Research Article 
Managing Decomposition and Mineralization of Senna singueana (Del.) Lock. Manure to Improve N Use Efficiency and Maize Yield in Morogoro, Tanzania
J. B. Nduwayezu, L. L.L. Lulandala and S. A.O Chamshama
Journal of Agronomy, 2005, 4(4), 349-359.
Abstract
Carbon: nitrogen (C:N) and lignin: nitrogen (L:N) ratios of organic substances primarily determine the N mineralization and its availability to crop plants. Two field experiments were conducted at Kitete Village, Morogoro, Tanzania in 1998-99 to assess the effects of different C:N and L:N ratios of mixtures of Senna singueana foliage and local straw materials on decomposition and N mineralization for optimum N use efficiency of maize. Litterbags and the incubation methods were used for the studies. Residual mass, available mineral N, maize shoot height, N nutrient uptake and yield were measured. Senna leaves alone decomposed considerably fast with over 94% mass loss completed within the first 4 weeks of incubation. When these foliages were mixed with different proportions of local straw materials, however, the decomposition rate slowed down, with the mass loss percentage decreasing with increasing proportions of straw in the mixtures. The pattern of N released from Senna and straw manures closely resembled to the mass loss. The medium quality Senna-straw mixtures (C: N ratio of 30:1 and L: N ratio range of 2.7:1 to 4.5:1), optimally promoted the maize height growth from 160 to 248 cm and grain yield from 1.4 to 4.5 t ha-1. The critical period of high N demand by the maize crop and grand period of vegetative growth were between 4-8 and 4-7 weeks, respectively. It is concluded that the foliage of indigenous shrub S. singueana has high potential use for N management in annual crop production. For Senna-straw mixtures, the critical C: N ratio should not exceed 30:1 and L: N ratio in the range of 2.7:1 to 4.5:1 for maximizing maize grain yield. In practical terms these ratios imply mixing of 1.6 t ha-1 of Senna dry leaves with either 3.1, 2.9 or 2.5 t ha-1 of maize, sorghum or panicum straws respectively.
ASCI-ID: 31-199
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