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Can Integration of Legume Trees Increase Yield Stability in Rainfed Maize Cropping Systems in Southern Africa?

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Title Can Integration of Legume Trees Increase Yield Stability in Rainfed Maize Cropping Systems in Southern Africa?
 
Creator Sileshi, Gudeta W.
Kassa Debusho L
Akinnifesi, F.K.
 
Subject agriculture
climate
zea mays
gliricidia
legumes
agroforestry
 
Description Growing maize (Zea mays L.) in association with legume trees in agroforestry arrangements has been shown to increase yields in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa; however, the stability of crop yields has not been critically analyzed in the various cropping systems that integrate leguminous trees. The objective of this analysis was to compare yield stability in improved cropping systems, namely maize gliricidia [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth] intercropping and fertilized monoculture maize, with the de facto practice of resource-poor farmers who grow maize continuously without any external input. Yield stability was determined for three long-term field trials (12 13 consecutive yr) conducted at Makoka Research Station in southern Malawi and Msekera Research Station in eastern Zambia. At Makoka, the most stable yield was recorded in maize gliricidia intercrops. Average yield was highest for maize gliricidia intercropping amended with 50% of the recommended N and P fertilizer, and this was comparable with the yield recorded in monoculture maize that received inorganic fertilizer. On the two sites at Msekera, the highest yield was recorded in fertilized monoculture maize, followed by maize gliricidia intercrops. Yields were more stable, however, in maize gliricidia intercropping than fertilized maize on both sites at Msekera. It was concluded that maize yields remain more stable in maize gliricidia intercropping than in fertilized maize monoculture in the long term, although average yields may be higher with full fertilization.
 
Date 2012-09
2014-08-15T12:13:22Z
2014-08-15T12:13:22Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Sileshi GW, Kassa Debusho L, Akinnifesi FK. 2012. Can Integration of Legume Trees Increase Yield Stability in Rainfed Maize Cropping Systems in Southern Africa?. Agronomy Journal, Vol 104(5):1392-1398
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/42080
https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2012.0063
 
Language en
 
Rights Limited Access
 
Publisher Wiley
 
Source Agronomy Journal