Knowledge Center Catalog

Selection of suitable maize genotypes in Botswana

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Nairobi (Kenya) KARI|CIMMYT : 2002Description: p. 213-215ISBN:
  • 970-648-120-6
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 338.16 FRI
Summary: Maize [Zea mays L.] provides a high percentage of daily calories in most diets of Botswana. As in other semi-arid regions, rainfall and soil fertility are the major environmental factors affecting maize productivity. Even in seasons of above average rainfall, dry spells lasting up to 30 days or more are common, therefore dry land crops usually experience periods of moisture stress during their growth cycle. The Department of Agricultural Research is faced with a challenge of developing and improving genotypes that are drought tolerant and adapted to low fertility conditions. The cereal improvement program of Botswana has embarked on strategies to address the situation. Genotypes are tested under moisture and low soil fertility stress as well as under optimal conditions. Due to limited resources in terms of germplasm and testing sites, the department collaborates with CIMMYT and other countries in the SADC region. Collaboration with CIMMYT has resulted in selection of materials from its nurseries that are undergoing improvement. S1 lines are extracted from the promising populations for further screening and recombination. The generated populations are put in national and regional trials for evaluation under the different stress conditions. Farmers are involved at an early stage of variety screening in the hope of identifying relevant drought and low fertility tolerant materials for the country.
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Maize [Zea mays L.] provides a high percentage of daily calories in most diets of Botswana. As in other semi-arid regions, rainfall and soil fertility are the major environmental factors affecting maize productivity. Even in seasons of above average rainfall, dry spells lasting up to 30 days or more are common, therefore dry land crops usually experience periods of moisture stress during their growth cycle. The Department of Agricultural Research is faced with a challenge of developing and improving genotypes that are drought tolerant and adapted to low fertility conditions. The cereal improvement program of Botswana has embarked on strategies to address the situation. Genotypes are tested under moisture and low soil fertility stress as well as under optimal conditions. Due to limited resources in terms of germplasm and testing sites, the department collaborates with CIMMYT and other countries in the SADC region. Collaboration with CIMMYT has resulted in selection of materials from its nurseries that are undergoing improvement. S1 lines are extracted from the promising populations for further screening and recombination. The generated populations are put in national and regional trials for evaluation under the different stress conditions. Farmers are involved at an early stage of variety screening in the hope of identifying relevant drought and low fertility tolerant materials for the country.

Global Maize Program

English

0410|AGRIS 0401|AL-Maize Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

INT2636

CIMMYT Publications Collection


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