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BOT/91/001Field Document 8

Land Use Planning for Sustainable Agricultural Development

BOTSWANA

ON-FARM CROP TRIALS CROPPING SEASON 1994/1995

RESULTS AND EVALUATION

Food & Agriculture Republic of United NationsOrganization of the Botswana DevelopmentUnited Nations Programme

SEPTEMBER 1995

Land Use Planning for Sustainable Agricultural Development

BOTSWANA

ON-FARM CROP TRIALS CROPPING SEASON 1994/1995

RESULTS AND EVALUATION

by

R.P. Bekker

Agricultural Land Use Planner,Maun Region

with contributions from(in alphabetical order)

M. BitsangD.K. DiraP.H. GilikaM. KgaswanyaneS.P. KristensenJ. van der PolZ.D. PhillimeJ. VenemaP.S. Wijesuriya

Food & Agriculture Republic of United NationsOrganization of the Botswana DevelopmentUnited Nations Programme

SEPTEMBER 1995

BOT/91/001Field Document 8

This field document is one of a series of reports prepared during the course of theproject identified on the title page. The conclusions and recommendations in thereport are those considered appropriate at the time of its preparation. They may bemodified in the light of further knowledge gained at subsequent stages of theproject.

The definitions employed and the presentation of the material and maps in thisdocument does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part ofthe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legalor constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area or concerning thedelimitation of frontiers.

Bekker, R.P., 1995. On-farm crop trials cropping season 1994-1995. Results andevaluation. FAO/UNDP/Government of Botswana Project B0T1911001 Land Use Planningfor Sustainable Agricultural Development. Field Document 8, 88 pp.

SUMMARY

A series of 43 on-farm crop trials was programmed in the Agricultural Regions of Central, North East, NorthWest and Southern during the cropping season 1994/1995. The main objectives of the trials were todemonstrate the scope for improvements in rainfed arable crop production to farmers through theirparticipation, to collect information on management operations and to compare trial yields with CYSLAMBpredictions.

A standard management system with local variations was adopted. Sorghum Segaolane was grown as crop,ploughing/planting was scheduled for the first occasion that a minimum of 20 mm of effective rainfall wasrecorded, from the third dekad of November onwards. Seeds were row planted at calculated target plantdensities; farmers were encouraged to carry out timely weeding and bird scaring operations. The effect of theapplication of fertilizer on grain yields and gross margins was studied.

Sod and climatic characteristics of the trial sites are described, as well as observations on managementoperations and crop development stages.

One third of the trials succeeded, while two third failed, due to unfavorable climatic conditions, unsatisfactorycrop management or insufficient supervision. From the successful dryland plots the actual yield of the tencontrol plots varied from 1 70-1290 kg/ha, while the CYSLAMB predictions ranged from 430-1070 kg/ha. Forthe twelve successful fertilized plots the achieved yields varied from 300-1010 kg/ha, against 670-1600 kg/hafor the CYSLAMB simulations, respectively.

The average grain weight per harvested head was for the control plots 26.4 g, ranging from 6.9-60 g and forthe fertilized plants 29.4 g, varying from 8.3-78 g.

If assumed, that a difference between actual and predicted yield of at least 20 % is significant, in 35 % ofthe cases no difference was observed, while in the remaining 65 % a large discrepancy occurred. Severalreasons for the discrepancy between trial yields and CYSLAMB predictions are discussed.

From the nine trials with successful control and fertilized plots, in one case the control plot yielded 41 %higher, in two cases the yield was virtually equal (2 % and 4 % discrepancy) and in 6 instances the fertilizedplot yielded on average 97 % (43 - 181) higher than the control plot.

To assess the financial viability of the executed production systems, a gross margin analysis was carried out.If the cost of on-farm labour is ignored, the ten successful control plots achieved a positive gross marginranging from Pula 58-474/ha without and from Pula 228-644/ha with government drought relief subsidy. Ifno residual effect from the fertilizer is assumed, and the costs are written off in one year, eleven trialsachieved a positive gross margin varying from Pula 9-265/ha without, and from Pula 179-435/ha with droughtrelief subsidies. Only one out of the twelve fertilized trials obtained a slightly negative gross margin. If thefertilizer costs would be divided over three years, all twelve gross margins would be positive, and range fromPula 75-341/ha without to Pula 245-511/ha with drought relief subsidies.

