Indigenous legume fallows (indifallows) as an alternative soil fertility resource in smallholder maize cropping systems

Nezomba, Hatirarami; Tauro, T. P.; Mtambanengwe, Florence; Mapfumo, Paul

doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2009.10.015

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…No-tillage is a potentially profitable option for maize and soybean production in the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana. The yield increase with no-tillage was likely due to better weed control and water conservation compared with conventional tillage [3,10]. Water conservation was probably improved with no-tillage, especially as significant soil water was probably lost with ploughed tillage and the extra weeding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Tillage and fertilizer effect on maize and soybean yields in the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana

et al. 2017

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Background:The most limiting factors for sustainable maize production in smallholder farming systems of subSaharan Africa, especially the savanna agro-ecological zone, are erratic rainfall pattern and low soil fertility. Methods:Research was conducted with smallholder farmers in 2013 and 2014 in two communities in the Upper West Region of Ghana to evaluate the effects of NPK mineral fertilizer (64-38-38 kg ha −1 N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O, respectively) on growth and yield of maize at Bompari, and 375 kg ha −1 of YaraLegume ™ fertilizer (0-18-13 NPK + 3 CaO + 2 MgO + 4 S) on growth and yield of soybean at Doggoh, under no-tillage (using pre-plant application of glyphosate) and conventional tillage (using hand hoe).Results: Mean grain yields of both maize and soybean were higher in 2014 than 2013. In both years, no-tillage and conventional tillage had similar effect on soybean plant height, pods per plant and aboveground dry matter production. Averaging over fertilizer treatment, grain yield of no-tillage soybean was 51% higher when compared with tilled soybean in 2014 only. Mean grain yield of no-tillage maize was 68% higher than that of tilled maize in 2013 only. Regardless of tillage method, fertilizer application significantly increased maize and soybean grain yields. Application of fertilizer to soybean resulted in 59% (193 kg ha ) increase in grain yields in 2013 and 2014, respectively, over no fertilizer treatment. Mean grain yield of maize was 140 and 252% higher with fertilizer treatment in 2013 and 2014, respectively. No-till system showed cost savings due to reduced labour mainly for weed control. Conclusion:The results of these studies showed that no-tillage with fertilizer, whether for maize or soybean, generally resulted in the highest grain yields. No-tillage also gave the highest economic returns. Farmers can get better returns to the money invested in herbicide for producing maize and soybean under no-till than with their traditional practice even on degraded savanna soils with low levels of plant available nutrients.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Due to their ability to biologically fix N, grain legumes are potential alternative sources of N to increase cereal productivity in smallholder farming communities [2,3]. Maize is now cultivated in the drier traditional sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and millet [Pennisetum typhoides (Burn).Stapf & C.E.…”

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tillage and fertilizer effect on maize and soybean yields in the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana

et al. 2017

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“…(), maize yield response to green manure legumes is significantly positive and yield is higher than in unfertilized maize and natural vegetation fallows. Most of the studies on improved fallows reported benefits associated with biomass of the vegetation, biological nitrogen fixation, organic matter and residual fertility effects (Mafongoya et al ., ; Nezomba et al ., ). However, there is limited information of the effects of improved fallows and organic material transfer system on macrofauna order diversity and abundance in Zimbabwe.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Soil macrofauna order diversity and abundance under improved fallows and organic matter transfer system in Zimbabwe

