Maize Yields in Mulched and BurnedMucuna pruriensvar.utilisandPueraria phaseoloidesRelay Fallow Systems in Southern Cameroon

Häuser, S.; Henrot, J.; Hauser, A. J.

doi:10.1080/01448765.2002.9754968

Cited by 16 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Hauser et al (2002),(2)Luna-Orea & Wagger (1996), (3) Ball-Coelho et al(1993), (4) Hulugalle et al(1985), (5) Norgrove & Hauser (2002), (6) Obiefuna (1991), (7) Rosemeyer et al…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

Separating the Agronomic Effects of Burning and Biomass Removal in a Typical Slash and Burn Rotation System in Southern Cameroon

Norgrove¹,

Nkem²,

Häuser³

2003

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture

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Little research on slash and burn systems has investigated whether effects of burning are due to the fire per se or to the removal of biomass from the soil surface. In this experiment, the aim was to assess the effects of burning versus no burning and mulching versus no mulching on maize yields, chlorophyll levels, nutrient uptake and soil properties in a short fallow 'no external input' system in two consecutive cropping seasons on an ultisol in southern Cameroon. In the second maize cropping season, treatments were not re-imposed so any effects would be residual. In the first cropping season, when mulch was retained, grain dry mass was 2.79 Mg ha-1 , more than the 1.41 Mg ha-1 obtained without mulch. Soil bulk density was higher in non-mulched than in mulched treatments and both grain yield and maize aboveground biomass were strongly (both r 2 = 0.50) and negatively associated with soil bulk density. Under such short fallow conditions, farmers should be encouraged to mulch rather than burn residues when cropping maize, as this leads to higher yields within the usual time frame of the cropping cycle.

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“…Hauser et al (2002),(2)Luna-Orea & Wagger (1996), (3) Ball-Coelho et al(1993), (4) Hulugalle et al(1985), (5) Norgrove & Hauser (2002), (6) Obiefuna (1991), (7) Rosemeyer et al…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

Separating the Agronomic Effects of Burning and Biomass Removal in a Typical Slash and Burn Rotation System in Southern Cameroon

Norgrove¹,

Nkem²,

Häuser³

2003

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture

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“…Groundnut is a very important source of protein for the rural population and it is not to be expected that farmers would compromise groundnut yields. Maize can be grown successfully in the area as a monocrop when combined with leguminous cover crops (Hauser et a!., 2002), producing grain yields of 2.5 to 4 290 S. HAUSER, L. NORGROYE AND J.N. NKEM Mg ha-1 annually, i.e., without fallow phases.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundnut/Maize/Cassava Intercrop Yield Response to Fallow Age, Cropping Frequency and Crop Plant Density on an Ultisol in Southern Cameroon

Häuser¹,

Norgrove²,

Nkem³

2006

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture

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Two methods of intensifying crop production in 'no-external-input' slash and burn crop fallow rotation systems: increased crop density and increased cropping frequency, were tested on an Ultisol in southern Cameroon. Two common fallow types, secondary forest (forest fallow) and young volunteer regrowth dominated by Chmmolaena odomta (bush fallow) were cleared, bumed and planted to a groundnut/maize/cassava!plantain intercrop for one year or two consecutive years. Maize, cassava and plantain were planted at the 'traditional' low density, at a 30% higher density and at high density with Cal/iandm mlothvrsus hedgerows as a soil fertility replenishment treatment. An increased maize density did not increase maize grain yield but reduced the groundnut grain yield in both years. Cassava root yield was not affected by planting density. In the second year of cropping, cassava yields were higher in bush fallow than in forest fallow. The cumulative maize grain yield of two consecutive years was unaffected by plant density in the bush fallow but was higher in the high plant density with C. mlothyrsus than in low plant density in the forest fallow. Cumulative groundnut grain yields were higher in the low plant density than in high density in bush fallow and higher in the low density than the high density and the C. mlorhyrsus system in forest fallow. Cumulative cassava root yields had the same response as groundnut grain yields in the forest fallow, yet in the bush fallow, high and low plant density out-yielded the C. mlothyrsus system. Yield increases through increased maize and cassava density were not possible. An increased total production through higher land use frequency appears possible at low plant density, yet not for maize. Alternative intensification options are discussed.

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“…utilis), into cropping systems has been promoted as a low-input technology for soil improvement and weed suppression in West Africa for a long time. With the exception of southern Benin, where mucuna was highly effective in suppressing weeds on lands heavily infested by Imperata cylindrica (Chikoye et al, 2002;Tarawali et al, 1999;Honlonkou et al, 1999), adoption levels of green manure crops have been limited, despite their positive effect on subsequent cereal yields (Hauser et al, 2002;Schulz et al, 2001). The low adoption rate of green manure crops is likely to be related to farmers' reluctance to invest land, labour and seeds into a technology that does not provide a direct return to their investments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incorporating Short-Season Legumes and Green Manure Crops Into Maize-Based Systems in the Moist Guinea Savanna of West Africa

et al. 2004

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A three-year trial was conducted on a degraded soil in the moist Guinea savanna of northern Nigeria to assess the possibility of improving productivity and economic viability of maize-based systems by incorporating short-season legumes and green manure crops into the cropping pattern. Treatments included double cropping legume-maize systems, full-season sole maize receiving various amounts of nitrogen, green manure crop mucuna (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis) followed by sole maize and a legume-maize system receiving additional rice mill waste. In comparison with full-season maize, the use of early-season cowpea followed by maize improved productivity as well as economic returns of the cropping system, while the use of mucuna, grown as an early-season crop or full-season crop, resulted in poor overall productivity of the system. The addition of rice mill waste as a soil amendment in cowpea-maize systems stimulated maize yields and rice mill waste can form a cheap source of organic inputs for farmers living nearby rice mills. Given the limited growing season of the northern Guinea savanna, it is concluded that timing of field operations is crucial for the successful application of double cropping systems. In addition, high labour requirements are a serious constraint for wide-scale adoption of double cropping systems by small-scale farmers, stressing the need to reduce soil cultivation operations, for example by maintaining a uniform ridge distance for all crops in the rotation. † Corresponding author: c/o Lambourn and Co,

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Maize Yields in Mulched and BurnedMucuna pruriensvar.utilisandPueraria phaseoloidesRelay Fallow Systems in Southern Cameroon

Cited by 16 publications

References 11 publications

Separating the Agronomic Effects of Burning and Biomass Removal in a Typical Slash and Burn Rotation System in Southern Cameroon

Separating the Agronomic Effects of Burning and Biomass Removal in a Typical Slash and Burn Rotation System in Southern Cameroon

Groundnut/Maize/Cassava Intercrop Yield Response to Fallow Age, Cropping Frequency and Crop Plant Density on an Ultisol in Southern Cameroon

Incorporating Short-Season Legumes and Green Manure Crops Into Maize-Based Systems in the Moist Guinea Savanna of West Africa

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