Effect of Incorporation of Leguminous Cover Crops on Yield and Yield Components of Maize

The low and declining productivity of many tropical soils are the major constraints limiting the realization of the improved genetic potential of crops that are now available. The need to take appropriate measures to check this decline in soil productivity is urgent as the rate of deterioration is on the increase and if not checked will have serious implications for future food demands of the increasing human population. The acquisition of enough crop residues for use in the field does not appear very feasible, because they have other attractive alternative uses. In this work forage legumes were planted and allowed to grow for 1 and 2 years before incorporation and the performance of maize was evaluated. Among the legume incorporation treatments, at after one year of growth, Chamaecrista rotundifolia gave higher grain yield than the other treatments. After two years of growth, Centrosema pascuorum and Centrosema brasilianum gave higher grain yields. Grain yield and yield related parameters significantly responded to N fertilizer in the two seasons. However, increased application of N fertilizer tended to increase the stover and ear leaf concentrations of N, K, Ca and Mg. The fallow legumes and food crops may have to be intercropped either simultaneously or in a relay pattern to improve the yield of crops without loosing a season for food crop cultivation.