Nitrogen effects on maize yield following groundnut in rotation on smallholder farms in sub-humid Zimbabwe
Rotating maize (Zea mays L.) with groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) has been proposed as a way to maintain soil fertility and prevent maize productivity declines in the smallholder cropping systems of sub-humid Zimbabwe. Field experiments with fertilizer-N on maize in rotation with groundnut were conducted at three locations with sandy typic Kandiustalf soils. The specific objectives were to (i) evaluate the response to fertilizer-N of maize in rotation with groundnut compared with continuous maize and, (ii) determine the fertilizer-N replacement value of groundnut. Maize grain yields were increased up to 0.7 tha-1 following groundnut compared with continuous maize when no fertilizer was applied to both cropping systems. Maize yield response to fertilizer-N was higher after groundnut than continuous maize. The small groundnut yields were associated with little yield improvement for a subsequent maize crop. Fertilizer needs on maize were reduced by 0 - 64 kgNha-1 when maize followed groundnut.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Academic Journals
2007
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| Subjects: | AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, MAIZE, GROUNDNUTS, SMALLHOLDERS, CROPPING SYSTEMS, FERTILIZERS, NITROGEN, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10883/1463 |
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