray Aides . .. .. .149 - 151 Weights & Measures . .. .152 - 153 Index . .156 - 163 Credit Application . 165 - 167 Notes . .. .. 168 800-300-4887 1 CONSERV FS SERVICE CENTERS Kansasville, WI Zenda, WI Wisconsin Illinois Winnebago Boone McHenry Lake Woodstock Poplar Grove Marengo Rockford Wauconda Ogle DeKalb Kane Cook DuPage DeKalb Will Waterman Caledonia, IL 14937 Route 76 Tinley Park Caledonia, IL 61011 Phone: 815.765.2571 Fax: 815.765.2203 Contact: Denny Ellingson [email protected] DeKalb, IL Rockford, IL Wauconda, IL 20048 Webster Rd. 1925 S Meridian Rd. 27310 W Case Rd. DeKalb, IL 60115 Rockford, IL 61102 Wauconda, IL 60084 Phone: 815.756.2739 Phone: 815.963.7669 Phone: 847.526.0007 Fax: 815.756.2795 Fax: 815.963.7667 Fax: 847.526.0478 Contact: Denny Ellingson Contact: Kurt Arndt Contact: Kevin Posner [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Marengo, IL Tinley Park, IL Kansasville, WI 20515 Harmony Rd. 7851 - 183rd St. 4304 S Beaumont Ave. Marengo, IL 60152 Tinley Park, IL 60477 Kansasville, WI 53139 Phone: 815.568.7211 Phone: 708.532.4723 Phone: 262.878.2048 Fax: 815.568.7241 Fax: 708.532.9268 Fax: 262.878.0181 Contact: Denny Ellingson Contact: Brian Murphy Contact: Mike Butler [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] There is an industry benchmark for professionalism that you can count on! A way to separate a vendor from a valued business partner, and a salesperson from a true resource.
    [Show full text]
  • Adoption and the Role of Fertilizertrees and Shrubsas a Climate Smart Agriculture Practice: the Case of Salimadistrict in Malawi
    environments Article Adoption and the Role of FertilizerTrees and Shrubsas a Climate Smart Agriculture Practice: The Case of SalimaDistrict in Malawi Frank B. Musa 1, Judith F. M. Kamoto 1, Charles B. L. Jumbe 2 and Leo C. Zulu 3,* 1 Department of Forestry, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Bunda College Campus), Lilongwe P.O Box 219, Malawi; [email protected] (F.B.M.); [email protected] (J.F.M.K.) 2 Centre for Agricultural Research and Development, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Bunda College Campus), Lilongwe P.O Box 219, Malawi; [email protected] 3 Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences; Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Rd., Geography Building Room 123, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-517-432-4744 Received: 31 August 2018; Accepted: 5 November 2018; Published: 10 November 2018 Abstract: Fertilizer trees and shrubs can improve degraded soil and avert the impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers in Malawi. This paper analyses the roles of fertilizer trees and shrubs and factors that determine adoption, as well as the intensity of use of fertilizer on trees and shrubs in maize-based farming systems using the Tobit model. A household survey involving 250 smallholder farmers was conducted in Salima district, Malawi. The analysis shows that adopters of fertilizer trees and shrubs considered fertility improvement, shade, source of food and erosion control as main roles of fertilizer trees and shrubs. The Tobit model shows that households with relatively more land are more likely to adopt fertilizer trees and shrubs than those with small land sizes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effects of Fertilizer Treatments on the Resin Canal Defenses of Spruce and Incidence of Attack by the White Pine Weevil, Pissodes Strobi
    THE EFFECTS OF FERTILIZER TREATMENTS ON THE RESIN CANAL DEFENSES OF SPRUCE AND INCIDENCE OF ATTACK BY THE WHITE PINE WEEVIL, PISSODES STROBI. by Lara vanAkker B.Sc, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, 1996 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Faculty of Forestry) (Department of Forest Science) We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 2002 © Lara vanAkker, 2002 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, 1 agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. 1 further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of fb^t SUSAC£ The University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada DE-6 (2/88) ABSTRACT The white pine weevil, Pissodes strobi (Peck), is a serious pest of regenerating spruce (P/'cea spp.) in British Columbia. On the coast, damage by this weevil results in such severe stem defects and growth losses in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), that planting this species is not currently recommended in high weevil hazard areas. In the interior of the province, hundreds of millions of interior spruce seedlings (P/'cea glauca x englemanii) are currently in weevil susceptible age classes.
