water and crop biomass dynamics in a cassia siamea lam. and zea mays l. alley cropping system
abstract
alley cropping is a crop production system in which food crops are grown in
the alleys created by hedgerows of selected tree species, preferably legumes.
the objective of this study was to model a cassia /maize alley cropping system
in the semi-arid district of machakos in kenya. the modelling was done with
respect to the system's ground water dynamics as it affects its biomass
production. first the dynamics of water in a bare soil was modelled, and then
cassia and maize were introduced separately and their biomass production
modelled with respect to water. finally, a combined cass/a/maize/ground
water model was build and analysed. the model suggests that water is a
critical factor in the biomass production of cassia and maize. the main
achievement of this project has been to provide a starting point for a framework
in which empirical research results can be integrated and interpreted in a more
holistic manner.
collections
- retrospective theses [1604]