Evaluation of Coconut Based Gliricidia sepium Agroforestry Systems to Improve the Soil Properties of Intermediate and Dry Zone Coconut Growing Areas

Select Volume / Issue:

• Vol.1,Issue 1,Jan. 2014

Year:

2014

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

Agroforestry, Coconut, Dry Zone, Gliricidia Sepium, Intermediate Zone

Authors:

Ilangamudali, I. M. P. S.; Senarathne, S. H. S.; Egodawatta, W. C. P.

Journal:

IJRAS

Volume:

1

Number:

1

Pages:

34-42

Month:

January

ISSN:

2348-–3

Note:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Abstract:

This study was intended to assess the potential of using coconut based G. sepium agroforestry systems to improve soil fertility of degraded coconut lands in intermediate and dry zones of Sri Lanka. Study locations were Rathmalagara Estate and Pallama Estate of Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka, which belong to Andigama soil series in low country intermediate zone (IL1) and Ambakele soil series in the low country dry zone (DL3) respectively. Experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with five treatments and three replicates. Main treatments were coconut based agroforestry systems intercropped with G. sepium, and sole coconut. A fallowed land and a sole G. sepium land were used as benchmarks. Soils from three depths i.e. 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm were analysed for its’ chemical, physical and biological properties. Results showed a significant (pdegraded coconut growing soils in intermediate and dry zone.

Full text: IJRAS_389-01_Final.pdf