    [Show full text]
  • ECOAGRICULTURE: a Review and Assessment of Its Scientific Foundations
    ECOAGRICULTURE: A Review and Assessment of its Scientific Foundations Louise E. Buck Thomas A. Gavin David R. Lee Norman T. Uphoff with Diji Chandrasekharan Behr Laurie E. Drinkwater W. Dean Hively Fred R. Werner Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Cornell United States Agency Resource Management University for International Collaborative Research Support Development Program ECOAGRICULTUREGRICULTURE A Review and Assessment of its Scientifi c Foundations Principal Investigators Louise E. Buck Natural Resources Thomas A. Gavin Conservation Biology David R. Lee Agricultural Economics Norman T. Uphoff International Agriculture and Government with Diji Chandrasekharan Behr Natural Resources Laurie E. Drinkwater Horticulture W. Dean Hively Crop and Soil Science Fred R. Werner Natural Resources Cornell University Ithaca, New York August 2004 Cover photo © 2004, Erick Fernandes. This report is submitted by Cornell University to University of Georgia SANREM CRSP under contract # 45586. The SANREM CRSP is supported by the United States Agency for International Development Cooperative Agreement Number PCE-A-00-98-00019-00, and is managed through the Offi ce of International Agriculture, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Overview 1 Annex 1-A: Ecoagriculture Assessment Advisors and Recommendations Annex 1-B: Cornell Ecoagriculture Working Group Annex 1-C: External Organizations Consulted Annex 1-D: Experts Consulted Chapter 2: Opportunities, Concepts and Challenges
    [Show full text]
  • Using Poultry Litter in Black Walnut Nutrient Management
    Journal of Plant Nutrition, 28: 1355–1364, 2005 Copyright © Taylor & Francis Inc. ISSN: 0190-4167 print / 1532-4087 online DOI: 10.1081/PLN-200067454 Using Poultry Litter in Black Walnut Nutrient Management Felix Ponder, Jr.,1 James E. Jones,2 and Rita Mueller3 1United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri, USA 2Center for Advancement of American Black Walnut, Stockton, Missouri, USA 3Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D), Inc., Republic, Missouri, USA ABSTRACT Poultry litter was evaluated as a fertilizer in a young (three-year-old) and an old (35-year- old) black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) plantation in southwest Missouri. The older planting had a fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb.) ground cover that is grazed by cattle. In the young plantation, weeds were mowed and sprayed with herbicides once annually in 1 1 the spring. Litter was applied at rates of 6.72 Mg ha− and 13.44 Mg ha− for one year 1 in the spring in the young plantation and at 8.96 Mg ha− for two years in the spring and once in late summer in the older plantation. Height growth and leaf nitrogen (N) concentrations were improved during the summer following litter applications in the young plantation, but neither diameter growth nor nut production increased in the older plantation. Second-year height growth treatment differences for the young plantation were not significant. The number of nuts increased in the second year, but differences between treatments were not significant. Keywords: organic fertilizer, tree growth, nut production, tree nutrition INTRODUCTION Black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) is known for its desirable wood character- istics, as exhibited in furniture, paneling, lumber, and other products.
    [Show full text]
  • Study on the Incidence of Phomopsis Vexans in Eggplant Seeds, Seedlings and Its Management
    The Agriculturists 17(1&2): 66-75 (2019) ISSN 2304-7321 (Online), ISSN 1729-5211 (Print) A Scientific Journal of Krishi Foundation Indexed Journal Morpho-physiological Response of Gliricidia sepium to Seawater-induced Salt Stress M. A. Rahman1*, A. K. Das1, S. R. Saha1, M. M. Uddin2 and M. M. Rahman1 1Department of Agroforestry & Environment, and 2Department of Crop Botany Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh *Corresponding author and Email: [email protected] Received: 22 May 2019 Accepted: 09 November 2019 Abstract Soil degradation due to the contamination of excessive saline water has been threatening soil health vis a vis plant productivity worldwide. Gliricidia sepium, a fertilizer tree, has come into limelight in recent decades in Bangladesh due to its potency in improving soil fertility. However, study on its suitability in coastal areas alongside identifying the salt-endurance limit is still lacking. Therefore, morpho- physiological attributes of G. sepium under seawater-induced different levels of salt stress were analyzed in a pot experiment from March to May 2018 to gain an insight into its salt-adaptive mechanisms. Results revealed that seawater-induced salinity negatively affected the growth-related attributes, such as plant height, fresh weight of shoots, dry weights of shoots and roots, and leaf area. The reduction of growth was coincided with reductions in photosynthetic pigments and relative water content. Interestingly, salt tolerance index was not decreased in parallel with increasing dosages of seawater, indicating the salt tolerance capacity of G. sepium. Furthermore, enhanced accumulation of proline increased the osmoprotective capacity of G. sepium in order to overcome the salt-induced osmotic stress.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact of Soil Fertility Replenishment Agroforestry Technology Adoption on the Livelihoods and Food Security of Smallholder Farmers in Central and Southern Malawi
    3 Impact of Soil Fertility Replenishment Agroforestry Technology Adoption on the Livelihoods and Food Security of Smallholder Farmers in Central and Southern Malawi Paxie W. Chirwa1 and Ann F. Quinion2 1University of Pretoria, Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences 245 Hanby Ave Westerville 1South Africa, 2USA 1. Introduction The expanding information on agroforestry research and development around the globe shows that agroforestry is being promoted and implemented as a means to improve agricultural production for smallholder farmers with limited labor, financial, and land capital (Ajayi et al., 2007). In Africa, and particularly southern Africa, the main constraint to agricultural productivity is soil nutrient deficiency (Scoones & Toulmin, 1999; Sanchez et al., 1997). For this reason, agroforestry research in the region has focused on soil fertility replenishment (SFR) technologies over the years and the adoption and scaling-up of these practices is the main thrust of the ongoing on farm research (Akinnifesi et al., 2008; Akinnifesi et al, 2010). SFR encompasses a range of agroforestry practices aimed at increasing crop productivity through growing trees (usually nitrogen-fixing), popularized as fertilizer tree systems, directly on agricultural land. Fertiliser tree systems involve soil fertility replenishment through on-farm management of nitrogen-fixing trees (Akinnifesi et al 2010; Mafongoya et al., 2006). Fertiliser tree systems capitalise on biological N fixation by legumes to capture atmospheric N and make it available to crops. Most importantly, is the growing of trees in intimate association with crops in space or time to benefit from complementarity of resource use (Akinnifesi et al., 2010; Gathumbi et al., 2002). The different fertiliser tree systems that have been developed and promoted in southern Africa (see Akinnifesi et al, 2008; 2010) over the last two decades are briefly discussed below.
    [Show full text]
  • Adoption and the Role of Fertilizer Trees and Shrubs As a Climate Smart Agriculture Practice: the Case of Salima District in Malawi
    environments Article Adoption and the Role of Fertilizer Trees and Shrubs as a Climate Smart Agriculture Practice: The Case of Salima District in Malawi Frank B. Musa 1, Judith F. M. Kamoto 1, Charles B. L. Jumbe 2 and Leo C. Zulu 3,* 1 Department of Forestry, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Bunda Campus), Lilongwe P.O Box 219, Malawi; [email protected] (F.B.M.); [email protected] (J.F.M.K.) 2 Centre for Agricultural Research and Development, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Bunda Campus), Lilongwe P.O Box 219, Malawi; [email protected] 3 Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences; Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Rd., Geography Building Room 123, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-517-432-4744 Received: 31 August 2018; Accepted: 5 November 2018; Published: 10 November 2018 Abstract: Fertilizer trees and shrubs can improve degraded soil and avert the impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers in Malawi. This paper analyses the roles of fertilizer trees and shrubs and factors that determine adoption, as well as the intensity of use of fertilizer on trees and shrubs in maize-based farming systems using the Tobit model. A household survey involving 250 smallholder farmers was conducted in Salima district, Malawi. The analysis shows that adopters of fertilizer trees and shrubs considered fertility improvement, shade, source of food and erosion control as main roles of fertilizer trees and shrubs. The Tobit model shows that households with relatively more land are more likely to adopt fertilizer trees and shrubs than those with small land sizes.
    [Show full text]