Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization and interZiziphus Jujubealleys cropping on blue panic grass (Panicum antidotale Retz) yield
Abstract
In order to test the e ffects of intercropping and nitrogen fertilization on blue panic (Panicum antidotale ) yield, a field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of King Abdulaziz University, located at Hada Al - Sham during two consecutive seasons (2013 an d 2014). Blue panic was intercropped between interspaces alleys of Ziziphus Jujube under three different levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0 kg N/ha, 200 kg N/ha and 400 kg N/ha in the form of commercial Urea,46%) and three distances from the jujube tree (1m ,2m and 4m). Blue panic fresh and dry forage yield (tons/ha) and quality was assessed during ten cuttings harvests. The results exhibited significant effects of intercropping, nitrogen fertilization and distance from the tree on forage yield and quality. F orage yield across all ten harvests were higher under intercropped plots compared to sole crops and in plots treated with 200 and 400 kg N and 2 -meter distance from the trees. Total fresh forage yield /ha/10 cuts of the intercropped blue panic under 400 kg N/ha and 2m distance reached 186 tons/ha/year. Whereas the highest protein content means overall the different cuts was 11.51% in plots fertilized with 400 kg N/ha at 1m distance from the trees. This current study highlights the importance of utilizing ju jube alleys to maximize land use value of this widely planted arid land tree.
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Introduction
Lack of arable land and shortage of water, in addition to salinity are major problems in arid land agriculture. For sustainable agriculture in these dry lands FAO recommended integration of agroforestry system in arid land farming system (FAO,1993). Alley cropping systems helps in diversifying land income from agriculture cash crops and tree products, improve microclimate and trees provided shelter and source of organic matter. The positive interaction of agroforestry are in the form of modify microclimatic conditions including temperature, water vapour content and wind speed (Jose et al., 2004). This will eventually increase growth development rates (Elfeel et al. 2013). It also, improve soil moisture and soil protection (Tamang et al., 2010). Agroforestry also, produce positive net tree effect on availability of nitrogen (Kho, 2000) and assist in capture and use of the limited unused resources from the soil (Ong et al., 2004; Jackson et al., 2000). Under agroforestry system soil physical properties were maintained similar to soil under natural vegetation (Silva et al., 2011). It also, improves water use efficiency (Ong et al., 2002) and reduce soil evaporation loss (Kinama et al.,2005). Recently agroforestry proved to be very important elements inclimate change mitigation (Nair et al., 2011).
Blue panic is a vigorous, tufted deeply rooted perennial grass that develops from short, thick and somewhat bulbous rhizomes (Surhone et al., 2010). It is mainly used for fodder and grain production. Several cultivars are commercially available (FAO, 2011). Blue panic can yield 10-50 tons of fresh material/ha (El-Nakhlawy et al.,2015 and Ecocrop, 2011). Hay yields vary from 2.5 to 6 t DM/ha under rainfed conditions to almost 5 t/ha under irrigation (FAO, 2011).
P. antidotale originated from the Indian subcontinent, Arabian peninsula and Western Asia and is now naturalized in many tropical and subtropical areas (FAO, 2011). Blue panicthrives well in saline and alkaline soils and both sandy and black cracking clay soils (El-nakhlawy et al.,2015; Partridge, 2003). It responds positively to the addition of N. It is a full sunlight grass but tolerates partial shading and fire resistant (FAO, 2011).
Conclusion
The current study revealed that planting interspaces alleys of Jujube trees grown under arid saline soil will increase blue panic forage yield compared to sole cropping. The distance from the tree also, has impact in forage production.
