because the total amounts of nutrients added through leaves are not utilized
by associated food crops due to immobilization, leaching and washing away
with runoff water [Mulongoy and van der Meersch, 1988]. For example,
Kang [1987] reported a contribution of only 42 kg N per ha by the prunings
of Gliricidia to a maize crop on an Alfisol. Furthermore, tree growth, leaf
fall and nutrient additions are likely to be less with duration after clearing.
The site for present study was cleared from a mature forest. Tree growth and
leaf fall are likely to be considerably less on degraded Ultisols that have been
under cultivation for sometime. Nonetheless, these results have an important
agronomic significance in terms of resource management options for
resource-poor shifting cultivators of the humid tropics.