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Influence of Scattered Cordiaafricana and Crotonmacrostachyus Trees on Selected Soil Properties, Microclimate and Maize Yield in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

Received: 2 November 2018    Accepted: 30 November 2018    Published: 24 December 2018
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Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the impact of scattered trees in farmland on selected soil physicochemical properties, microclimates, and maize grain yieldin Oda Bultum district, Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. For the experiment of soil physicochemical properties, three factors: distance from tree trunk with four levels (at 0.5m of crown, mid of crown, edge of crown radius and open field), soil depth with two levels (0-15cm and 15–30cm depth) and tree species with two levels with factorial arrangement in RCBD replicated four times were employed. For microclimates and maize yield only two factors; distance from tree trunk with two levels(at mid crown & open field) for microclimates and distance with four levels(at 0.5m of crown, mid of crown, edge of crown radius and open field) for maize yield and tree species (Cordiaafricana and Croton macrostachyus) with two levels in RCBD replicated four times were used. The result revealed soil texture was not influenced significantly (P>0.05) by tree species. Soil bulk density was significantly (p<0.05) lower under canopy of trees than open field, and in surface than in subsurface soils. Soil chemical properties (SOC, total N, available P, exchangeable K and CEC) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in canopy than open field and in surface than subsurface. Soil pH and EC were not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by both tree species. Relative illumination, air temperature, soil temperature were significantly (p<0.05) higher at open field than canopy zone while soil moisture was significantly (p<0.05) higher under canopy of trees than open field. Though not significant, maize yield was slightly higher at open field than canopy zone. It can be concluded that these tree species have the potential to improve soil fertility and moisture beneath its canopy. Thus, integration of these trees on farmlands might require proper tree crown management to increase relative illumination under the canopy and increase grain yield of maize.

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 6, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23
Page(s) 253-262
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Air Temperature, Trees on Farm, Relative Illumination, Soil Fertility, Soil Moisture, Under Trees Canopy

References
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  • APA Style

    Muktar Mohammed, Alemayehu Beyene, Muktar Reshad. (2018). Influence of Scattered Cordiaafricana and Crotonmacrostachyus Trees on Selected Soil Properties, Microclimate and Maize Yield in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 6(6), 253-262. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23

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    ACS Style

    Muktar Mohammed; Alemayehu Beyene; Muktar Reshad. Influence of Scattered Cordiaafricana and Crotonmacrostachyus Trees on Selected Soil Properties, Microclimate and Maize Yield in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. Am. J. Agric. For. 2018, 6(6), 253-262. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23

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    AMA Style

    Muktar Mohammed, Alemayehu Beyene, Muktar Reshad. Influence of Scattered Cordiaafricana and Crotonmacrostachyus Trees on Selected Soil Properties, Microclimate and Maize Yield in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. Am J Agric For. 2018;6(6):253-262. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23,
      author = {Muktar Mohammed and Alemayehu Beyene and Muktar Reshad},
      title = {Influence of Scattered Cordiaafricana and Crotonmacrostachyus Trees on Selected Soil Properties, Microclimate and Maize Yield in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia},
      journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
      volume = {6},
      number = {6},
      pages = {253-262},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20180606.23},
      abstract = {The study was conducted to investigate the impact of scattered trees in farmland on selected soil physicochemical properties, microclimates, and maize grain yieldin Oda Bultum district, Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. For the experiment of soil physicochemical properties, three factors: distance from tree trunk with four levels (at 0.5m of crown, mid of crown, edge of crown radius and open field), soil depth with two levels (0-15cm and 15–30cm depth) and tree species with two levels with factorial arrangement in RCBD replicated four times were employed. For microclimates and maize yield only two factors; distance from tree trunk with two levels(at mid crown & open field) for microclimates and distance with four levels(at 0.5m of crown, mid of crown, edge of crown radius and open field) for maize yield and tree species (Cordiaafricana and Croton macrostachyus) with two levels in RCBD replicated four times were used. The result revealed soil texture was not influenced significantly (P>0.05) by tree species. Soil bulk density was significantly (p0.05) influenced by both tree species. Relative illumination, air temperature, soil temperature were significantly (p<0.05) higher at open field than canopy zone while soil moisture was significantly (p<0.05) higher under canopy of trees than open field. Though not significant, maize yield was slightly higher at open field than canopy zone. It can be concluded that these tree species have the potential to improve soil fertility and moisture beneath its canopy. Thus, integration of these trees on farmlands might require proper tree crown management to increase relative illumination under the canopy and increase grain yield of maize.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Influence of Scattered Cordiaafricana and Crotonmacrostachyus Trees on Selected Soil Properties, Microclimate and Maize Yield in Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia
    AU  - Muktar Mohammed
    AU  - Alemayehu Beyene
    AU  - Muktar Reshad
    Y1  - 2018/12/24
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23
    T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    SP  - 253
    EP  - 262
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8591
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20180606.23
    AB  - The study was conducted to investigate the impact of scattered trees in farmland on selected soil physicochemical properties, microclimates, and maize grain yieldin Oda Bultum district, Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia. For the experiment of soil physicochemical properties, three factors: distance from tree trunk with four levels (at 0.5m of crown, mid of crown, edge of crown radius and open field), soil depth with two levels (0-15cm and 15–30cm depth) and tree species with two levels with factorial arrangement in RCBD replicated four times were employed. For microclimates and maize yield only two factors; distance from tree trunk with two levels(at mid crown & open field) for microclimates and distance with four levels(at 0.5m of crown, mid of crown, edge of crown radius and open field) for maize yield and tree species (Cordiaafricana and Croton macrostachyus) with two levels in RCBD replicated four times were used. The result revealed soil texture was not influenced significantly (P>0.05) by tree species. Soil bulk density was significantly (p0.05) influenced by both tree species. Relative illumination, air temperature, soil temperature were significantly (p<0.05) higher at open field than canopy zone while soil moisture was significantly (p<0.05) higher under canopy of trees than open field. Though not significant, maize yield was slightly higher at open field than canopy zone. It can be concluded that these tree species have the potential to improve soil fertility and moisture beneath its canopy. Thus, integration of these trees on farmlands might require proper tree crown management to increase relative illumination under the canopy and increase grain yield of maize.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • College of Natural Resource & Environmental Science, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia

  • College of Natural Resource & Environmental Science, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia

  • College of Natural Resource & Environmental Science, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia

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