111
nitrogen use efficiency by the subsequent maize. Additionally, increasing inorganic
N application increased maize grain yield, total dry matter yield and grain crude
protein content.
Therefore, for the smallholder farmers on the Alfisols of Lilongwe and Dowa
districts, Central Malawi, and in similar agro-ecological zones elsewhere, a rotation
of pigeon pea or cowpea in legume-legume, legume-cereal and sole cropping systems can substantially increase maize yields with the implication on lowering the
investment costs on inorganic fertilizers. Furthermore, an integrated approach can
improve both quantitative yields and quality of the maize grain.
Acknowledgements The study was fully funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
(AGRA). The authors also thank Yohane Ng’omacheza (a farmer from Dowa district) and the
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi, for providing
land for the field trials. Benard Msukwa, a technician at LUANAR, is also appreciated for the
assistance he provided during soil and plant chemical analysis in the laboratory.
References
Abbasi MK, Tahir MM, Sabir N, Khurshid M (2015) Impact of the addition of different plant
residues on nitrogen mineralization–immobilization turnover and carbon content of a soil incubated under laboratory conditions. Solid Earth 6:197–205
Abera G, Wolde-Meskel E, Bakken LR (2013) Effect of organic residue amendments and soil
moisture on N mineralization, maize (Zea mays L.) dry biomass and nutrient concentration.
Arch Agron Soil Sci 59(9):1263–1277
African Development Bank (2011) Interim country strategy paper for Malawi. African Development
Bank. Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (2014) Africa Agriculture Status Report: climate change
and smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Nairobi, Kenya
Anderson JM, Ingram JSI (1989) Tropical soil biology and fertility: a handbook of methods of
analysis. CAB International, Wallingford
Beauchamp EG (1987) Corn response to residual N from urea and manures applied in the previous
years. Can J Soil Sci 67:931–942
Blumenthal J, Battenspenrger D, Cassman KG, Mason KG, Pavlista A (2008) Importance of nitrogen on crop quality and health. In: Hatfield JL, Folett RF (eds) Nitrogen in the environment:
sources, problems and management, 2nd edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam. https://digitalcommons.
unl.edu/agronomyfacpub/200/
Brady NC, Weil RR (2008) The nature and properties of soils. Revised, 14th edn. Pearson Prentice
Hall, New Jersey
Chilimba ADC (2007) Methods of soils, plants, fertilizers and miscellaneous analyses: a working
manual for chitedze and bvumbwe research stations soils laboratories. Ministry of Agriculture.
Lilongwe, Malawi
Chilimba ADC, Young SD, Black CR, Rogerson KB, Ander EL, Watts MJ, Lammel J, Broadly MR
(2011) Maize grain and soil surveys reveal suboptimal dietary selenium intake is widespread in
Malawi. Sci Rep 1:72. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep00072
Dobermann AR (2005) Nitrogen use efficiency-the state of the art. Agronomy –Faculty
Publications Paper 316
Dorward A, Chirwa E (2011) The Malawi agriculture input subsidy programme: 2005/06 to
2008/09. Int J Agr Sustain 9(1):232–247
Integrated Soil Fertility Management Based on Pigeon Pea and Cowpea Cropping…
nitrogen use efficiency by the subsequent maize. Additionally, increasing inorganic
N application increased maize grain yield, total dry matter yield and grain crude
protein content.
Therefore, for the smallholder farmers on the Alfisols of Lilongwe and Dowa
districts, Central Malawi, and in similar agro-ecological zones elsewhere, a rotation
of pigeon pea or cowpea in legume-legume, legume-cereal and sole cropping systems can substantially increase maize yields with the implication on lowering the
investment costs on inorganic fertilizers. Furthermore, an integrated approach can
improve both quantitative yields and quality of the maize grain.
Acknowledgements The study was fully funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
(AGRA). The authors also thank Yohane Ng’omacheza (a farmer from Dowa district) and the
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi, for providing
land for the field trials. Benard Msukwa, a technician at LUANAR, is also appreciated for the
assistance he provided during soil and plant chemical analysis in the laboratory.
References
Abbasi MK, Tahir MM, Sabir N, Khurshid M (2015) Impact of the addition of different plant
residues on nitrogen mineralization–immobilization turnover and carbon content of a soil incubated under laboratory conditions. Solid Earth 6:197–205
Abera G, Wolde-Meskel E, Bakken LR (2013) Effect of organic residue amendments and soil
moisture on N mineralization, maize (Zea mays L.) dry biomass and nutrient concentration.
Arch Agron Soil Sci 59(9):1263–1277
African Development Bank (2011) Interim country strategy paper for Malawi. African Development
Bank. Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (2014) Africa Agriculture Status Report: climate change
and smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Nairobi, Kenya
Anderson JM, Ingram JSI (1989) Tropical soil biology and fertility: a handbook of methods of
analysis. CAB International, Wallingford
Beauchamp EG (1987) Corn response to residual N from urea and manures applied in the previous
years. Can J Soil Sci 67:931–942
Blumenthal J, Battenspenrger D, Cassman KG, Mason KG, Pavlista A (2008) Importance of nitrogen on crop quality and health. In: Hatfield JL, Folett RF (eds) Nitrogen in the environment:
sources, problems and management, 2nd edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam. https://digitalcommons.
unl.edu/agronomyfacpub/200/
Brady NC, Weil RR (2008) The nature and properties of soils. Revised, 14th edn. Pearson Prentice
Hall, New Jersey
Chilimba ADC (2007) Methods of soils, plants, fertilizers and miscellaneous analyses: a working
manual for chitedze and bvumbwe research stations soils laboratories. Ministry of Agriculture.
Lilongwe, Malawi
Chilimba ADC, Young SD, Black CR, Rogerson KB, Ander EL, Watts MJ, Lammel J, Broadly MR
(2011) Maize grain and soil surveys reveal suboptimal dietary selenium intake is widespread in
Malawi. Sci Rep 1:72. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep00072
Dobermann AR (2005) Nitrogen use efficiency-the state of the art. Agronomy –Faculty
Publications Paper 316
Dorward A, Chirwa E (2011) The Malawi agriculture input subsidy programme: 2005/06 to
2008/09. Int J Agr Sustain 9(1):232–247
Integrated Soil Fertility Management Based on Pigeon Pea and Cowpea Cropping…