When comparing the dryland plots where both control and fertilized plots were harvested, the use of fertilizerdid only pay off in 22 % of the cases, if no residual effect of the fertilizer was taken into account in the grossmargin analysis. When the fertilizer costs were divided over three years (the residual effect of singlesuperphosphate fertilizer), the use of fertilizer was financially attractive in 56 % of the trials.

Finally, an evaluation of the trials is done, both from the farmers' and from the supervision's point of view,in order to identify fields for improvement, which might increase the success rate of future trials. Suggestionsare formulated for recommendations concerning importance of timeliness and accurateness of operations, areaploughed and planted per planting opportunity, target plant densities, and the use of fertilizer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1 .1 Objectives 1

1.2 Organization of the trial programme 1

1.2.1 Logistics and costs 1

1.2.2 Preparation and monitoring 2

1.2.3 Dissemination of extension messages 2

1.3 Selection and location of trial-farms 21.4 Production systems and management systems 4

2 OBSERVATIONS 5

2.1 Soil observations 5

2.2 Climatic observations 62.3 Management observations 122.4 Agronomic observations 17

RESULTS 213.1 Trial yields 213.2 CYSLAMB yields 233.3 Comparisons 24

3.3.1 Trial versus CYSLAMB yields 243.3.2 Trial versus farmers' yields 26

3.4 Gross margin analysis 27

4 EVALUATION OF TRIALS 294.1 Lessons learned from farmers' point of view 294.2 Lessons learned from supervision's point of view 30

5 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS 32

APPENDIX I PREPARATION PROTOCOL 35

APPENDIX II MONITORING PROTOCOL 37

APPENDIX III CHECKLIST 38

APPENDIX IV TRIAL PROGRESS 47

APPENDIX V EXAMPLE OF A BAR-CHART 85

APPENDIX VI PHOTOGRAPHS 86

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Location data of trial sites 2Table 2a-e. Synoptic data 7

Table 3. Mean percentage of average rainfall in trial regions ......... . . . 8Table 4. Number of dry spells 10Table 5. Classification of first dry spells 11

Table 6. Labour time used per management operation 13Table 7. Yield figures and discrepancies control - fertilized plots ...... . 21

Table 8. Seed weight of sorghum heads 22Table 9. CYSLAMB yields and discrepancy with actual trial yields 24Table 10. Trial and farmer yields (kg/ha) and discrepancy in Southern Region 26Table 11. Costs, prices and subsidies used in the gross margin analysis 27Table 12. Gross margins in pula/ha 28

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Location map of trial sites 4Figure 2a. Recorded and average rainfall for North West and North East 9Figure 2b. Recorded and average rainfall for Central and Southern 9

Figure 3. Relationship between grain weight/head and plant density 23Figure 4a. Trial and CYSLAMB yield for control plots 25Figure 4b. Trial and CYSLAMB yield for fertilized plots 26

iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author wishes to express his gratitude to Messrs I. Mandevu, Senior Land UseOfficer/National Project Coordinator, and F.R. Berding, Chief Technical Advisor of LUPSADProject BOT/91 /001 for their technical support and keen interest in the trial programme.Mr E. Modiakgotla, Leader Production Systems Programme DAR Mahalapye/RegionalAgricultural Research Officer Maun is thanked for his technical advice. The assistance fromthe Ministry, provided by Mr M.N. Gabaitse, Land Resources Data Management Specialist,was highly appreciated by all ALUP teams.

Much is indebted to the ALUP teams in Francistown, Kanye, Kasane, Maun and Seroweand Mr D.K. Dira of Farming System Research Mahalapye; without their dedication andobservations this document vvould not have materialized. Indispensable vvas the assistanceto the ALUP teams of Mr A. Mathlare (Francistown), Messrs J. Kachana and J. Magibizela(Kanye), Messrs A. Gwabe and O. Kanyenvu (Maun), Messrs D. Bane, S. Kgame, and R.Kemotso (FAs FSR, Serowe), who were involved in the day-to-day monitoring of the trialsites.

On behalf of the ALUP teams all RA0s, DA0s/DASs and ADs involved, are sincerelythanked for their cooperation and interest shown in the trials and for the provision offertilizer.

