Knowledge Center Catalog

Maize crop yields under individual scattered trees

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Harare (Zimbabwe) Soil Fert Net|CIMMYT : 1998ISBN:
  • 970-648-006-4
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 631.45 WAD
Summary: At a research site in Zimbabwe, maize (Zea mays, variety R201) crop yields were measured under and outside individual trees of Parinari curatellifolia and Acacia sieberana in the 1992/93, 1994/95 and 1995/96 crop growing seasons and the influence of soil moisture and solar radiation were determined. Rainfall was positively correlated to maize grain yields (R2= 0.809). Higher yields were harvested in 1992/93 (3.7 t ha-1 and 730 mm) and 1995/96 (5 t ha-1, 846 mm) and lower yields in 1994/95 (3.1 t ha-1, 434 mm). Though throughfall was not significantly different from rainfall in the open, there was no consistent pattern with soil moisture under and outside trees. Soil was driest in the drier season (1994/95) but soil moisture was maintained close to field capacity in the wetter seasons (1992/93 and 1995/96). Maize yields were consistently better outside the shade of tree crowns in all the three seasons. Yields under trees were suppressed due to 60-90% interception of solar radiation by the tree crowns.
Tags from this library: No tags from this library for this title. Log in to add tags.
Star ratings
    Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)

At a research site in Zimbabwe, maize (Zea mays, variety R201) crop yields were measured under and outside individual trees of Parinari curatellifolia and Acacia sieberana in the 1992/93, 1994/95 and 1995/96 crop growing seasons and the influence of soil moisture and solar radiation were determined. Rainfall was positively correlated to maize grain yields (R2= 0.809). Higher yields were harvested in 1992/93 (3.7 t ha-1 and 730 mm) and 1995/96 (5 t ha-1, 846 mm) and lower yields in 1994/95 (3.1 t ha-1, 434 mm). Though throughfall was not significantly different from rainfall in the open, there was no consistent pattern with soil moisture under and outside trees. Soil was driest in the drier season (1994/95) but soil moisture was maintained close to field capacity in the wetter seasons (1992/93 and 1995/96). Maize yields were consistently better outside the shade of tree crowns in all the three seasons. Yields under trees were suppressed due to 60-90% interception of solar radiation by the tree crowns.

English

9906|AGRIS 9902|R98-99ANALY

Jose Juan Caballero

CIMMYT Publications Collection


International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) © Copyright 2021.
Carretera México-Veracruz. Km. 45, El Batán, Texcoco, México, C.P. 56237.
If you have any question, please contact us at
CIMMYT-Knowledge-Center@cgiar.org