Yield of maize alley cropped with Inga trees and several levels of natural fertilizers

Abstract

The study was conducted at the Experimental Station located at the Regional University Center of the Atlantic Coast of Honduras (CURLA, UNAH), which is located at the outskirts of the city La Ceiba, Atlántida. We measured the yield of maize (Zea mays L.) alley cropped with existing, guama trees (Inga spp.). We evaluated potassium sulfate and magnesium (K₂SO₄ + Mg) fertilizers at rates: 0, 20, 40 kg. ha^-1 with six replicates, and phosphoric rock (RF) at rates: 0, 20, 40, and 80 kg·ha^-1, with four replicates per treatment. Prior to sowing the crop, dolomitic lime (Ca₃(PO₄)₂CaF₂) was applied at a rate of 2 ton·ha^-1. Nitrogen was provided by the Inga spp. trees. In the year 2014, the highest average yield of maize was 1558 kg·ha^-1 and it was statistically significant. The treatments that performed best were those of K₂SO₄ + Mg, and RF, at 20, 40, and 80 kg·ha^-1. The high average yield of maize during the first year, its stabilization over the next two years, and the absence of nitrogen fertilizer applications, has suggested to the availability of nitrogen for the crop under an alley cropping system with guama trees (Inga. spp.).