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Maize Yields as Affected by Short‐ and Long‐Term Improved Fallows: A Comparative Analysis in the Asian Humid Tropics
Author(s) -
Schelbert R.,
Sangakkara U. R.,
Stamp P.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of agronomy and crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.095
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-037X
pISSN - 0931-2250
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-037x.2005.00183.x
Subject(s) - tithonia , agronomy , tropics , productivity , cropping , cropping system , agroforestry , biomass (ecology) , biology , crop , agriculture , ecology , economics , macroeconomics
Improved short‐ or long‐term fallows are considered suitable low external input technologies for maintaining productivity and sustainability of tropical smallholder upland cropping units, although comparisons on the benefits of this technology are not widely reported. A field study evaluated the impact of improved short (6 months) and long‐term fallow (18 months) using Crotalaria juncea and Tithonia diversifolia , in relation to a natural fallow of the same durations, on the productivity of maize ( Zea mays ), the most important upland cereal in tropical Asia, over a minor season. The use of improved fallows, especially Tithonia, increased maize yields over the Crotalaria or natural fallow. While the overall yields of maize after a long fallow were greater, the beneficial impact of the green manures was significantly higher in the short fallows. The causal factors for this trend, including biomass production of the improved fallows and possible impact on soils, along with the greater benefits of short‐term fallows for increasing maize yields in the tropics due to lower requirements of unproductive time are presented.