Authors :
Christian Tettey Agbana; Elvis Wireko Boampong
Volume/Issue :
Volume 5 - 2020, Issue 9 - September
Google Scholar :
http://bitly.ws/9nMw
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/35N7Fet
DOI :
10.38124/IJISRT20SEP171
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Gliricidia sepium is considered one of the
commonly used multipurpose legume shade trees in
Ghana. Different pruning regimes affect the nutrient
content as the amount of biomass produced by many
multipurpose trees. In this study, the aboveground
biomass (both fresh and dry matter) production and
nitrogen content in Gliricidia sepium under different
pruning regimes (4, 8 and 12 weeks) was studied. The
study was carried out in the demonstration farm of
Department of Agroforestry in the Faculty of
Renewable Natural Resources-KNUST. A total of nine
(9) Gliricidia trees were selected. The pruning
frequencies were assigned to the selected trees, after an
initial pruning of 1.2m from the ground. The data
collected include; new fresh weight, dry weight and
nitrogen content at the various pruning time. Also, the
amount of nitrogen (N) in the new biomass was
estimated at each pruning time. The result shows that
the aboveground biomass production increased from 4
weeks to 12 weeks regime. Overall nitrogen
concentration increased from 2.61% to 3.58% upon
reducing the pruning frequency from 4 to 12 weeks, and
total nitrogen content was much higher in 12 weeks
(36.01g) than in the other pruning frequencies, due to
biomass production been larger. In conclusion, the
study highlights the potential of Gliricidia biomass as a
source of N and green manure for both agricultural and
agroforestry purposes. Hence pruning regime of
Gliricidia should be considered in managing it for
nutrient and manure purposes.
Keywords :
Gliricidia sepium, Aboveground Biomass Prodcution, Nitrogen, Pruning, Kjeldahl Method
Gliricidia sepium is considered one of the
commonly used multipurpose legume shade trees in
Ghana. Different pruning regimes affect the nutrient
content as the amount of biomass produced by many
multipurpose trees. In this study, the aboveground
biomass (both fresh and dry matter) production and
nitrogen content in Gliricidia sepium under different
pruning regimes (4, 8 and 12 weeks) was studied. The
study was carried out in the demonstration farm of
Department of Agroforestry in the Faculty of
Renewable Natural Resources-KNUST. A total of nine
(9) Gliricidia trees were selected. The pruning
frequencies were assigned to the selected trees, after an
initial pruning of 1.2m from the ground. The data
collected include; new fresh weight, dry weight and
nitrogen content at the various pruning time. Also, the
amount of nitrogen (N) in the new biomass was
estimated at each pruning time. The result shows that
the aboveground biomass production increased from 4
weeks to 12 weeks regime. Overall nitrogen
concentration increased from 2.61% to 3.58% upon
reducing the pruning frequency from 4 to 12 weeks, and
total nitrogen content was much higher in 12 weeks
(36.01g) than in the other pruning frequencies, due to
biomass production been larger. In conclusion, the
study highlights the potential of Gliricidia biomass as a
source of N and green manure for both agricultural and
agroforestry purposes. Hence pruning regime of
Gliricidia should be considered in managing it for
nutrient and manure purposes.
Keywords :
Gliricidia sepium, Aboveground Biomass Prodcution, Nitrogen, Pruning, Kjeldahl Method
