We investigated the current use of legumes in s;il fertility management and the feasibility of promoting use of pigeonpea in smallholder farming systems of a Communal Area in Northeast of Zimbabwe. Participatory rural appraisal methods were used to establish farmer management strategies and perceptions on major constraints to crop productivity. Soil fertility parameters were evaluated through farmer participatory experiments. The study revealed limited cultivation of legumes for both human nutrition and soil fertility management. Legumes were generally regarded as women's crops, and therefore minor, because of men's domination over women in the household decision-making process. Balancing gender interests in terms of allocation of inputs and distribution of benefits at household level was identified as a major challenge to the implementation of legume technologies. Poor extension thrusts with respect to legume production, and poor agronomic practices wereidentified as major production constraints. over-emphasis on maize in the current extension packages led to the relegation of legumes to the status of 'minor crops'. Participatory experiments suggested that pigeonpea can be successfully grown by farmers under poor soil fertility conditions. The crop yielded about 3 to 9 t ha-' of shoot biomass in asingle cropping season, and up to 23 t ha-' after two seasons of growth. High amounts leaf litter released by the crop in one season (up to 3 t ha-') are considered a potentially viable source of nutrients for subsequent crops, as confirmed by a 22% maize yield increase obtained from a field that was previous cultivated with pigwnpea.Key Words: Cajanus cajan, farmer participatory experiments, leaf litter, nutrient replenishment, Zimbabwe Les investigations sur I' utilisation des ltgumineuses dans la gestion de fertilitt du sol ainsi que les possibilitts d' incorporer le pois cajan dans le systbme agricole de petits ferrniers ont Ctt fait dans un milieu rural au NordEst du Zimbabwe. La mtthode "Participatory rural appraisal" a CtC utilisk pour dtterminer les strattgies de gestion du sol et les perceptions qui contribuent ?I la rauction de la productivitt de la r h l t e . Les parambtres de fertilitb du sol ont Ct C analysts en collaboration avec des agriculteurs. Cette Ctude a rtvelt qu' il y a une utilisation lirmttedel6gumineusesdans 1' alimentation des gens ainsi quedar~s lagestion de fertilitt du sol. Les lCgumineuses sont generalement c o n s i d t r b commes la rtcolte pour les femmes, sur ce, de peu d' importance, et ?I cause de la domination des hommes dans la prise de dkision dans le foyer. L'extcution des tkhnologies d' incorporer Ies ltgumineuses dans le systtme de production agricole s' est heurttk ?I un probltme majeur de domination de l'homme, ses prtfkrences dans la rtpartition et la distributions des intrants et les Mntfices. Un autre problbme identifit, c'est une vulgarisation trks limit& de la production de ltgumineuses et une difficile adaptation agronomiquede varitt6s delCgumineuses qui sont ...

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Tree crowns in semi-arid areas have often been found to create micro-habitats of improved soil physical and nutrient status and reduced evapotranspiration. These encourage the growth of mesic, palatable and high yielding perennial grasses in otherwise arid environments. A two-year study, in areas with a long history of light grazing, at Matopos Research Station sought to establish whether the soil nutrient status and micro-climate under tree crowns are different from those in open areas, and whether the differences are affected by soil type and tree species. The study trees were Terminalia sericea and Acacia karroo. There were consistent patterns in soil nutrient status between understorey and open areas, although these patterns were largely not significant. There was also a consistent pattern in soil volumetric water content of open areas > T. sericea > A. karroo understorey areas. Tree crowns reduced solar radiation reaching understorey areas by an average of 88% and rainfall by an average of 15%. The findings on soil nutrient status are consistent with results from disturbed systems, and challenge the dogma, at least for soil nutrient status, that conservative stocking rates are beneficial.

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