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Autor: Blessing Mhlanga
Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga (2017)
Conservation agriculture involves reduced tillage, diversification of plant associations, and retention of crop residues to maintain soil cover. However, there is knowledge gap on the appropriate rate of application and interactive effect of residues and nitrogen as in some situations cases of nitrogen lock-up have been reported. This present data set addresses the effects of different nitrogen and residue levels on maize productivity, soil temperature, soil moisture and soil structure in contrasting soil types over 6 seasons. The trials were set across southern Africa i.e. Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The treatments were as follows: Main treatments: 1. Conventional tillage 2. No-tillage, 0 t/ha residues 3. No-tillage, 2 t/ha residues 4. No-tillage, 4 t/ha residues 5. No-tillage, 6 t/ha residues 6. No-tillage, 8 t/ha residues, Subtreatments: 1. 0 N 2. 30N (200 kg/ha Compound D – 46 kg/ha AN 3. 90N (200 kg/ha Compound D –220 kg/ha AN) The measured attributes are as follows: 1. Maize and grain yields 2. Soil profile temperature 3. Soil profile mositure 4. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)
Dataset
Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga (2016)
This data set is from a long-term (2010-2016) trial set in sandy soils. The study seeks to monitor and evaluate the effects over time of conservation agriculture (CA) practices on crop yield, soil quality, weeds, pests and diseases. The trial was set as a randomised complete block design with the following treatments: T1: Check plot (CP); traditional farmers practice using the mouldboard plough, maize as a sole crop, no residue retention, stubbles incorporated T2: Direct seeding with animal drawn seeder (DSM), maize as a sole crop, residue retention (at a rate of 2.5-3 t ha-1 in the first year, thereafter all crop residues retained) T3: Basin (BAM), maize as a sole crop, residue retention T4: Jab planter (JPM), maize as a sole crop, residue retention T5: Direct seeding with animal drawn seeder (DSMB), biochar incorporated, maize as a sole crop, residue retention T6: Direct seeding with animal drawn seeder (DSMP), maize-pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) intercropping, residue retention T7: Crop rotation A1 (A1M): direct seeding with animal drawn seeder, maize-groundnut rotation (Phase 1), residue retention; Maize- Groundnut T8: Crop rotation A2(A2G): direct seeding with animal drawn seeder, maize-groundnuts rotation (Phase 2), residue retention; Groundnuts- Maize T9: Crop rotation B1 (B1M): direct seeding with animal drawn seeder, maize-sunflower rotation (Phase 1), residue retention; Maize- Sunflower T10: Crop rotation B2 (B2S): direct seeding with animal drawn seeder, maize-sunflower rotation (Phase 2), residue retention; Sunflower- Maize.
Dataset
Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga (2017)
Conservation agriculture involves reduced tillage, diversification of plant associations, and retention of crop residues to maintain soil cover. However, there is knowledge gap on the appropriate rate of application and interactive effect of residues and nitrogen as in some situations cases of nitrogen lock-up have been reported. This present data set addresses the effects of different nitrogen and residue levels on maize productivity, soil temperature, soil moisture and soil structure in contrasting soil types over 6 seasons. The trials were set across southern Africa i.e. Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The treatments were as follows: Main treatments: 1. Conventional tillage 2. No-tillage, 0 t/ha residues 3. No-tillage, 2 t/ha residues 4. No-tillage, 4 t/ha residues 5. No-tillage, 6 t/ha residues 6. No-tillage, 8 t/ha residues, Subtreatments: 1. 0 N 2. 30N (200 kg/ha Compound D – 46 kg/ha AN 3. 90N (200 kg/ha Compound D –220 kg/ha AN) The measured attributes are as follows: 1. Maize and grain yields 2. Soil profile temperature 3. Soil profile mositure 4. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)
Dataset
Monitoring and evaluation of the long-term effects of conservation agriculture on soil quality.
Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga (2016)
This trial is designed with 1 conventional farmers practice and 4 conservation agriculture (CA) treatments in 5 replications; Plots are subdivided into a continues maize area and a maize/legume (sunnhemp) rotation to investigate the effect of CA practices on soil quality and system productivity. The trial was set in the growing season of 2005 and is still running through to 2017 and beyond. The treatments are as follows: T1. Conventional mouldboard ploughing (CPM): maize with residue removal, manual seeding and fertilization in the tilled seedbed after ploughing. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize and a maize/sunnhemp rotation T2. Sub-soiling with a Magoye ripper (RIM): maize with residue retention, manual seeding and fertilization in the ripping line. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize and a maize/sunnhemp rotation T3. Direct seeding (DSM) with a Fitarelli Jabplanter: maize with residue retention, seeding and fertilization is carried out with the Jabplanter. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize and a maize/sunnhemp rotation T4. Basin Planting (BAM): maize with residue retention, a manual system were basins (at 15cm x 15cm x 15cm spacing) are dug with hoes during the winter period and manually seeded and fertilized at the onset of rains. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize and a maize/sunnhemp rotation T5. Magoye ripping (RI-ML): maize with residue retention, intercropped with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) at seeding of maize. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize/cowpea pea and a maize/cowpea//sunnh emp rotation.
