Increasing Mucuna's potential as a food and feed crop: An effort to deliver BNF to farmers

No Abstract

Effect of phosphorus fertilizer on soyabean pod yield in the Guinea Savanna

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 35 2004: pp. 40-4

Enhancing the contribution of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation in cropping systems: experiences from West Africa

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Decision Support System for Site-Specific Fertilizer Recommendations in Cassava Production in Southern Togo

The Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model recommended as a decision support tool for deriving optimal site-specific fertilizer rates for cassava has limited ability to estimate water-limited yields. We assessed potential and water-limited yields based on the light interception and utilization (LINTUL) modelling approach in order to enhance the determination of fertilizer requirements for cassava production in Southern Togo. Data collected in 2 years field experiments in Sevekpota and Djakakope were used. Potential ranged from 12.2 to 17.6 Mg ha−1, and water-limited yields from 10.4 to 14.5 Mg ha−1. The simulated average fertilizer requirements were 121 kg N, 2 kg P and no K ha−1 for a target yield of 9.3 Mg ha−1 at Sevekpota, and 103 kg N, 6 kg P and 175 kg K ha−1 for a target yield of 9.7 Mg ha−1 at Djakakope. The variability of fertilizer requirements was attributed to differences in indigenous soil fertility and water-limited yields. The latter correlated well with rainfall variability over years and sites. Integrating LINTUL output with QUEFTS helped account for location-specific weather seasonal variability and enhanced assessment of fertilizer requirement for cassava production in Southern Togo

Effects of host plant genotype and seedbank density on Striga reproduction

Prevention of seed input to the seedbank of Striga hermonthica-infested fields is an important objective of Striga management. In three consecutive years of field experimentation in Mali, Striga reproduction was studied for 10 sorghum genotypes at infestation levels ranging from 30 000 to 200 000 seeds m−2. Host resistance was identified as an important determinant of Striga reproduction, with the most resistant genotypes (N13, IS9830 and SRN39) reducing Striga reproduction by 70–93% compared with the most susceptible genotype (CK60-B). Seedbank density had a significant effect on Striga seed production. Higher seedbank density resulted in more Striga plants, which led to increased intra-specific competition and consequently a reduced level of reproduction per plant. For the most susceptible sorghum genotypes, density dependence also occurred in the earlier belowground stages. Striga reproduction continued beyond harvest. At the high infestation level just 8% of the total reproduction was realised after harvest, whereas at the low infestation level 39% was attained after harvest. Even though host-plant genotype plays a significant role in Striga reproduction, calculations indicated that only at very low infestation levels the use of the most resistant genotype was able to lower the Striga seedbank