Furthermore the author is grateful to the Seed Multiplication Unit of the Ministry f or thesupply of seed pockets and to the Soil Laboratory of the Department of AgriculturalResearch for kindly analyzing topsoil samples.

1 INTRODUCTION

Traditional rainfed arable crop production is a widespread economic activity in Botswana,in which approximately 75% of the population is involved on a yearly basis.

The prevailing semi-arid conditions in Botswana make arable farming an enterprise withvariable success, resulting in average grain yields of 2-4 bags/ha (150-300 kg/ha); barelyenough to sustain an average household's needs.

The National Land Suitability Map for Rainfed Crop Production shows a fairly high potentialfor the crops maize, sorghum, millet, cowpeas and groundnuts in most of the north andeast of Botswana. The yields reflected on the map have been generated with help of theCrop Yield Simulation and Lanc/ Assessment Model for Botswana (CYSLAMB). Thiscomputer model evaluates the crop performance under different management systems onselected land units typified by soil and climatic characteristics.

Simulations based on improved management operations result in considerable yieldincreases as compared to traditional management scenarios. To demonstrate innovationsto farmers and to show the strength of the model for the generation of extensionrecommendations, a set of on-farm crop trials following the CYSLAMB proposals, wascarried out during the cropping season 1994/1995.

1.1 Objectives

The trials had as main objective to show farmers the scope for improvement of rainfedarable crop production by following improved management techniques and timelyoperations, mainly based on CYSLAMB simulations. The trials were production oriented,rather than focussing on different crops and varieties or on alternative farming practices.

The second aim of the on-farm experiments was to gain more insight in rainfed arable cropproduction systems in general and in its individual management operations in particular.Through close observations of time and labour requirements and costs involved in eachmanagement operation, an impression could be obtained of the major constraints andopportunities in five agricultural regions in Botswana.

Additionally, the yield data resulting from the trials could be compared to the CYSLAMBpredicted yields and possible discrepancies could be explained.

1.2 Organization of the trial programme

1.2.1 Logistics and costs

The preparation of the trial programme was coordinated from the Land Use PlanningSection at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Man power was financed through therecurrent budget. One technical assistant and a driver were seconded from MoA to theKanye and Maun offices for the duration of the cropping season.

RAOs and Farming Systems Research (FSR) financed fertilizer, while seeds were suppliedby the Seed Multiplication Unit.

Topsoil samples taken before and after the trials were analyzed by the Soil Laboratory ofthe Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) on their phosphorus content. The pre-trialsamples results formed the basis for the calculation of the height of the fertilizerapplications. The post-trial results were supposed to give an idea of the phosphorus levelsachieved by fertilizing and the amount of fertilizer uptake by the plants.

Although budgeted for by the Senior Land Use Officer of MoA, no use was made of casuallabour to assist farmers in performing operations as weeding and birdscaring. It was feltto be more valuable, to observe on-farm management decisions and labour use.

1.2.2 Preparation and monitoring

A Preparation Protocol was drafted and used as a checklist for the pre-planting activities(see Appendix I). To facilitate standardized monitoring and execution of the trials aMonitoring Protocol was compiled (see Appendix II). In addition a Checklist was used torecord climatic, management and agronomic observations (see Appendix III).

Information was collected on the following topics:

soil characteristics and rainfall datause of labour, draught power and inputsplant densities and crop growth stagesweed cover and signs of pests, diseases and deficienciesyield figures

1.2.3 Dissemination of extension messages

For each trial site two farm-walks were scheduled during the course of the growingseason, in order to acquaint as many neighbouring farmers as possible with therecommended practices and results: one 4-5 weeks (early vegetative stage) and one 14-1 5weeks (yield formation stage) after planting.

1.3 Selection and location of trial-farms

Participating farmers were generally chosen in consultation with the AgriculturalDemonstrators (AD) of the concerned Agricultural Extension Area (AEA). In the SouthernRegion (Kanye) a pre-selection of 20 farmers was made by the District Crop ProductionOfficers (CPO); the final selection was done by the ALUP team in cooperation with theADs. In Mahalapye the choice was made by Farming Systems Research (FSR).

The trial farmers were selected on basis of their labour and draught power potential,availability and state of implements, motivation and preparedness to act swiftly at the firstplanting opportunity.

