Growth and nitrogen yield of Leucaena/maize mixed culture as affected by salt stress and gypsum

Leucaena leucocephala is a leguminous, deep rooting tree, increasingly utilized in “Low Input” mixed cultures under arid conditions to reduce mineral N requirements and to improve nutrient cycling. This work was carried out to evaluate the growth and N yield of Leucaena and Maize in sand culture with low (0,6 mM) nitrogen supply under saline conditions (NaCl; NaCl + CaCl 2 ; NaCl + CaSO 4 ). While the low N nutrient solution failed to sustain maize growth in monoculture, both Leucaena and maize grew well in mixed culture with considerable N yields suggesting significant transfer of N from Leucaena to maize. NaCl depressed the uptake of Ca and S and reduced growth and N yields of both crop species. CaSO 4 counteracted partly the NaCl‐effects.