Growth, productivity and quality of Megathyrsus maximus under cover from Gliricidia sepium

• Published in: Agroforestry systems Vol. 87; no. 4; pp. 891 - 899
• Main Authors: Medinilla-Salinas, Lucero, Vargas-Mendoza, Mónica de la Cruz, López-Ortiz, Silvia, Ávila-Reséndiz, Catarino, Campbell, William Bruce, Gutiérrez-Castorena, María del Carmen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-08-2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Agriculture; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Canopies; Carbon dioxide; Deciduous forests; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gliricidia sepium; Grasses; Life Sciences; Organic carbon; Plant growth; Seasons; Soil properties; Soil structure; Soils; Trees; Sub-humid tropics; Tree–grass association; Silvopastoral system; Forage production; Tree cover; Plant production; Productivity; Fodder tree; Monocotyledones; Production quality; Growth; Gliricidia sepium; Tropical climate; Subhumid zone; Leguminosae; Gramineae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Tree―grass association; Spermatophyta; Fodder crop; Agroforestry
• ISSN: 0167-4366; 1572-9680
• DOI: 10.1007/s10457-013-9605-1

The effect of tree canopy on the growth, productivity and forage quality of
Megathyrsus maximus
and changes in soil properties were evaluated over three seasonal periods. Four adjacent plots (15 m × 17 m each) in a tropical secondary deciduous forest having 12 years of growth and dominated by
Gliricidia sepium
were randomly assigned to two treatments: removal of trees (SCA) in two of the plots and leaving trees intact (COA) in the other two. In all plots,
M
.
maximus
was planted with 50 cm spacing among plants. Tree removal significantly increased the incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, P < 0.001) and grass size (12.5 % in height, P < 0.01, and 16.5 % in clump diameter, P < 0.05), but did not significantly affect any other variable. Season significantly affected grass height (P < 0.003), tiller number (P < 0.001), clump diameter (P < 0.001), net CO
2
assimilation rate (P < 0.001), forage biomass production (P < 0.003), and acid detergent fiber content (P = 0.033). Primary soil changes after 1 year of establishment of the grass were the decline by 3 % in organic carbon (P = 0.03), and qualitative changes in soil structure, regardless of tree presence. Results are consistent with the ability of
M. maximus
to tolerate shade. We conclude that under the conditions of the study there was no evidence for a negative effect of tree canopy on
M. maximus
mediated by a reduction in PAR.