Pathways to sustainable intensification in Eastern and Southern Africa - Malawi 2013

Paswel Marenya Menale Kassie Fulgence Mishili Gideon Obare (2016, [Dataset])

The Adoption Pathways project was part of a portfolio of projects that has contributed to the broader theme of sustainable intensification research led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and made possible by the contribution of several teams from national and international research groups brought together by funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The project was undertaken in the five Eastern and Southern African countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. 1. Gender disaggregated three wave panel data set (2010/11, 2013), building on a legacy dataset collected under a related ACIAR funded project (SIMLESA) is now being developed covering close to 3500 households in each data wave across the five project countries. The 2015/16 data will be available in due course. 2. Several empirical evaluations of the gender gaps in technology adoption, food security and market access have been completed and published. 3. These results have been shared in various policy forums including but not limited to annual project meetings. In order to achieve its full impact in the coming years; we propose that new projects and initiatives based on the work of the Adoption Pathways project be established. These should focus on capacity building for the analysis of panel datasets, continued work on studying intrahousehold input allocation and sharing of agricultural output and scaling up the findings from this project to influence next generation of sustainable agriculture policies.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

Replication data for Identification of QTL for early vigor and stay-green conferring tolerance to drought in two connected advanced backcross populations in tropical maize (Zea mays L.)

XUECAI ZHANG (2016, [Dataset])

Replication data for: Identification of QTL for early vigor and stay-green conferring tolerance to drought in two connected advanced backcross populations in tropical maize (Zea mays L.) We aimed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for secondary traits related to grain yield (GY) in two BC1F2:3 backcross populations (LPSpop and DTPpop) under well-watered (4 environments; WW) and drought stressed (6; DS) conditions to facilitate breeding efforts towards drought tolerant maize. Out of the 105 detected QTL, 53 were overdominant indicative of strong heterosis. For 14 out of 18 detected vigor QTL, as well as for eight flowering time QTL the trait increasing allele was derived from CML491. Improving drought tolerance while at the same time maintaining yield potential could be achieved by combining alleles conferring early vigor from the recurrent parent with alleles advancing flowering from the donor. The highest yielding ten entries for all population-by-irrigation treatment combination (except LPSpop WW) used in this study outyielded the best check (CML312/CML444) by 32.5% (DTPpop WW) to 60% (DTPpop DS). Moreover three entries (((CML491/DTPWC9F104)//CML491)B2/CML503; ((CML491/LPSC7F64)//CML491)B154/CML503; ((CML491/LPSC7F64)//CML491)B218/CML503) ranked within the top ten across irrigation treatments. Best performing entries identified here under drought can therefore be used as new trait donor using phenotypic and/or molecular selection.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

Interaction effects of different residue and nitrogen levels on maize growth, yield, soil parameters, and N leaching.

Christian Thierfelder Blessing Mhlanga (2017, [Dataset])

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)

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

28th Semi-Arid Wheat Screening Nursery

Ravi Singh Thomas Payne (2017, [Dataset])

The Semi-Arid Wheat Screening Nursery (SAWSN) is a single replicate trial that contains diverse spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) germplasm adapted to low rainfall, drought prone, semi-arid environments typically receiving less than 500 mm of water available during the cropping cycle. CIMMYT's breeding approach attempts to combine high yield potential with drought resistance for ME4. The combination of water-use efficiency and water responsive traits plus yield potential is important in drought environments where rainfall is frequently erratic across years. When rains are significantly above average in certain years, the crop must respond appropriately (water responsive) with higher yields, while expressing resistance to the wider suite of diseases that appear under more favorable conditions. Constrains including leaf, stem and yellow rusts, and Septoria spp., Fusarium spp., Pyrenophora tritici-repentis tan spot, nematodes and root rots must be considered. It is distributed to 120 locations, and contains 150-250 entries.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

Options available for the management of drought-tolerant maize varieties and conservation agriculture practices in Malawi

Christian Thierfelder (2016, [Dataset])