2014

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Sustainable crop production is dependent on improvement of soil health using different management strategies. A study was conducted in the 2008/09 cropping season to investigate soil macrofauna order diversity and abundance under organic matter transfer system and improved fallows in a high rainfall (>800 mm year À1 ) area of Zimbabwe. Macrofauna were sampled using monoliths to a depth of 25 cm and Shannon-Wiener diversity was used for diversity testing. Order diversity varied significantly with treatment under both systems. Under improved fallows, Leucaena trichandra had the highest fauna orders (6) followed by Calliandra colorthysus (5), then Acacia anguistissima (4) while Leucaena pallida and miombo forest had the least orders. Crotalaria juncea had the highest faunal orders (5), among organic material transfer system while other treatments had ≥3 orders. Unfertilized maize had one order. Calliandra colorthysus had the highest order diversity followed by maize stover > cattle manure > Cr. juncea > fully fertilized maize > unfertilized maize. Major groups identified were termites, earthworms, beetles, millipedes and ants. All taxa combined, cattle manure and miombo forest had the highest macrofauna abundance. This study showed that application of organic nutrient resources and use of improved fallows significantly influenced soil macrofauna order diversity and abundance. R esum eLa production de r ecoltes durables d epend de l'am elioration de la sant e des sols au moyen de diff erentes strat egies de gestion. Une etude a et e r ealis ee lors de la saison de r ecolte de 2008-2009, pour analyser la diversit e et l'abondance de diff erents ordres de macrofaune du sol dans le cadre d'un syst eme de transfert de mati ere organique et dans celui de jach eres am elior ees, dans une r egion du Zimbabwe qui connaît une forte pluviosit e (> 800 mm/an). La macrofaune a et e collect ee au moyen de monolithes jusqu' a une profondeur de 25 centim etres, et l'indice de ShannonWeiner a servi a en tester la diversit e. La diversit e en ordres variait significativement dans les deux syst emes selon les traitements. En jach eres am elior ees, Leucaena trichandra avait le plus d'ordres de faune (6) suivi par Calliandra colorthysus (5) et puis par Acacia anguistissima (4) alors que Leucaena pallida et la forêt de miombo avaient le moins d'ordres. Crotalaria juncea avait le plus grand nombre d'ordres de faune (5) dans le syst eme de transfert de mati ere organique, alors que les autres traitements avaient ≥ (isn't ≤ ?) 3 ordres. Dans le ma€ ıs sans engrais, il n'y avait qu'un ordre. Calliandra colorthysus avait la plus grande diversit e en ordres, suivi par les cannes de ma€ ıs > le fumier de b etail > Crotolaria juncea > le ma€ ıs compl etement fertilis e > le ma€ ıs sans engrais. Les principaux groupes identifi es etaient les termites, les vers de terre, les col eopt eres, les mille-pattes et les fourmis. Tous taxons confondus, le fumier de b etail et la forêt a miombo avaient la plus grande abondance de macrofaune. Cette etude a...

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“…Cost‐effective options for improving soil fertility in southern Africa have been documented. For example, Nezomba et al (2010) found that indigenous legumes can generate N‐rich biomass in sufficient quantities to significantly influence maize ( Zea mays L.) productivity for more than a single season. Maize yield gains under legume fallow systems on low‐fertility sandy soils exceeded the yields attained with either mineral fertilizer alone or the traditional green manure crop of sunn‐hemp ( Crotalaria juncea L.).…”

Section: Coping Strategies For Challenges Related To Climatic Changementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, crop sequences and intercrops involving N 2 –fixing legumes provide N to cereals through mineralization of the legume biomass (Rao et al, 2002; Makumba et al, 2006). Exploratory research showed the existence of several indigenous legume species across different agroecological regions in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, dominated by species of the genera Crotalaria, Gliricidia, Indigofera, Rothia , and Tephrosia (Rao et al, 2002; Makumba et al, 2006; Mapfumo et al, 2005; Mafongoya et al, 2006; Nezomba et al, 2008, 2010; Tauro et al, 2009). The work demonstrated the capacity of indigenous legumes to nodulate and grow relatively well on poor‐fertility soils when they are deliberately established in mixtures, suggesting their potential to restore soil productivity on nutrient‐depleted fields.…”

Section: Coping Strategies For Challenges Related To Climatic Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Soil, Water, and Nutrient Management Options for Climate Change Adaptation in Southern Africa

Kadyampakeni

2014

Agronomy Journal

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Climate change and food insecurity are the two major challenges for humanity in developing countries. Drawing lessons from numerous research studies from southern Africa and regions on other continents, this review discusses possible interventions for climate and ecological change adaptation using improved water management, soil fertility amelioration, and intensive crop management options. is review and the proposed framework should provide useful information for improving agricultural policy in southern Africa to help poor farmers contend with erratic rainfall, declining soil fertility, and fragile economies while ensuring long-term ecosystem sustainability, increased crop yields, improved farm incomes, and sustained social livelihoods.

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Indigenous legume fallows (indifallows) as an alternative soil fertility resource in smallholder maize cropping systems

Cited by 20 publications

References 26 publications

Tillage and fertilizer effect on maize and soybean yields in the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana

Tillage and fertilizer effect on maize and soybean yields in the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana

Soil macrofauna order diversity and abundance under improved fallows and organic matter transfer system in Zimbabwe

Soil, Water, and Nutrient Management Options for Climate Change Adaptation in Southern Africa

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