There are several indications that legumes are capable of accessing sparingly soluble phosphorus (P) in the soil through root-induced processes. We hypothesize that this plant-induced mobilization of P can be demonstrated if the plant accessible P assessed by isotopic dilution ( L-value ) exceeds...
Pypers, Pieter
,
Loon, L. van
,
Diels, J.
,
Abaidoo, R.C.
,
Smolders, E
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Plant-available P for maize and cowpea in P-deficient soils from the Nigerian Northern Guinea savanna : Comparison of E- and L-values]
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Plant-available P for maize and cowpea in P-deficient soils from the Nigerian Northern Guinea savanna : Comparison of E- and L-values
Crop response, tree biomass production and changes in soil fertility characteristics were monitored in a long-term (1986–2002) alley-cropping trial in Ibadan, Nigeria. The systems included two alley cropping systems with Leucaena leucocephala and Senna siamea on the one hand and a control (no-tre...
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Diels, J.
,
Sanginga, Nteranya
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Long-term integrated soil fertility management in South-western Nigeria : Crop performance and impact on the soil fertility status]
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Long-term integrated soil fertility management in South-western Nigeria : Crop performance and impact on the soil fertility status
The 13C natural labeling technique in combination with modeling could potentially be used to analyze SOM changes in long-term experiments involving complex cropping systems such as agroforestry systems. It requires information on quantity and 13C abundance of all plant materials entering the soil...
Diels, J.
,
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Sanginga, N.
,
Coolen, E.
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Temporal variations in plant delta 13C values and implications for using the 13C technique in longterm soil organic matter studies]
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Temporal variations in plant delta 13C values and implications for using the 13C technique in longterm soil organic matter studies
Improved cropping systems with in-situ production of organic matter require the input of additional inorganic N to maintain crop production in a sustainable way. For proper management of this fertilizer-N, it is necessary to quantify how the applied fertilizer N is used by the various components ...
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Sanginga, N.
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Alley cropping with Senna siamea in southwestern Nigeria: 1 Recovery of 15N labelled urea by the alley cropping system]
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Alley cropping with Senna siamea in southwestern Nigeria: 1 Recovery of 15N labelled urea by the alley cropping system
Crop and tree roots are crucial in the nutrient recycling hypotheses related to alley cropping systems. At the same time, they are the least understood components of these systems. The biomass, total N content and urea-derived N content of the Senna and maize roots in a Senna-maize alley cropping...
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Sanginga, N.
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Alley cropping with Senna siamea in southwestern Nigeria: 11 Dry matter, total N, and ureaderived N dynamics of the Senna and maize roots]
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Alley cropping with Senna siamea in southwestern Nigeria: 11 Dry matter, total N, and ureaderived N dynamics of the Senna and maize roots
Although the West-African moist savanna zone has a high potential for crop production, yields on farmers' fields are, on average, far below this potential, mainly due to the low use of external sources of nutrients. Since the mid-1990s, it has become clear that in order to upgrade crop production...
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Aihou, K.
,
Houngnandan, P.
,
Diels, J.
,
Sanginga, N.
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Nitrogen management in adequate input maizebased agriculture in the derived savanna benchmark zone of Benin Republic]
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Nitrogen management in adequate input maizebased agriculture in the derived savanna benchmark zone of Benin Republic
Quantification of the fate of residue N is essential in low-input tropical cropping systems for the development of management practices that optimize N-use efficiency. The recovery of N from 15N-labeled leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit) and dactyladenia (Dactyladenia barteri (Hook f ...
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Sanginga, N.
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Recovery of leucaena and dactyladenia residue nitrogen15 in alley cropping systems]
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Recovery of leucaena and dactyladenia residue nitrogen15 in alley cropping systems
In tropical cropping systems with few external imputs, efficient management of mineral N derived from added organic residues is essential for the proper functioning of the system. We studied the dynamics of mineral Nitroden (N) in the top 100 cm of soil with a system tensiometers and suction cups...
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Diels, J.
,
Duchateau, L.
,
Sanginga, N.
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Mineral N dynamics in bare and cropped Leucaena leucocephala and Dactyladenia barteri alley cropping systems after the addition of 15Nlabelled leaf residues]
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Mineral N dynamics in bare and cropped Leucaena leucocephala and Dactyladenia barteri alley cropping systems after the addition of 15Nlabelled leaf residues