Modelling the effect of phosphorus on maize production and nitrogen use efficiency on smallholder farms in sub-humid Zimbabwe
Material type:
ArticleLanguage: English Publication details: Gosford (Australia) : The Regional Institute, 2004.ISBN: - 1 920842 21 7
| Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library | CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection | CIS-4338 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 630686 |
The variation in response to the application of fertilizer N in smallholder agriculture is related strongly to temporal and spatial variability in soil moisture, soil fertility and crop management history. Smallholder farmers in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa create fertility gradients across landscapes through their management of limited nutrient and organic residue resources. Using a previously published dataset described in Mushayi (2001), the on-farm investigations of maize response to N were simulated using a prototype ‘Paware’ maize model in APSIM. The differences in nitrogen response efficiency measured across several on-farm sites were strongly related to soil P status and seasonal conditions. Although it was assumed in the model that all sites had similar soil water characteristics, the general responses in maize grain yield to additions of N were well represented by the “P-aware” maize model. This new capability in APSIM is being used to refine nutrient management strategies for smallholder farmers in Southern Africa.
Text in English
0503|AL-Maize Program
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