ISSN 2756-3847
International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 5756-2148 Vol. 6 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Long term effect of Leucaena leucocephala on soil physico-chemical properties and fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production of oil palm
Imogie, A. E., Udosen, C.V., Ugbah, M. M. and Utulu, S. N.
Agronomy Division, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), P.M.B. 1030, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Accepted 16 January, 2019
Abstract
The study investigated a long-term effect of Leucaena leucocephala a leguminous tree crop on the soil physico- chemical properties and its possible effect on the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production of oil palm. L. leucocephala had a highly significant (P<.01) effect on soil physico-chemical properties than the control. The soil under Leucaena leucocephala exhibited relatively high mean weight diameter, water retention, total soil available N, available P and Exchangeable cation, than the control, and thus enhanced fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production. Mean fresh fruit bunch yield, over a three year period, was significantly higher (P<0.05), with FFB yields of 10.93 tons / ha in plots with L. leucocephala as against 6.8 tons / ha in the control plots.
Key words: Long term (to be deleted), Leucaena leucocephala, physico-chemical properties, and fresh fruit bunch yields.