000			02857nab a22003377a 4500
001			G98966
003			MX-TxCIM
005			20220920151102.0
008			121211b |||p||p||||||| |z||| |
022			_a1469-4441 (Revista en electrónico)
022	0		_a0014-4797
024	8		_ahttps://doi.org/10.1017/S001447971400009X
040			_aMX-TxCIM
041	0		_aEn
090			_aCIS-7611
100	1		_aNgwira, A.R.
245	0	0	_aOn-farm evaluation of the effects of the principles and components of conservation agriculture on maize yield and weed biomass in Malawi
260			_c2014
500			_aPeer-review: Yes - Open Access: Yes|http://ip-science.thomsonreuters.com/cgi-bin/jrnlst/jlresults.cgi?PC=MASTER&ISSN=0014-4797
520			_aAn on-farm study was conducted from 2009 to 2012 with communities in the Manjawira, Mpingu and Zidyana Extension Planning Areas in the Ntcheu, Lilongwe and Nkhotakota districts of central Malawi. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the principles (no-tillage and mulching) and components (fertilization and weeding) of conservation agriculture (CA) on crop productivity and weeds, and the interactions between principles and components, and to suggest strategies for introducing CA to smallholder farmers. The treatments consisted of tillage, fertilizer application, residues management and weed control strategies. While combined analysis showed that mulching is as effective as tillage in controlling weeds, the interaction between site and treatment revealed that in the more humid environment of Zidyana, weed dry matter obtained under no-tillage and residues plus fertilizer (NT+F+R) was 0.6 mg ha−1 lower than under CP+F. Results suggest that about 6.0 mg ha−1 of mulch is required to have a similar effect as tillage in controlling weeds. Fertilizer had an overriding effect on maize yield, regardless of tillage and crop residue management. Mulching was beneficial over tillage in the drier environment of Manjawira, where maize yield obtained under NT+F+R was 1.2 mg ha−1 greater than under CP+F. Our results show that the introduction of no tillage has benefits only if it is accompanied by fertilizer application, retention of crop residues as surface mulch, and improved weed control. Increasing availability and accessibility of inputs (fertilizers and herbicides) to farmers is critical for adoption of CA at scale in Malawi.
536			_aConservation Agriculture Program
546			_aEnglish
591			_aCambridge University Press|CIMMYT Informa No. 1892
593			_aLucia Segura
594			_aINT2939
595			_aCSC
700	1		_aAune, J.B., _ecoaut.
700	1		_aThierfelder, C. _gSustainable Intensification Program _gSustainable Agrifood Systems _8INT2939 _9877
773	0		_tExperimental Agriculture _gv. 50, no. 4, p. 591-610
942			_cJA
999			_c30552 _d30552