000			03381nab a22003737a 4500
001			G93722
003			MX-TxCIM
005			20230811210036.0
008			210714s2009 ne |||p|op||| 00| 0 eng d
022			_a0334-5114
022			_a1878-7665 (Online)
024	8		_ahttps://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179982
040			_aMX-TxCIM
041			_aeng
090			_aCIS-5854
100	1		_aMtambanengwe, F. _915811
245	1	0	_aCombating food insecurity on sandy soils in Zimbabwe : _bthe legume challenge
260			_aNetherlands : _bSpringer, _c2009.
500			_aPeer review
500			_aPeer-review: Yes - Open Access: Yes|http://science.thomsonreuters.com/cgi-bin/jrnlst/jlresults.cgi?PC=MASTER&ISSN=0334-5114
520			_aThe continued rise in mineral fertilizer costs has demanded cheaper alternative N sources for resource-constrained smallholder farmers, with N2-fixing legumes presenting a viable option to maintain crop productivity. A study was conducted over two years on a coarse sandy soil (Lixisol with <80 g clay kg−1 soil) to determine the productivity of (i) five grain legumes, (ii) a green manure legume, and (iii) maize on smallholder farmers? fields, identified as SOFECSA Leaming Centres, in Chinyika, north-east Zimbabwe. The objective of the study was to promote appropriate targeting of soil fertility technologies to different farmer resource groups. Emphasis was put on establishing the scope for improving nutrient resource allocation efficiency and crop yields in relation to different management practices as dictated by resource endowment. Both biomass and grain yield results indicated a general conformity to farmer resource group as follows: Resource-endowed farmers (RG1) > Intermediate farmers (RG2) > Resource-constrained farmers (RG3). Although overall biomass productivity for the grain legumes was generally low, <2.8 Mg ha−1 across all Learning Centres, soyabean grain yields increased by between 30% (RG1) and >500% (RG3) over the two seasons. However, there was a general preference for bambara nut by RG3 farmers who cited low cash demands in terms of seed and external inputs, and pest-resistance compared with other grain legumes. Increased maize grain yields following legumes, and which exceeded 7 Mg ha−1 for RG1 under green-manure, was apparently due to an increase in soil available N. The results showed scope for enhancing the contribution of legumes to both soil fertility and household nutrition within smallholder farming systems if targeted according to farmers? resource endowment. The challenge is availing the minimum level of external inputs to RG3 farmers to achieve significant yield benefits on poor soils. The paper presents three main scenarios constituting major challenges for integrating legumes into the current farming systems.
536			_aConservation Agriculture Program
546			_aText in English
594			_aINT2737
650		7	_aGrain legumes _2AGROVOC _916321
650		7	_aGreen manures _2AGROVOC _910413
650		7	_aSoil fertility _2AGROVOC _91952
650		7	_aSoil deficiencies _2AGROVOC _931387
650		7	_aSmallholders _2AGROVOC _91763
700	1		_aMapfumo, P. _93354
773	0		_tSymbiosis _gv. 48, no. 1-3, p. 25-36 _dNetherlands : Springer, 2009. _x0334-5114
856	4		_yAccess only for CIMMYT Staff _uhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12665/183
942			_cJA _2ddc _n0
999			_c27950 _d27950