Abstract
Prior integration of any tree/shrub species in a given land use system there is always the need of undertaking a field trials for the adaptability and growth performance evaluation for particular environment. Study was designed and conducted to evaluate the adaptability potential and growth performance of six nitrogen fixing tree/shrub species in Dello-menna district of Bale zone, southeast Ethiopia. The considered species in the study are Cajanus cajan, Flemingya macrophylla, Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania sesban, Calliandra calothyrsus and Leucaena leucocephela. Seedlings were produced in a nursery site and transplanted to the experimental site. The experiment was laid out in RCBD design with three replications, and the management practices employed uniformly for each species throughout the stud period. In the study the necessary growth performance data parameters; plant height, root collar diameter and survival rate were measured and recorded. Thereafter, the data was analyzed by GenStat (15<sup>th</sup> ed) and Excel computerized programs. Results obtained showed that, these growth performance data parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) varied among the tested species. In this respect, Flemingya macrophylla, Sesbania sesban, Gliricidia sepium and Cajanus cajan attain the higher mean values in survival rate, plant height and root collar diameter. While Leucaena leucocephela and Calliandra calothyrsus attain the lowest mean values for the entire growth performance parameters. Hence, it can be inferred that the study site matched well with the environmental requirement of F. macrophylla, S. sesban, G. sepium and C. cajan. The species therefore offers much promise for future use in any of agroforestry practices in the area. However, evaluation of their contribution to soil fertility improvement and crop yield needs to be further investigated as this may insights to know their nutrient provision potential while integrated together with annual and/or perennial plants in agroforestry land use system.
Highlights
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) expansion and intensification of agricultural lands in effort to feed growing population is the major cause of land degradation and soil fertility [7]
The most decisive factor for the successive Agroforestry is the choice of suitable useable tree/shrub species
Nitrogen fixing tree/shrub species are found to get popularity because of their fast growth, reducing fertilizer needs and coppicing behavior [9]. This will be effective if the right species planted in the right place as their adaptability potential strongly dependent up on the local climatic conditions and soil characteristics [4, 10]
Summary
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) expansion and intensification of agricultural lands in effort to feed growing population is the major cause of land degradation and soil fertility [7]. Nitrogen fixing (legume) tree/shrub species are found to get popularity because of their fast growth, reducing fertilizer needs and coppicing behavior [9] This will be effective if the right species planted in the right place as their adaptability potential strongly dependent up on the local climatic conditions and soil characteristics [4, 10]. In Dello-menna district of Bale zone, southeast Ethiopia, such experiments have not been yet conducted This has been resulting that, plantation effort which has been undertaken by different stakeholder in the area to be restricted on a narrow range of tree/shrub species. Study was planned and undertaken with an objective of evaluating the adaptability potential of nitrogen fixing tree/shrub species in the study area
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