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Studies on Maize (Zea mays) at Bunda, Malawi. II. Yield in Short Rotations with Legumes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

D. MacColl
D. MacColl
Affiliation:
University of Malawi, Bunda College, PO Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi
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Summary

Maize was grown for six years on two soil series in annual rotation with groundnuts, soyabean, lab-lab and sunflowers, and for up to four years after two year crops of pigeonpea. Nitrogen left by the annual legumes was estimated to vary from 0.0 to 52.2 kg ha−1 depending on year, soil and species. Summed over three successive maize crops, nitrogen left by two year crops of pigeonpea varied from 23.5 to 109.6 kg ha−1. Vigorous vegetative growth and low seed yield in the legume were associated with increased residual nitrogen. Groundnuts left more nitrogen on the more fertile soil. High rainfall at the beginning of the maize cropping season was associated on one soil series with the complete disappearance of residual nitrogen from the immediately preceding legume crop.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , July 1989 , pp. 367 - 374
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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References

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