Multipurpose nitrogen fixing trees and their associated microsymbionts for soil nutrient enrichment in Sub Saharan Africa

PROPOSAL: ICA4-2000-30022 ACRONYM ENRICH
AREA: FP5 - INCO2, 5/ unknown KeyAction Call number / date: -
PROJECT TYPE: Shared Cost EU CONTRIBUTION: 850,000
STARTING DATE: 2000-10-01 DURATION: 42 months

Coordinator: Dr. J.D. Deans, Natural Environment Research Counci, Centre Ecology, Hydrology, (Edinburgh), Bush Estate, Penicuik, UK -EH26 0QB, Midlothian, United Kingdom, Email: jdd@ceh.ac.uk

Project Description:
We aim to reverse declining crop yield in dry land Africa by using N fixing trees to improve soil fertility in a novel agro forestry system. Wet season tree leaves will be used as mulch to improve soil fertility dry season leaves will be sold as dry season fodder to generate secondary income for the purchase and application of rock P. N fixation will be maximised by matching tree and symbiotic genotypes. P availability will be increased by mycorrhizas. Success of the applied microsymbionts will be followed in the field using DNA techniques. Economics will be examined and laboratory microbiological procedures used to maximise N fixation and P availability. Water use will be assessed to ensure sustainability in terms of water balance. N fixing tree fodder sales and P application will provide a positive feedback to increase farm income generation. The high value indigenous Pterocarpus erinaceus and more promising exotic Gliricidia sepium will be compared.

Project URL: http://www.nbu.ac.uk/tropical/enrich.htm

Consortium:
Co-ordinator: Contact Person: GREEN, June (Mrs) Department: CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY Organisation: Natural Environment Research Council Banchory Research Station, Glassel AB31 4BY BANCHORY(KINCARDINSHIRE) UNITED KINGDOM Tel: +44-1487-772512 Fax: +44-1487-773467 jg@ceh.ac.uk Sci. Co-ordinator: Dr J Douglas Deans CEH Edinburgh Bush Estate Penicuik Midlothian EH26 0QB Participants Contact Person: SOLLAMO, Raija (Dr) Department: DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED CHEMISTRY AND MICROBIOLOGY - FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY Organisation: University of Helsinki 9 Viikinkaari 9 Biocenter 1A PO Box 56 00014 Helsinki FINLAND Contact Person: MAIGA, Alpha (Dr) Department: CENTRE REGIONAL DE RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE DE SOTUBA Organisation: Institut d'Economie Rurale PO Box 438 MALI Contact Person: MULLER, Jean-Pierre (Dr) Department: LABORATOIRE DE MICROBIOLOGIE DES SOLS CENTRE DE RECHERCHE DE BEL-AIR Organisation: Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement SENEGAL Contact Person: BAKHAYOKHO, Moussa (Dr) Department: CENTRE NATIONAL DE RECHERCHES FORESTIERES & MIRCEN Organisation: Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles SENEGAL Contact Person: DIARRA, Bouba (Professor) Department: LABORATORY OF MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY - FACULTY OF SCIENCES AND TECHNIQUES Organisation: Universite du Mali Colline de Badalabougou PO Box 3206 10 Bamako MALI


Return to FP5 project title list