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Long-term effects of soil conservation barriers on crop yield on a tropical steepland in Haiti


Metadata FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributorAuburn University Librariesen_US
dc.contributor.otherAuburn Universityen_US
dc.contributor.otherSouth-East Consortium for International Developmenten_US
dc.contributor.otherUnited States Agency for International Developmenten_US
dc.creatorShannon, Dennis A.en_US
dc.creatorIsaac, Lionelen_US
dc.creatorBernard, Carine R.en_US
dc.creatorWood, C. Wesleyen_US
dc.date.accessioned2019-05-03T14:56:59Z
dc.date.available2019-05-03T14:56:59Z
dc.date.created2003-11en_US
dc.identifierUSAID Grant no. LAG-G-00-97-00002-00; USAID/SECID PLUS Contract no. 521-0217-C-00-5031-00; USAID/SECID AFII Contract no. 521-0217-00-004-00;en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11200/49391
dc.descriptionThe research described in this report was initiated in Haiti under USAID's Agroforestry II Project, in response to perceived needs. However the issues and trends involved are common to tropical steeplands around the world. If soil conservation practices do not substantially increase crop yields in the short or medium term or if the economic returns from installation of conservation barriers do not compensate farmers for installation and maintenance costs, this is a concern for development agencies.en_US
dc.description.abstractIn this research, we wanted to know how alley cropping between tree barriers compared to the more traditional conservation barriers used in Haiti in terms of long-term crop yields. Our hypothesis was that alley cropping (between leucaena barriers), which is a system designed to sustain crop yields through recycling of plant nutrients and additions of organic matter and N, would sustain crop yields at a higher level than rock walls, contour canals, or grass rows. Secondly, we hypothesized that addition of a modest fertilizer would result in additional benefits. In seasons when drought stress conditions were severe, none of the soil conservation practices without fertilizer substantially increased maize yield on a total area basis compared to the no-barrier control. In seasons where drought stress was less limiting, tree barriers (alley cropping) without fertilizer provided 40% higher yield than no barrier, whereas rock walls and contour canals provided 20% and 17% higher yield, respectively. In addition to higher yields, alley cropping was the only practice that sustained crop yields over time. It also sustained soil N and organic C at higher levels than did other conservation practices. Thus, for low resource farmers, contour alley cropping is the best alternative among those tested for soil conservation on tropical steeplands, because it sustains soil organic matter and N at a higher level and thus sustains crop yields over time, while also reducing runoff and soil erosion. However, to sustain yields at higher than subsistence levels will require application of fertilizers to correct nutrient deficiencies.en_US
dc.formatapplication/PDFen_US
dc.languageengen_US
dc.publisherAuburn University, Ala. : United States Agency for International Development, Soil Management Collaborative Research Support Programen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesTechnical bulletin ; no. 2003-01en_US
dc.rightsThis document is the property of the Auburn University Libraries and is intended for non-commercial use. Users of the document are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries.en_US
dc.subjectSoil conservation--Haitien_US
dc.subjectSoil conservation--Tropicsen_US
dc.subjectCrop yields--Haitien_US
dc.subjectLeucaena leucocephalaen_US
dc.subjectPanicum maximumen_US
dc.subjectPennisetum purpureumen_US
dc.titleLong-term effects of soil conservation barriers on crop yield on a tropical steepland in Haitien_US
dc.typeTexten_US

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