Growth and Nitrogen Uptake in Sorghum Plants Manured with Leucaena leucocephala Leaves as Affected by Nitrogen Rate and Time of Application

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of four rates of nitrogen (N) in the form of leucaena leaves and the time of application on the performance of sorghum plants using the ¹⁵N isotopic dilution technique. Results showed that leucaena green manure (LGM) increased dry matter and N yield of sorghum. Nitrogen recoveries of LGM ranged between 23 and 47%. An additional beneficial effect of LGM was attributed to the enhancement of soil N uptake. The best timing of LGM incorporation for obtaining more N derived from LGM, less soil N uptake, and greater dry matter and N in sorghum leaves seemed to be at planting. However, the appropriate timing and rate of LGM to obtain greater dry matter and N yield in panicles, as well as in the whole plant of sorghum, appeared to be at 30 days before planting, particularly a rate of 120 kg N ha⁻¹.

Keywords:

• Green manure
• Leucaena leucocephala
• ¹⁵N
• sorghum

Acknowledgments

We thank Professor I. Othman, general director of the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS), for his support. The technical assistance of the staff at the AECS Department of Agriculture is greatly acknowledged.