Current Trends in Business Management(CTBM)
ISSN: 2995-4010 | DOI: 10.33140/CTBM
Biostatistical analysis on desertification in the drylands
Abstract
Bin Zhao, Xia Jiang
Ziziphus Spina Christi was intercropped with barley [Hordeumvulgare] under irrigation regimes in saline soils of dry lands of Sudan. That aimed to find out suitable agroforestry system to suit saline soils as well as to investigate the effect of Z. spinachristspacing on barley yield as a winter fodder crop. The experiment was laid out in terms of a completely randomized block design with 3replicates. Where the trees as the main factor spaced at 4x4mbesides barley crop that inter sown at two levels from the tree truck at 1 m [ZS1] and 1.5 m [ZS2] at two consecutive seasons in 2018 and 2019. Besides soil samples were determined in terms of pH, N, P, K, Organic Carbon at two depths 0-30 cm and 30-60cm. The trees were measured in terms of tree growth namely; tree height, tree collar and canopy diameters, and fruit yield per tree.
While barley crop was determined in terms of plant height, a number of plants, and forage yield as fresh and dry per ha per ha as well as a land equivalent ratio. The results revealed that tree growth and fruit yield did not differ in the first season of 2018. Whereas in 2019; tree height was increased by 40 cm and 38 cm when compared ZS1 and ZS2 with control. Similarly, tree collar and canopy diameters were significant under ZS1. Barley biomass dry weight was in- creased by 78% and 112% when comparing ZS1 with ZS2 and control respectively. Z. spinachristifruit yield was higher under ZS2 than ZS1 and control. Soil K, P, Organic carbon, and C/N were higher under intercropped plots, particularly at 0-30 cm depth. Soil salinity increased by increasing soil depths. Barley plant height was higher under control than intercropped ones in 2018.
The land equivalent ratio [LER] was advantageous particularly in 2019, it recorded 10 in ZS2 when compared with ZS1 which recorded 8. Therefore ZS2 is most suitable for intercropping barley with Z.spinachristito to maintain food security and halt desertification in dry lands.