Dataset
Monitoring and evaluation of the long-term effects of conservation agriculture on soil quality.
Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga (2016)
This trial is designed with 1 conventional farmers practice and 4 conservation agriculture (CA) treatments in 5 replications; Plots are subdivided into a continues maize area and a maize/legume (sunnhemp) rotation to investigate the effect of CA practices on soil quality and system productivity. The trial was set in the growing season of 2005 and is still running through to 2017 and beyond. The treatments are as follows: T1. Conventional mouldboard ploughing (CPM): maize with residue removal, manual seeding and fertilization in the tilled seedbed after ploughing. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize and a maize/sunnhemp rotation T2. Sub-soiling with a Magoye ripper (RIM): maize with residue retention, manual seeding and fertilization in the ripping line. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize and a maize/sunnhemp rotation T3. Direct seeding (DSM) with a Fitarelli Jabplanter: maize with residue retention, seeding and fertilization is carried out with the Jabplanter. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize and a maize/sunnhemp rotation T4. Basin Planting (BAM): maize with residue retention, a manual system were basins (at 15cm x 15cm x 15cm spacing) are dug with hoes during the winter period and manually seeded and fertilized at the onset of rains. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize and a maize/sunnhemp rotation T5. Magoye ripping (RI-ML): maize with residue retention, intercropped with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) at seeding of maize. Plots are subdivided into split plots with continues maize/cowpea pea and a maize/cowpea//sunnh emp rotation.
Dataset
Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga (2016)
This data set is from a long-term (2010-2016) trial set in sandy soils. The study seeks to monitor and evaluate the effects over time of conservation agriculture (CA) practices on crop yield, soil quality, weeds, pests and diseases. The trial was set as a randomised complete block design with the following treatments: T1: Check plot (CP); traditional farmers practice using the mouldboard plough, maize as a sole crop, no residue retention, stubbles incorporated T2: Direct seeding with animal drawn seeder (DSM), maize as a sole crop, residue retention (at a rate of 2.5-3 t ha-1 in the first year, thereafter all crop residues retained) T3: Basin (BAM), maize as a sole crop, residue retention T4: Jab planter (JPM), maize as a sole crop, residue retention T5: Direct seeding with animal drawn seeder (DSMB), biochar incorporated, maize as a sole crop, residue retention T6: Direct seeding with animal drawn seeder (DSMP), maize-pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) intercropping, residue retention T7: Crop rotation A1 (A1M): direct seeding with animal drawn seeder, maize-groundnut rotation (Phase 1), residue retention; Maize- Groundnut T8: Crop rotation A2(A2G): direct seeding with animal drawn seeder, maize-groundnuts rotation (Phase 2), residue retention; Groundnuts- Maize T9: Crop rotation B1 (B1M): direct seeding with animal drawn seeder, maize-sunflower rotation (Phase 1), residue retention; Maize- Sunflower T10: Crop rotation B2 (B2S): direct seeding with animal drawn seeder, maize-sunflower rotation (Phase 2), residue retention; Sunflower- Maize.
Dataset
Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga (2017)
Conservation agriculture (CA) had recently gained popularity and promotion in the southern parts of Africa. Research has shown a number of benefits of CA in contrast to the widely practiced conventional ways (CP), which chiefly include water and soil conservation. These gains have positive benefits towards grain yield in maize. However, the maize varieties that performs better than others in these different environments have to be investigated and updated for farmers and breeding purposes. Furthermore, physiological traits that are suitable for the CA system needs to be dissected for breeding purposes. Hence a study was conducted across Zimbabwe at University of Zimbabwe farm (heavy red clay), Domboshawa Training centre (DTC) (sandy loamy soils), Madziva (sandy soils), Hereford (red clays) and Zimuto (sandy soils) from 2012 up to 2015. Investigations of effects of CA and CP practices on emergence, chlorophyll content, early vigour , biomass and grain yield of different maize varieties using 12 hybrids and 4 open pollinated varieties (OPVs) were conducted. Emergence was collected as the number of days taken by the different varieties to emerge. At 6 weeks after sowing a destructive sampling was performed to quantify the vigor of the maize varieties using averages of height, number of leaves per plant, dry matter and chlorophyll content using a SPAD meter. At harvesting grain yield and biomass yield were calculate d.
