Objective THIS PROJECT CONTINUES THE WORK BEGUN IN OUR COLLABORATIVE PROJECT UNDER STD 2. PRESENT COLLABORATORS ARE : THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, ESTACION EXPERIMENTAL DEL ZAIDIN, GRANADA, SPAIN AND THE UNIVERSITY 0F COSTA RICA. THIS PROPOSED PROJECT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE INSTITUTE 0F TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY. UK. WE HAVE LARGE (2+HA.), CAREFULLY MONITORED TRIAL AREAS OF ALLEY-CROPPING AND CLEAR CROPPING IN THE HUMID TROPICAL LOWLANDS OF COSTA RICA. THE SOIL IS VERY ACID (ULTISOL) ; PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY IS VERY LOW ; PHOSPHORUS SORBTION BY ALL BUT THE MOST SUPERFICIAL SOIL LAYERS IS VERY HIGH. MULCHING THE SOIL WITH FRESHLY PRUNED FOLIAGE FROM CERTAIN ACID-TOLERANT LEGUME TREE SPECIES, GROWN IN SITU, PRODUCES A VERY MARKED RAISING 0F (MYCORRHIZAL) FINE ROOTS OF THE ALLEY TREES AND CROP PLANTS. APPLICATION 0F ROCK PHOSPHORUS TO THIS MULCH PRODUCES A RESPONSE IN THE CROPS AND TREES AND APPEARS TO DEFEAT PHOSPHORUS SORBTION IN THE SOIL. APPLICATION OF GROUND BASIC ROCKS BENEFITS THE SYSTEM. OUR FOCUS oF INTEREST IS IN SUSTAINABILITY OF PRODUCTION ;THESE PROCESSES ARE VITAL To IT. WE SHALL HAVE 3 YEARS' CROPPING DATA BY THE END OF THE PROJECT UNDER STD 2 ;FOR CONSIDERATIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY WE SHALL NEED 7 YEARS. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedslegumes Programme(s) FP3-STD 3 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the life sciences and technologies for developing countries, 1990-1994 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator University of Cambridge EU contribution No data Address Downing Place CB2 3EN Cambridge United Kingdom See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution No data Address 1,Profesor Albareda 1 18008 GRANADA See on map Total cost No data NERC Institute of Terrestrial Ecology United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Merlewood Research Station Windermere Road LA11 6JU Grange-over-Sands See on map Total cost No data Universidad de Costa Rica Costa Rica EU contribution No data Address Ciudad Universitaria San José See on map Total cost No data