Table 1 gives an overview of the location data, while Figure 1 shows the approximateposition of the trial sites. More detailed regional location maps are inserted in Appendix IV.

Table 1. Location data of trial sites

2

inolapa f arming

CODE REGION DISTRICT AEA VILLAGE

Cl North West/Kasane Chobe Kachikau Kachikau

C2 North West/Kasane Chobe Kachikau Kachikau

C3 North West/Kasane Chobe Mabele/Kavimba Kavimba


CS North West/Kasane Chobe Mabele/Kavimba Kavimba


C7 North West/Kasane Chobe Mabele/Kavimba Mabele


C9 North West/Kasane Chobe Mabele/Kavimba Mabele *


El North East/Francistown Masunga Makaleng Sechele

F2 North East/Francistown Masunga Siviya Siviya

F3 North East/Francistown Tonota Tonota East Tapaladipoo

F4 North East/Francistown Tutume Maitengwe Maitengwe

F5 North East/Francistown Tutume Mathangwane Mathangwane

F6 North East/Francistown Tutume Matobo Matobo

F7 North East/Francistown Tutuma Nata Nata

K1 Southern/Kanye Ngwaketse Central Lotlhakane East Gamoswana

K2 Southern/Kanye Ngwaketse Central Twsidi Ramonedi

K3 Southern/Kanye Ngwaketse North Lorthakane Lotlhakane West

K4 Southern/Kanye Ngwaketse North Manyana Manyana

K5 Southern/Kanye Ngwaketse North Moshupa South Polokwe

K6 Southern/Kanye Ngwaketse South Kanngwe Kanngwe

K7 Southern/Kanye Ng waketse South Mmathethe North Mmathethe

K8 Southern/Kanye Ngwaketse West Gasita Gasita

K9 Southern/Kanye Ngwaketse West Sese Sese

K1 0 Southern/Kanye Barolong Goodhope Mongwalale

K11 Southern/Kanye Barolong Pitsane Pitsane

M1 North West/Maun Ngamiland East Chanuga Chanuga

M2 North West/Maun Ngamiland East Chanuga Xhana

M3 North West/Maun Ngamiland East Komana Komana

M4 North West/Maun Ngamiland East Komana Nxaraga

MS North West/Maun Ngamiland East Matlapaneng Matlapaneng

M6 North West/Maun Ngamiland East Matlapaneng Matlapaneng

M7 North West/Maun Ngamiland East Shashe/Maun Thamalakarte West

M8 North West/Maun Ngamiland East Shashe/Maun Tsanakuna

M9 North West/Maun Ngamiland East Tatamoga/Makalamabedi Segoro

M 1 0 North West/Maun Nyamiland East Tatamoga/Makalamabedi Xwee

Si Central/Serowe Machaneng

i

Makwate Makwate

52 Central/Serowe Machaneng Makwate Makwate

53 Central/Serowe Mahalapye Soshong East Dihate

S4 Central/Serowe Mahalagye Soshong East Dihate

SS Central/Serowe Palapye Makoro Makoro

Figure 1. Location map of trial sites

1.4 Production systems and management systems

The on-farm crop trial programme was mainly focussing on rainfed arable crop productionsystems with sorghum var. Segaolane as crop. However, in Chobe District some trialswere set up with maize var. Kalahari Early Pearl as crop, based on the traditionalpreference of the participating farmers. Also in Chobe the opportunity was taken toconduct two trials under flood recession or molapo farming conditions with maize var.Kalahari Early Pearl as crop.

A standard management system was proposed, which at times was adapted to localcircumstances. The experiments were conducted on a field of 0.5 hectare. One half of thefield was cultivated under natural conditions (the control plot), whilst the other half wastreated with single superphosphate fertilizer, to raise available P levels to 10 ppm (thefertilized plot). In Chobe, a third plot was fertilized with 3:2:1 compound NPK fertilizer insix cases.