Dataset
Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga (2017)
Conservation agriculture (CA) had recently gained popularity and promotion in the southern parts of Africa. Research has shown a number of benefits of CA in contrast to the widely practiced conventional ways (CP), which chiefly include water and soil conservation. These gains have positive benefits towards grain yield in maize. However, the maize varieties that performs better than others in these different environments have to be investigated and updated for farmers and breeding purposes. Furthermore, physiological traits that are suitable for the CA system needs to be dissected for breeding purposes. Hence a study was conducted across Zimbabwe at University of Zimbabwe farm (heavy red clay), Domboshawa Training centre (DTC) (sandy loamy soils), Madziva (sandy soils), Hereford (red clays) and Zimuto (sandy soils) from 2012 up to 2015. Investigations of effects of CA and CP practices on emergence, chlorophyll content, early vigour , biomass and grain yield of different maize varieties using 12 hybrids and 4 open pollinated varieties (OPVs) were conducted. Emergence was collected as the number of days taken by the different varieties to emerge. At 6 weeks after sowing a destructive sampling was performed to quantify the vigor of the maize varieties using averages of height, number of leaves per plant, dry matter and chlorophyll content using a SPAD meter. At harvesting grain yield and biomass yield were calculate d.
Dataset
Complementary practices supporting conservation agriculture in southern Africa. A review
Frédéric Baudron Peter Setimela Isaiah Nyagumbo Walter Mupangwa Blessing Mhlanga Bruno Gerard (2023)
Conservation agriculture (CA)—the simultaneous application of minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention, and crop diversification—is a key approach to address declining soil fertility and the adverse effects of climate change in southern Africa. Applying the three defining principles of CA alone, however, is often not enough, and complementary practices and enablers are required to make CA systems more functional for smallholder farmers in the short and longer term. Here, we review 11 complementary practices and enablers grouped under six topical areas to highlight their critical need for functional CA systems, namely: (1) appropriate nutrient management to increase productivity and biomass; (2) improved stress-tolerant varieties to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses; (3) judicious use of crop chemicals to surmount pest, diseases, and weed pressure; (4) enhanced groundcover with alternative organic resources or diversification with green manures and agroforestry; (5) increased efficiency of planting and mechanization to reduce labor, facilitate timely planting, and to provide farm power for seeding; and (6) an enabling political environment and more harmonized and innovative extension approaches to streamline and foster CA promotional efforts. We found that (1) all 11 complementary practices and enablers substantially enhance the functioning of CA systems and some (e.g., appropriate nutrient management) are critically needed to close yield gaps; (2) practices and enablers must be tailored to the local farmer contexts; and (3) CA systems should either be implemented in a sequential approach, or initially at a small scale and grow from there, in order to increase feasibility for smallholder farmers. This review provides a comprehensive overview of practices and enablers that are required to improve the productivity, profitability, and feasibility of CA systems. Addressing these in southern Africa is expected to stimulate the adoption of CA by smallholders, with positive outcomes for soil health and resilience to climate change.
Dataset
Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga Hambulo Ngoma Paswel Marenya Md Abdul Matin Adane Tufa (2024)
Production and utilization of crop residues as mulch and effective weed management are two central elements in the successful implementation of Conservation Agriculture (CA) systems in southern Africa. Yet, the challenges of crop residue availability for mulch or the difficulties in managing weed proliferation in CA systems are bigger than a micro-level focus on weeds and crop residues themselves. The bottlenecks are symptoms of broader systemic complications that cannot be resolved without appreciating the interactions between the current scientific understanding of CA and its application in smallholder systems, private incentives, social norms, institutions, and government policy. In this paper, we elucidate a series of areas that represent some unquestioned answers about chemical weed control and unanswered questions about how to maintain groundcover demanding more research along the natural and social sciences continuum. In some communities, traditional rules that allow free-range grazing of livestock after harvesting present a barrier in surface crop residue management. On the other hand, many of the communities either burn, remove, or incorporate the residues into the soil thus hindering the near-permanent soil cover required in CA systems. The lack of soil cover also means that weed management through soil mulch is unachievable. Herbicides are often a successful stopgap solution to weed control, but they are costly, and most farmers do not use them as recommended, which reduces efficacy. Besides, the use of herbicides can cause environmental hazards and may affect human health. Here, we suggest further assessment of the manipulation of crop competition, the use of vigorously growing cover crops, exploration of allelopathy, and use of microorganisms in managing weeds and reducing seed production to deplete the soil weed seed bank. We also suggest in situ production of plant biomass, use of unpalatable species for mulch generation and change of grazing by-laws towards a holistic management of pastures to reduce the competition for crop residues. However, these depend on the socio-economic status dynamics at farmer and community level.
Artículo
CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS CROP RESIDUES ZERO TILLAGE SOCIAL NORMS SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION WEED CONTROL