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Effects of Rates and Methods of Leucaena LEaves Application on the Growth Performance of Corn and Some Soil Properties of Lipa Clay Loam
Dissertation Abstract:
Field experiments to evaluate the effect of leucaena leaves applied as organic-N (nitrogen) fertilizer at two rates (75 and 150 kg N/ha) and by three methods (surface broadcast, incorporation with soil, and furrow placement) on corn performance and on some soil properties were conducted during dry and wet seasons at the Central Experiment Station, University of the Philippines at Los Baños. A residual-effect experiment was also conducted to study the response of corn to residual N from the previous application of leucaena leaves. The study also compared the effectiveness for corn production of leucaena leaves and urea
In both seasons, corn fertilized with leucaena leaves produced significantly higher than 1,000 grain weight and grain yield at 150 kg N/ha than at 75 kg N/ha. Weight of 1,000 grains and grain yield were lowest when leucaena leaves were broadcast on the soil surface. Weight of 1,00 grains and grain yield of corn fertilizer with leucaena leaves at 150 kg N/ha were comparable to those fertilized with urea at 150 kg N/ha.
In both seasons, corn fertilized with leucaena leaves took up more of N, P (phosphorus), K (potassium), and Ca (calcium) at 150 kg N/ha than at 75 kg N/ha. Nitrogen uptake and recovery were lowest when leucaena leaves were broadcast on soil surface. Nitrogen recovery by corn plants from leucaena leaves was significantly lower than that from urea.
Rate and method of leucaena leaves application in the dry season had no significant difference between the effects on grain yield of residual N from leucaena leaves and urea.
In both seasons, soil pH, organic matter, N, P, cation exchange capacity, water retention, and available water were not significantly affected by rate of leucaena leaves application.
Leucaena leaves when applied in furrows significantly increased soil organix matter and N than when broadcast on the soil surface or incorporated in the soil during the wet season, but not during the dry season.