Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping

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dc.creatorNyawade, S.
dc.creatorKaranja, N.
dc.creatorGachene, C.K.K.
dc.creatorGitari, H.I.
dc.creatorSchulte-Geldermann, Elmar
dc.creatorParker, M.
dc.date2020-03-12
dc.date2020-03-30T16:53:25Z
dc.date2020-03-30T16:53:25Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:00:47Z
dc.descriptionNegative nitrogen balance represents a major factor causing low potato yield in potato growing areas of Kenya while its excessive surplus poses a significant environmental concern. In order to synchronize this tradeoff, a field trial integrating potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) and dolichos (Lablab purpureus L.) in intercropping system was conducted in the upper midland [1552 m above sea level (masl), lower highland (1894 masl) and upper highland (2552 masl)] agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Nitrogen gains from mineralization, fertilization, biological fixation, and outputs from biomass accumulation, leaching, volatilization and soil erosion were quantified using standard procedures. Soil N balance ranged from − 10.7 to − 18.1 kg N ha−1 for sole potato, 4.1 to 6.6 kg N ha−1 for intercropping and 2.9 to 22.3 kg N ha−1 for sole legumes. The intermediate range of polyphenol and lignin contents in intercropping enhanced N mineralization with peak N release of 8 to 9 kg N ha−1 matching with peak N uptake by potato (19.9 to 31.2 kg N ha−1). Nitrate was leached below the active root zone in sole potato cropping (4.2 to 46.6 kg N ha−1), a process that was diverged by the deep root systems of legume intercrops. These results suggest that legume intercropping can provide a means of balancing the nitrogen retained in the biomass and soil, thus offering a mechanism for optimizing the soil N balance in smallholder potato farming systems
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/107902
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/152391
dc.languageen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceNyawade, S.S.; Karanja, N.N.; Gachene, C.K.K.; Gitari, H.I.; Schulte-Geldermann, E.; Parker, M. 2020. Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. ISSN 1573-0867. Published online 12Mar2020. 17 p.
dc.subjectpotatoes
dc.subjectintercropping
dc.subjectlegumes
dc.subjectcropping systems
dc.titleOptimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping
dc.typeJournal Article

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