Intensification of maize-legume systems in Malawi

Regis Chikowo, Wezi Mhango, Edward Mzumara, Chiwimbo Gwenambira, Rowland Chirwa, Sieg Snapp

Michigan State University

Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Malawi, 14-16 July 2015

Malawi 15million peopleAgricultural based

economyArea: 118,000km2

Small land holdings

Insert map

E lev a tio n Z o n es &A g ricu ltu ra l D ev e lo p m en t D iv is io n s

K arongaADD

M zu zuADD

K asunguADD

L ilo ngw e ADD

M ach in gaADD

B lan ty reAD D

Sh ireVa lleyADD

M z u z u

L ilo n g w e

B la n ty re

Z o m b a

K a su n g u

K a ro n g a

M c h in ji

C h itip a

S a lim a

L o w e r S h ire Va lle y :< 2 0 0 m e le v a tio n

L ak e sh o re , M id d le &U p p e r S h ire : 2 0 0 - 7 6 0 m

H ig h lan d s:> 1 3 0 0 m

M id -e le v a tio n U p la n dP la te au : 7 6 0 - 1 3 0 0 m

T. B enson; 10 /9 8

M A L AW I

N sa n je

Sa lim aADD

M z im b a

M a n g o c h i

Insert map

E lev a tio n Z o n es &A g ricu ltu ra l D ev e lo p m en t D iv is io n s

K arongaADD

M zu zuADD

K asunguADD

L ilo ngw e ADD

M ach in gaADD

B lan ty reAD D

Sh ireVa lleyADD

M z u z u

L ilo n g w e

B la n ty re

Z o m b a

K a su n g u

K a ro n g a

M c h in ji

C h itip a

S a lim a

L o w e r S h ire Va lle y :< 2 0 0 m e le v a tio n

L ak e sh o re , M id d le &U p p e r S h ire : 2 0 0 - 7 6 0 m

H ig h lan d s:> 1 3 0 0 m

M id -e le v a tio n U p la n dP la te au : 7 6 0 - 1 3 0 0 m

T. B enson; 10 /9 8

M A L AW I

N sa n je

Sa lim aADD

M z im b a

M a n g o c h i

We are around here!

A geography lesson

Labour productivity and gender issues….who is likely to have made these ridges????

Labour productivity…soil fertility

Legumes to harness N2 to organic form

Between farm Contrasts

Potential pitfalls for intensification across nutrient gradients…

9

Basic crop production ecology …

10

Yield-determining factors

11

Yield-determining factors

Responding to different farm/socioeconomic circumstances …

Interrogating circumstances for Intensified mineral fertilizer useRotational systemsIntercropping systemsDoubled-up legume systems

When land is too constraining..

Increasing land productivity is a mustWe have to go an extra mile with our innovations

Beyond the ‘low hanging fruits’

The doubled-up legume technologyIntercropping two grain legumes

Legume –legume intercrops (double legume) based on different crop growth habits /architecture one of the crops starts growth slowlyBoth crops planted at their optimum spacing (as in

sole cropping – additive intercropping design) two grain crops harvested soil fertility benefits larger

The pigeonpea/groundnut doubled up system the best

Doubled-up legumes – intercropping 2 legumes that have little inter-specific competition for resources

When groundnut is almost mature, pigeonpea begins vigorous growth

Then flowers and pods form

Understorey groundnut has since been harvested….!!!

Unfertilized vs NP fertilizer

0

1000

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Golo

moti

B

Kand

euA

Kand

euB

Lint

hipe

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hipe

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Nsi

peA

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peB

Golo

moti

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Kand

euA

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euB

Lint

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Nsip

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eB

2012-13 2013-14

Yiel

d (k

g/ha

)

Season

Maize grain yield (site x season)

Control NP_Fert

Unfertilized vs NP fertilizer

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Nsip

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2012-13 2013-14

Yiel

d (k

g/ha

)

Season

Maize grain yield (site x season)

Control NP_Fert

Maize yields are reduced with legume intercropping compared to sole maize under well fertilised conditions

010002000300040005000600070008000

Golo

moti

B

Kand

euA

Kand

euB

Lint

hipe

A

Lint

hipe

B

Nsip

eA

Nsip

eB

Golo

moti

B

Kand

euA

Kand

euB

Lint

hipe

A

Lint

hipe

B

Nsip

eA

Mea

n

2012-13 2013-14

Yiel

d (k

g/ha

)

Season x Site

Effect of legume intercrop on maize yield

SoleMz

Mz/PP

Intraspecific competition – yield penalties in doubled up systems

0500

10001500200025003000

Golo

moti

B

Kand

euA

Kand

euB

Lint

hipe

A

Lint

hipe

B

Nsip

eA

Nsip

eB

Golo

moti

B

Lint

hipe

B

Nsip

eA

Golo

moti

B

Kand

euA

Kand

euB

Nsip

eA

Nsip

eB

Kand

euB

2012-13 2013-14 2012-13 2013-14

Groundnut Soybean

Grai

n yi

eld

(kg/

ha)

Sole Yield With Pp Intercrop

Sole and doubled-up legumes are highly beneficial to maize in sequence!

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Mz_Cntrl Mz_NP Inter_Mz Mz/PP Sole_Leg Dbl_Leg

Grai

n yi

eld

(kg/

ha)

Maize yields - 2014

Climbing beans: possibilities in Linthipe

Pigeonpea integration…

Sustainability indices (metrics)

Cropping System

Sole Pigeonpea Pigeonpea/Gnut Pigeonpea/Soya Pigeonpea/Maize

Total shoot biomass (M

g/ha)

0

5

10

15

20

c

b

ab

a

Aboveground biomass inputs

ComplexLaboriousExpensive

Time consumingDestructive sampling

Measuring the ‘hidden half’

Belowground biomass assessment

INTRO METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSIONPIGEONPEA PRODUCTIVITY

0 - 20 cm

20 - 40 cm

40 - 60 cm29

Belowground biomass: 0-20 cm layer

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation

africa-rising.net

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