Abstract

Dasbak M.A and Asiegbu J.E

The macro mineral nutrients turnover potential in pigeonpea leaf comprising nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) was studied at anthesis in five improved pigeonpea genotypes from ICRISAT and one Nsukka Local genotype under intercropping with two maize genotypes and as sole crops at Nsukka, Nigeria in 2005. The experiment was a factorial laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The result showed that the pigeonpea genotypes had high leaf production with average dry matter weight of 1455kgha-1 under sole cropping and 952kgha-1 and 1070kgha-1 under intercropping with hybrid maize and open pollinated maize respectively. The N turnover in the leaves on average was high at 39.6kgha-1 N while P, K and Ca leaf turnovers were 2.59kgha-1 P, 1.16kgha-1 K and 1.32kgha-1 Ca respectively. Maize intercropping significantly (p<0.05) depressed N, P and K turnover in the pigeonpea leaves by 38.2%, 37.3% and 39.6% respectively under hybrid maize intercropping and by 25.5%, 27.3% and 27.5% respectively under open pollinated maize intercropping. Ca turnover in the leaves was however significantly (p<0.05) higher in those intercropped with hybrid maize compared to those intercropped with open pollinated maize and those grown as sole crops. The pigeonpea genotypes differed significant (p<0.05) in their leaf dry matter weight, and the N, P and Ca turnover in the leaf. They did not differ significantly (p<0.05) in their leaf K turnover. The pigeonpea genotypes had high potential to improve soil fertility through leaf litter.