GROWTH AND NITROGEN YIELD OF LEUCAENA MAIZE MIXED CULTURE AS AFFECTEDBY SALT STRESS AND GYPSUM

Leucaena leucocephala is a leguminous, deep rooting tree, increasingly utilized in ''Low Input'' mixed cultures under arid conditions to red uce mineral N requirements and to improve nutrient cycling. This work was carried out to evaluate the growth and N yield of Leucaena and Mai ze in sand culture with low (0,6 mM) nitrogen supply under saline cond itions (NaCl; NaCl + CaCl2; NaCl + CaSO4). While the low N nutrient so lution failed to sustain maize growth in monoculture, both Leucaena an d maize grew well in mixed culture with considerable N yields suggesti ng significant transfer of N from Leucaena to maize. NaCl depressed th e uptake of Ca and S and reduced growth and N yields of both crop spec ies. CaSO4 counteracted partly the NaCl-effects.