The present data is based on on-farm demonstration sites set in Malawi to demonstrate the best options available at the moment for the management of drought-tolerant maize varieties and conservation agriculture practices in Balaka, Machinga and Zomba communities. Crop yields in southern Africa are generally low compared to the world average and the average of developing regions. Thus, this calls for the identification of more sustainable strategies that are capable of increasing yields. Amongst the possible strategies is conservation agriculture (CA). This data is a subset of a larger data set from southern Africa that seeks to demonstrate the effects of CA technologies as compared to the traditional farmers' practices. The CA treatments included: 1. Farmers check. Traditional land preparation (ridges) and maize management. Residues may be grazed, removed, burned or incorporated into the ridges. 2. Conservation Agriculture – sole maize. No tillage, no burning. Previous year’s ridges retained (but not reformed). Residue retained (mulch). 3. Conservation Agriculture – maize/legume intercrop. No tillage, no burning. Previous year’s ridges retained (but not reformed). Residue retained (mulch). The data set presents yields for maize and the legumes from these sites over 10 seasons (2005-2015).

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

32nd Semi-Arid Wheat Screening Nursery

Ravi Singh Thomas Payne (2017, [Dataset])

The Semi-Arid Wheat Screening Nursery (SAWSN) is a single replicate trial that contains diverse spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) germplasm adapted to low rainfall, drought prone, semi-arid environments typically receiving less than 500 mm of water available during the cropping cycle. CIMMYT' s breeding approach attempts to combine high yield potential with drought resistance for ME4. The combination of water-use efficiency and water responsive traits plus yield potential is important in drought environments where rainfall is frequently erratic across years. When rains are significantly above average in certain years, the crop must respond appropriately (water responsive) with higher yields, while expressing resistance to the wider suite of diseases that appear under more favorable conditions. Constrains including leaf, stem and yellow rusts, and Septoria spp., Fusarium spp., Pyrenophora tritici-repentis tan spot, nematodes and rootrots must be considered. It is distributed to 120 locations, and contains 150-250 entries.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

8th Harvest Plus Yield Trial

Govindan Velu Thomas Payne (2020, [Dataset])

The Harvest Plus Yield Trial (HPYT) contains spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) germplasm adapted to ME1 (Optimally Irrigated, low rainfall environment) and ME5 (Warmer area environment) environments. It has total 50 entries with 2 replications, white grain color and distributed to more than 70 locations.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

7th Harvest Plus Yield Trial

Govindan Velu Thomas Payne (2020, [Dataset])

The Harvest Plus Yield Trial (HPYT) contains spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) germplasm adapted to ME1 (Optimally Irrigated, low rainfall environment) and ME5 (Warmer area environment) environments. It has total 50 entries with 2 replications, white grain color and distributed to more than 70 locations.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

42nd International Durum Yield Nursery

Karim Ammar Thomas Payne (2017, [Dataset])

International Durum Yield Nurseries are replicated yield trials designed to measure the yield potential and adaptation of superior CIMMYT-bred spring durum wheat germplasm that have been developed from tests conducted under irrigation and induced stressed cropping conditions in northwest Mexico. These materials have been subjected to numerous diseases (leaf, stem and yellow rust; Septoria tritici blotch) and varied growing environments. It is distributed to 70 locations, and contains 50 entries.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

24th Elite Selection Wheat Yield Trial

Ravi Singh Thomas Payne (2019, [Dataset])

The Elite Selection Wheat Yield Trial (ESWYT) is a replicated yield trial that contains spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) germplasm adapted to Mega-environment 1 (ME1) which represents the optimally irrigated, low rainfall areas. Major stresses include leaf, stem and yellow rusts, Karnal bunt, and lodging. Representative areas include the Gangetic Valley (India), the Indus Valley (Pakistan), the Nile Valley (Egypt), irrigated river valleys in parts of China (e.g. Chengdu), and the Yaqui Valley (Mexico). This ME encompasses 36 million hectares spread primarily over Asia and Africa between 350S -350N latitudes. White (amber)-grained types are preferred by consumers of wheat in the vast majority of the areas. It is distributed to upto 200 locations and contains 50 entries.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA