Research Article
Agroforestry-Based Mulching as a Climate-Smart Soil and Weed Management Strategy for Sorghum Production in Tropical Agroecosystems
Adeleye Zaccheaus Olufemi*
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 6, December 2026
Pages:
203-208
Received:
29 January 2026
Accepted:
12 March 2026
Published:
13 November 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.aff.20261506.11
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Abstract: Environmental degradation, declining soil fertility and increasing weed pressure are major constraints on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) production in tropical agroecosystems, particularly under erratic climatic. Agroforestry systems provide a climate-smart approach to mitigating these challenges by the application of tree-leaf litter as surface mulch to buffer soil conditions and suppress weed growth. This study synthesizes field-based evidence on the environmental and agronomic implications of agroforestry-derived leaf mulches applied to sorghum production in southwestern Nigeria. Leaf mulches from Leucaena leucocephala, Artocarpus altilis, Sesbania grandiflora, and Moringa oleifera, applied at varying rates, and were evaluated for their effects on soil physico-chemical properties, weed dynamics, and sorghum performance. Mulching significantly improved key soil chemical properties such as organic Carbon, Nitrogen, and exchangeable base cations, supporting findings from previous studies on organic residue management. Weed density and biomass were significantly lower in mulched plots than in the unmulched (control) plots, especially at the early stages of crop establishment, suggesting the effectiveness of organic mulches in weed emergence and growth suppression. However, sorghum growth and yield responses differed across mulch species and application rates, suggesting that the agronomic benefits of mulching depend on the balance between soil fertility improvement, potential nutrient immobilisation, and crop nutrient requirements. Overall, agroforestry-based mulching demonstrated strong potential as an environmentally sustainable soil and weed management strategy capable of reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and herbicides while enhancing climate resilience in tropical production systems.
Abstract: Environmental degradation, declining soil fertility and increasing weed pressure are major constraints on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) production in tropical agroecosystems, particularly under erratic climatic. Agroforestry systems provide a climate-smart approach to mitigating these challenges by the application of tree-leaf litter as surfa...
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