Influence of Shea Tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) on Maize and Soybean Production
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Date
2019-04-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLOS ONE
Abstract
Vitellaria paradoxa provides many benefits to farmers within the Shea belt. However,
increased threats to it necessitate its conservation, and one common approach is the practice
of agroforestry. A number of studies have shown that Shea tree has influence on crop
production, and yet, some of these studies were done using single season experiments or
bioassays using mature Shea tree components. In this study, the seasonal influence of
young and mature Shea trees on Maize and Soybean yields was investigated using field
experiments in Otuke district of northern Uganda, where, Shea tree parklands are dominant
and Maize and Soybean are used for food security and income. Our results show that there
are differential responses of maize and soybean yield to rainy seasons and physiological
variations of Vitellaria paradoxa with age. We find yield reduction for maize more pronounced
than yield reduction for soybeans under different Shea age (Mature and Young) for
two rainy seasons. We attribute the variance to the differential maize and soybean
responses to Vitellaria paradoxa shading and its differential allelopathic inhibition of these
crops. We recommend that Soybeans should be preferred to maize when planting under
Shea canopy.
Description
This is a research Article on the influence of Shea tree on maize and soybean production.
Keywords
Maize and Soybeans, Maize and Soybeans - Production, Agroforestry
Citation
Ogwok, Gertrude; Alele, Peter O.;Kizza, Sarah. Influence of Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) on maize and soybean production. PLOS ONE. Vol.14 Issue 4. 9, April, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0201329