Nitrogen value of pruning residues of some neotropical Albizia species with potential as shade for cacao

Abstract

The ammonium sulphate N fertilizer equivalence of leaves of ten neotropical Albizia species for cacao seedlings was between 21 and 72 kg N/ha, indicating that the leaves could substitute for the fertilizer from between 29 to 63% when applied to soil at 2.5 t/ha. The leaves are available from the necessary pruning of shade trees, so using them would be an economic means of improving soil fertility and seedling growth. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd