This study was focused on evaluating maize yield and soil fertility improvement under the canopy of retained farmland tree species, particularly Terminalia brownie and Vitex doniana in parkland Agroforestry. The study area was suitable for maize cropping and mature tree species exist in the area. The result showed that Maize yield decreased the understory of studied tee species compared with open field due to the shading effect on crop performance. On the other hand, soil fertility parameters near tree trunk/under canopy cover showed improvement in terms of soil pH level, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon obtained except available potassium. Terminalia brownie and Vitex doniana farmland trees supply quantified amounts of important nutrients through the addition of organic biomass and modifying microclimate for ease of decomposition, so resource poor farmers had shortage to replenishing the soils with mineral fertilizer application. The present study concluded that multipurpose agroforestry trees have the potential to improved soil fertility in farming system and these could be promoted in smallholder farms by using appropriate above ground management options.
agroforestry, canopy cover, farmland trees, maize, soil fertility, Terminalia brownie, soil physicochemical
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