"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of agronomy".
An evaluation of the effect of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) on soil fertility of sandy soils in central Zimbabwe
Abstract:
Crop production in smallholder farming systems of Zimbabwe
is limited by low inherent soil fertility, particularly N and P and
available soil moisture. The use of efficient N fixing legumes is
one way that can sustain soil fertility and conserve soil and
moisture. Efforts to improve and manage soil fertility and soil
and water conservation problems are hampered by the fact
that the range of legume options available for use on depleted
sandy soils, common in Zimbabwe smallholder farms and many
other countries of Southern Africa, is narrow. In this study, the
effect of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) on the fertility of
sandy soils will be evaluated at three study sites and compared
with Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) and Cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata). The effects will be assessed by determining the
biomass production and fertility benefits of the three legumes
to a succeeding maize crop and when planted as intercrops.
Preliminary results have shown that sunnhemp has the greatest
biomass yield followed by cowpea and hairy vetch has the
lowest yield.
La production agricole dans les systèmes des petits exploitants
agricoles du Zimbabwe est limitée par la faible fertilité des sols
inhérente, en particulier à N et P et l’humidité disponible dans
le sol. L’utilisation de légumineuses efficaces fixatrices de N
est un moyen qui peut maintenir la fertilité des sols et conserver
les sols et l’humidité. Les efforts visant à améliorer et gérer la
fertilité du sol et les problèmes de conservation de l’eau et des
sols sont entravés par le fait que l’éventail des options des
légumineuses disponibles pour une utilisation dans les sols
sableux appauvris, communs dans les petites exploitations
agricoles du Zimbabwe et de nombreux autres pays d’Afrique
australe, est étroit. Dans cette étude, l’effet de la vesce velue
Language:
English
Date of publication:
2010
Country:
Region Focus:
Southern Africa
University/affiliation:
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Extent:
179-184
Notes:
