Abstract
In Zambia, small holder farmers depend on producing maize (Zea mays), which is a major staple food for many Zambians. Maize productivity among the smallholder farmers is quite low, giving only 2.3 tons per hectare. The low yields are attributed to insufficient and erratic rain fall, low soil fertility, and poor farming practices. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of maize genotypes for nitrogen use efficiency and soil moisture utilisation under conservation farming system. The trials were carried out at two sites with different soil types. Three maize varieties i.e. ZMS 606, GV 640 and GV 635 were evaluated in maize – cowpea rotation. Four cowpea varieties used for rotation with maize, i.e. Bubebe Lutembwe, BB 14-16-2-2 and LT 11-3-3-12. BB 14-16-2-2 and LT 11-3-3-12 are mutation-derived lines of Bubebe and Lutembwe cowpea parent varieties respectively. The experimental design used was split plot with three replications. The NUE was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in CF and accounted for 27 % and 15% more than conventional farming system which valued 17% and 3% at Chisamba and Batoka, respectively. while soil moisture content was higher at Batoka than Chisamba in CF system. ZMS 606 and GV 640 varieties were superior over GV 635 for NUE. Cowpea variety BB 14-16-2-2 significantly increased NUE of maize varieties. Therefore, smallholder farmers in Zambia can increase maize productivity in maize - cowpea rotation system due to the increased NUE. Recommendations are made for farmers to select improved nitrogen efficient maize varieties to optimize productivity of maize in conservation farming system.
Highlights
About 80% of the one million five hundred smallholder farmers in Zambia depend on producing maize (Zea mays) which is a major staple food for well over 90% of the Zambians
The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of maize genotypes for nitrogen use efficiency and soil moisture utilisation under conservation farming system
The Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in Conservation farming system (CF) and accounted for 27 % and 15% more than conventional farming system which valued 17% and 3% at Chisamba and Batoka, respectively. while soil moisture content was higher at Batoka than Chisamba in CF system
Summary
About 80% of the one million five hundred smallholder farmers in Zambia depend on producing maize (Zea mays) which is a major staple food for well over 90% of the Zambians. Productivity of the maize crop among the smallholder farmers over the years has become quite low giving a national average yield of 2.3 tons per hectare (Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute [IAPRI], 2015). The major causes of low yields countrywide are attributed to prolonged droughts, erratic rain fall pattern, low soil fertility, insufficient plant nutrients and poor farming practices (Cakir, 2004). The soil fertility status in several parts of Zambia is generally low and low soil fertility status in most cases could be caused by poor farming practices such as conventional farming or inherently unproductive soils at Smallholder farms. Cowpea plays a multipurpose role of potential to be used for human food; livestock feed and weed control (Rao & Mathuva, 2000)
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