Dargo Kebede

Biomass Transfer: Leucaena Leaf Biomass Supplemented with Fertilizer to Improve Sorghum Production and Control Striga Dargo Kebede

Sorghum production is often constrained by low soil fertility resulting from continuous cropping with minimum or no input which in turn encourages striga infestation. Field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of leucaena leaf biomass supplemented with fertilizer on sorghum growth and striga control. 2.5 and 5 t ha-1 of leucaena leaf biomass were applied with 50%recommended dose of urea (RDU)with or without 50% recommended dose of DAP. The experiment also included a standard treatment of 100%RDF (100 kg urea + 100 kg DAP)and farmers? practice of growing sorghum without any input as a control. The experiment was laid out in a RCBD in three replications. Plots treated with 5 t ha-1 + 50%RDF and 5 t ha-1 + 50%RDU recorded significantly higher SOC, CEC, total N and foliar N content where as significantly higher available P and foliar P were recorded in the 5 t ha-1 + 50%RDF treated plots. Grain yield and aboveground biomass of sorghum increased where as striga infestation was better controlled in the plots treated with leucaena leaf biomass supplemented with fertilizer.