title: Influence of soil cover and N and K fertilization on the quality of biofortified QPM in the humid tropics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the humid tropics, unfavorable conditions present challenges to smallholder farmers attempting to meet food demands. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of alley cropping and addition of potassium and nitrogen on the productivity and nutritional value of quality protein maize (QPM). The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four replicates in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with five treatments, Gliricidia + Acacia (GA), Gliricidia + Clitoria (GC), Leucaena + Acacia (LA), Leucaena + Clitoria (LC) and bare soil (BS), in two cropping systems, one with addition of nitrogen and potassium (NK) and one without.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The grain yield of LC + NK was significantly higher than that of all other treatments except GC + NK and LA + NK, and six times higher than that of BS + NK. The protein content of LC + NK was higher than that of the treatments without residue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the mulching of tree legumes increased the yield and quality of food for smallholder agriculture, achieving this outcome requires eliminating potentially negative interactions when combining trees and crops in addition to enhancing the availability and uptake of nutrients. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering and Technology, São Paulo State University, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Gomes
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: de Moura-Silva
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Maranhão, BR 222, Km 04, 65500-000, Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alana das Chagas Ferreira
authors.initials: Ad
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Agroecology, State University of Maranhão, 65054-970, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emanoel Gomes
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: de Moura
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering and Technology, São Paulo State University, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Neuza
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jorge
mesh_terms: D000045:Acacia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000072759:Biofortification; D001938:Brazil; D031292:Clitoria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000069599:Crop Production / Q000379:methods*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005308:Fertilizers; D006801:Humans; D009753:Nutritive Value; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D014508:Urea
keywords: biofortification; food security; nutrients; tree legumes