INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA

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Abstract
We performed chemical analysis of 240 soil samples collected from two surface layers of plots planted with a forest tree crop (Gmelina arborea), alone and interplanted with single and multiple food crops, in addition to Gmelina arborea. The purpose was to investigate the effect of agrisilviculture, or farm forestry, on soil fertility.In addition to the control Gmelina arborea plot, four other Gmelina plots were interplanted separately with three food crops, and the three food crops combined in three ecological zones of southern Nigeria. Intercropping of the young forest tree crop with food crops increased (though insignificantly) soil nitrogen and phosphorus in two of the three ecological zones. Total exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity, and percentage of carbon did not vary significantly as a result of agrisilviculture. The increased soil N and P were related to observed insignificant reduction in organic C in the respective plots. The findings gave scientific support to the practice of agrisilviculture as a means of increasing food crop production in Nigeria. We performed chemical analysis of 240 soil samples collected from two surface layers of plots planted with a forest tree crop (Gmelina arborea), alone and interplanted with single and multiple food crops, in addition to Gmelina arborea. The purpose was to investigate the effect of agrisilviculture, or farm forestry, on soil fertility. In addition to the control Gmelina arborea plot, four other Gmelina plots were interplanted separately with three food crops, and the three food crops combined in three ecological zones of southern Nigeria. Intercropping of the young forest tree crop with food crops increased (though insignificantly) soil nitrogen and phosphorus in two of the three ecological zones. Total exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity, and percentage of carbon did not vary significantly as a result of agrisilviculture. The increased soil N and P were related to observed insignificant reduction in organic C in the respective plots. The findings gave scientific support to the practice of agrisilviculture as a means of increasing food crop production in Nigeria. © Williams & Wilkins 1980. All Rights Reserved.