Soil fertility and crop yields under improved-fallow systems in southern Mali

Abstract

Improved fallows involving short-rotation woody and/or other perennial species are increasingly being tried as a means of sustaining crop production in impoverished farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. The soil-improving potential of two tree species [Gliricidia sepium (gliricidia) and Pteocarpus erinaceus (pterocarpus)] and a shrubby legume Stylosanthes hamata (stylosanthes) was investigated in a four-year study on farmer's field and in a research station in the Koutiala region in southern Mali (12.25° N, 5.42° W; 650 to 850 mm annual, unimodal rainfall; on a Typic Plinthustalf). Two strategies for soil improvement were tested: improved fallow sensu stricto and biomass transfer, the former ‘on-farm’ and the latter ‘on-station.’ In the on-farm experiment, maize (Zea mays) yielded best when it followed a two-year fallow of gliricidia alone or in association with stylosanthes. On the research station, maize dry matter production and grain yields during two seasons following the application of ex-situ grown biomass were similar and highest in the stylosanthes- and manure-applied treatments. The biomass decomposition rates of the three species were in the order: gliricidia > stylosanthes > pterocarpus. The treatments did not have any significant effects on the soil fertility parameters that were monitored, possibly because of the short-term nature of the study. The treatments effects on crop yields were, however, significant. Gliricidia + stylosanthes in combination appeared to be particularly promising as short-rotation-fallow species in the region.