M. Rippin et al., ALLEY CROPPING AND MULCHING WITH ERYTHRINA-POEPPIGIANA (WALP) OF COOKAND GLIRICIDIA-SEPIUM (JACQ) WALP - EFFECTS ON MAIZE WEED COMPETITION, Agroforestry systems, 25(2), 1994, pp. 119-134
The potential of alley cropping systems to sustain a high productivity
with low external inputs and the reduction of maize/weed competition
through weed suppression in different alley cropping and sole-cropped
mulched systems was studied in Costa Rica at CATIE. Data were recorded
eight years after establishment of the experiment. Plant residues of
Erythrina poeppigiana trees (10 t/ha dry matter) planted at 6 by 3 m r
educed weed biomass by 52%, while Gliricidia sepium trees (12 t/ha dry
matter) planted at 6 by 0.5 m reduced weed biomass by 28%, in compari
son to controls. Erythrina had a considerable impact on grass weeds, w
hile Gliricidia reduced the incidence of some dicot weeds. Weed compet
ition significantly reduced maize yield in all systems. Nevertheless w
eed suppression contributed to the higher maize grain yield under Eryt
hrina and Gliricidia alley cropping of 3.8 t per hectare as opposed to
the unmulched control yield of 2.0 t per hectare.