Abstract
Sorghum production is low due to low soil fertility. The study was to evaluate the effects of S. sesban alley croppig on sorghum yield and soil physicochemical properties. Four treatments (S. sesban alley cropping, S.sesban alley cropping+50% of RF, S.sesban AC+75% of RF and sole sorghum with 100% RF) were laid out in RCBD with three replications. The results show that the treatments differ significantly (p<0.05) in soil nutrients and sorghum grain yield. Plots treated with S. sesban AC only gave the highest Av P(8.04 mg/kg) and Av K(344.5 cmol/kg), whereas the highest OC %(1.73%), TN(0.15%) and CEC(40.94 cmol/kg) were recorded in the S. sesban AC+50% of RF over the control. Yield and above ground biomass of sorghum were the highest recorded comparable yield (3.44 t/ha) and biomass (8.24 t/ha) in the plots of sole sorghum with 100% RF(control) than treated plots S. sesban alley cropping. Overall average yield and above ground biomass of sorghum were the highest recorded under sorghum with 100% RF (2.71t /ha) yield and above ground biomass (7.47t/ha). Significant benefits are derived from alley cropping in terms of other ecosystem services, including the provision of fuel wood and fodder, reduction of erosion and carbon sequestration. It is, therefore, concluded that sorghum with 100% recommended fertilizer to improve sorghum productivity. S. sesban alley cropping+50% of recommended fertilizer can be used to improve soil fertility in the study area and further research should be conducted across different locations for at least four seasons to substantiate this conclusion.
Keywords: Alley cropping, Biomass transfer, Grain yield, Soil fertility