In principle, ploughing was done with animal draught power provided by the host farmer.The planting opportunity was identified by the ALUP and was defined by a minimum of20mm of effective rainfall in one dekad, from the dekad NOV3 onwards. Seeds, suppliedby the Seed Multiplication Unit, were planted using a row planter. The targeted plantdensity was determined by CYSLAMB, at 50,000 plants/ha in all regions except for Maun,where 15,000 plants/ha was aimed for. A thinning operation (if necessary) was carried outconcurrently with the first weeding operation. The first weeding operation was scheduledfor approximately 20 days after planting, either by hand hoe or with a cultivator; a secondoperation was carried out if considered necessary. Farmers were encouraged to minimizecrop damage by properly fencing their fields and carrying out bird scaring operations.

4

2 OBSERVATIONS

All discussions in this chapter are based on remarks and observations from the ALUPteams in Francistown, Kanye, Kasane, Maun and Serowe. The author visited the majorityof the trial sites in May 1995, in order to compare the crop performance in the differentregions. A second visit was made in August 1995 to collect final results and comments.

2.1 Soil observations

Reliability of soil analyses

Before planting, samples were taken from the topsoil of all 43 trial sites, to analyze thephosphorus content. The initial phosphorus level was used by CYSLAMB to simulate theyield of the control plots and to calculate the amount of fertilizer to use in order to reacha financial optimum level of 10 ppm on the fertilized plots. After the harvest, samples weretaken again from the topsoil of the Kanye and the Maun trial sites, in order to study theeffectiveness of the fertilizer uptake by the crop and the residual effect of fertilizer afterone cropping season.

The outcome of the soil analyses is of crucial importance for above exercises. The pre-season sample analyses showed irregular results for some of the Kanye and Kasane trials.Repeats carried out on the Kanye samples gave more realistic values. Unfortunately thepost-season samples from Kanye and Maun demonstrate such large discrepancies with thepre-season samples, that the results could not be used for further interpretation.

Erosion

Severe wind erosion and deposition affected germination, establishment and developmentof plants on several trial sites located on sandy soils in the Kanye and Maun Regions. Atthe control plot of the Gasita trial site (K8), wind erosion uprooted seedlings and re-deposited sand buried others. In addition to moisture stress, a very low plant densityresulted and the surviving plants were stunted and did not form heads. A similar situationoccurred at the Xhana (M2) site. The fertilized plot was so affected by wind erosion, thata very low plant density was obtained; the remaining plants, however, established verywell and the yield was high. The control plot on the other hand was completely coveredby a thin layer of fine sand, preventing plants to establish. Both plots of the Matlapanengtrial site M6, planted after the first identified opportunity, were affected by wind erosionand deposition to the extent, that no germination took place.

At some trial sites in the Kanye and Serowe Regions with slopes greater than 2 %, signsof sheet and rill erosion were observed, due to run-off of adjacent hill sides after relativelylarge rainfall amounts. Damage to crops, however, was limited, probably due to the lowintensity of the processes and the occurrence after plant establishment.

Workability

In the Chobe Enclave, in the Kasane Region, soils with high clay contents (up to 50 %)occur frequently. The workability of these soils formed a serious constraint for traditionalploughing/planting operations with draught animals. Many farmers relied on tractor hire forthe ploughing of their fields used for rainfed crop production (see section 2.3 Ploughing).

5

Soil burning

In the Chobe Enclave, soil burning or "Fumbawe" is frequently observed. This phenomenonmainly occurs on molapo fields, after burning of the fields to remove reeds. Due to the highorganic matter content of the topsoil, underground burning proceeds at a depth of 0-50cm. The burning is usually stopped by high floods. Signs of burning are visible on thesurface or in pits; the soil has a whitish colour and a high content of ash. The effect isdetrimental on the nutrient status of the soil. On burned soil, no effect of phosphorusfertilizer was observed, suggesting nitrogen to be the limiting factor. This hypothesis isconfirmed by the gaps in the crop stand on the burned patches of the plot fertilized withsingle superphosphate, while plants performed better (more homogeneous stand) on theburned patches in the plot fertilized with 3:2:1 compound NPK fertilizer.

Groundwater level

A rapid dropping of the groundwater level at Mabele (Kasane Region), was the cause ofthe failure of one of the molapo trial sites (C10).

Termite activity

At several trial sites in the Kanye Region past and present termite activity may haveattributed to bare patches, uneven crop stands and low yields.

2.2 Climatic observations

The term dekad is introduced to indicate a 10-day period; a dekad is identified by the firstthree letters of the month and its order in time, e.g. DEC1, meaning the period between1-10 of December. The dekad is used for rainfall totals and to indicate when certain cropmanagement operations take place.

Synoptic data

Tables 2a-e show monthly average, extreme maximum and minimum temperatures, relativehumidity, sunshine, wind speed, rainfall, evapotranspiration and frost days, based onmultiple year ranges stored in the METED database for the synoptic stations ofFrancistown, Kanye, Kasane, Mahalapye and Maun.

Rainfall data

The 1994/95 rainfall season was characterized by a late start in the Southern and NorthEast Regions (first planting rains in DEC31, a slightly earlier start in Central Region andNorth West Region/Chobe (DEC1 ) and a statistically expected onset in NOV3 in the NorthWest Region around Maun. The total amount of rain received on the trial sites (from OCT1-MAY1) was in all five regions less than the long-term averages as compared to the nearestrainfall station and had an erratic distribution with one or more dry spells. Table 3 showsthe mean percentage of average rainfall per region. The area around Maun received verylittle rainfall (42 %), North East and Southern Region were slightly better off (58-59 °/0),and in Central Region and North West/Chobe a close to average rainfall season wasrecorded (84-90 %). The figures 2a and 2b show the rainfall totals of the 1994/95 seasonfor 13 well recorded trial sites, located in the 5 trial regions.

6

Table 2a-e. Synoptic data

2a. Francistown

2b. Kanye

2c. Kasane

7

STATION LONGITUDE

61 KANYE 2522 Esynoptic data interpolated based on station numbers :000month temperature ); relative

mean extreme humidity

LATITUDE

2458 S

cloud coverin octans

ELEVATION

1372

sunshinehrs/day

windkm/h

rainmm

PETmm

frostdaysper month

max min max min 08.00 14.00 20.00 08.00 14.00 20.00 air grnd

September 27.8 10.3 36.6 -2.9 51 24 33 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.6 7.8 15 148 0.3 0.2October 29.9 14.4 39.0 2.1 53 29 40 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.3 9.1 43 178 0.0 0.0November 30.4 16.2 39.1 6.2 59 34 50 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.8 8.2 67 187 0.0 0.0December 31.2 17.3 41.5 6.4 64 39 53 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.6 7.2 82 196 0.0 0.0January 31.4 18.1 41.3 8.6 67 41 56 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.5 6.9 99 187 0.0 0.0February 30.2 17.6 38.8 8.3 72 44 60 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.5 5.9 87 161 0.0 0.0March 29.3 16.1 38.3 6.3 74 45 65 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.1 5.0 72 147 0.0 0.0April 26.4 11.6 34.2 -2.3 77 41 65 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.3 4.8 40 115 0.1 0.0May 23.6 6.4 32.4 -3.8 75 34 59 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.1 5.1 12 88 0.8 0.5June 21.1 2.8 29.1 -6.6 74 30 53 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.5 4.8 6 72 5.6 11.4July 21.2 2.6 28.4 -7.8 69 28 47 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.7 5.0 3 81 5.4 10.3August 24.3 5.4 32.4 -5.9 58 24 37 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.9

yeartotal6.4

rain :

3530

110 1.9 3.7

STATION

33 FRANGISTOWN

month temperaturemean extreme

max min max mm

September 29.8 12.3 37.0 1.5October 31.5 16.2 40.2 4.0November 31.0 16.9 41.1 4.1December 30.3 18.5 39.5 8.8January 30.7 19.0 40.6 10.6February 29.5 18.2 38.4 10.5March 29.3 16.9 38.8 4.0April 27.7 13.7 35.6 4.0May 25.6 8.5 34.0 -1.0June 23.0 5.3 31.1 -4.5July 23.1 4.8 30.6 -5.0August 25.1 7.7 35.5 -4.2

LONGITUDE

2729 E

Z relativehumidity

08.00 14.00 20.00

51 2756 3259 4168 4469 4874 5072 4674 4172 3267 3470 2960 26

LATITUDE

2109 S


08.00 14.00

0.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.0

ELEVATION

968

sunshinehrs/day

20.00

0.0 9.60.0 9.00.0 8.10.0 7.40.0 8.00.0 8.20.0 8.20.0 8.50.0 9.40.0 8.90.0 9.60.0 9.9

yeartotal

windkm/h

8.29.28.07.36.96.86.85.85.05.05.56.5

rain :

rainmm

6276090

1008359256301

460

PETmm

1621881821811801611551281078998

127

frostdaysper monthair grnd

0.0 0.60.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.10.0 3.03.7 12.03.3 12.00.8 4.2

,iAfION

64 KASANE


max min max min

September 31.5 12.7 37.8 3.5October 32.9 16.8 38.4 7.7November 31.9 18.0 38.7 10.4December 30.0 18.1 38.1 11.8January 29.5 18.3 38.0 10.0February 29.2 18.0 36.7 10.9March 29.3 17.1 36.9 10.3April 28.6 14.0 34.3 6.2May 26.9 9.4 32.3 -0.3June 24.4 5.6 30.4 -3.9July 24.5 5.4 30.7 -2.7August 27.5 8.0 34.2 -3.4

LONGITUDE

2509 E

); relativehumidity

08.00 14.00 20.00

44 2146 2659 3674 4980 5582 5479 5174 4269 3370 3167 2854 24

LATITUDE

1749 S


08.00 14.00

0.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.0

ELEVATION

960

sunshinehrs/day

20.00

0.0 10.40,0 9.00.0 7.90.0 7.10.0 7.30.0 7.60.0 8.10.0 8.90.0 9.50.0 9.60.0 9.80.0 10.5

yeartotal

windkm/h

5.05.74.84.23.93.94.23.83.63.73.84.5

rain :

rainmm

22270

1481591389625

3200

665

PETmm

17019117516615814515213811799

108138


0.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.20.0 1.00.0 1.70.0 0.0

2d. Mahalapye

2e. Maun

Table 3. Mean percentage of average rainfall in trial regions

REGION MEAN % of AVERAGE RANGE No. of STATIONS

North West/Chobe 90 80-99 2

North East/Francistown 58 54-77 4

Southern/Kanye 59 33-90 11

North West/Maun 42 41-44 2

Central/Serowe 84 78-89 2

STATION

106 MAHALAPYE


max min max min

September 29.2 12.6 37.6 1.7October 29.8 15.6 39.3 6.2November 30.4 18.0 38.6 8.6December 30.6 19.0 37.9 11.6January 30.9 19.1 40.5 12.5February 30.2 19.2 36.6 13.5March 28.6 16.6 36.5 9.8April 26.5 13.2 34.6 4.5May 24.4 8.1 33.0 1.0June 22.1 4.9 28.9 -5.4July 22.3 3.9 29.8 -4.0August 25.1 7.1 34.1 -6.0

LONGITUOE

2650 E

% relativehumidity

08.00 14.00 20.00

50 3052 3860 4760 4458 4764 5468 5464 4462 3564 4254 3355 31

LATITUDE

2307 S


08.00 14.00

0.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.0

ELEVATION

1006

sunshinehrs/day

20.00

0.0 8.80.0 8.40.0 7.60.0 8.60.0 6.80.0 7.10.0 7.80.0 8.60.0 8.70.0 8.70.0 9.70.0 9.1

yeartotal

windkm/h

3.84.44.03.63.42.92.72.42.22.42.22.9

rain :

rainmm

8316879888368269322

468

PETmm

136159164180172149136110897280

105


0.0 0.10.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 1.02.2 11.10.9 10.80.5 3.4

STAT ION LONGITUDE LATITUDE ELEVATION

130 MAUN 2325 E 1959 S 945


max min max min

relativehumidity

08.00 14.00 20.00


08.00 14.00

sunshinehrs/day

20.00

windkm/h

rainmm

PETme


SeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugust

32.2 14.8 38.6 3.934.1 18.6 41.4 9.033.0 19.4 41.7 9.432.1 19.4 40.6 8.431.6 19.5 40.0 9.231.4 18.9 37.2 10.631.3 17.8 39.5 6.229.9 15.0 35.0 4.427.5 9.6 33.0 -1.125.0 6.9 30.6 -5.825.1 6.9 31.3 -3.628.3 9.8 35.2 3.5

40 1944 2357 3269 4276 4878 4875 4270 3664 2764 2762 2552 20

0.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.0

0.0 10.10.0 9.50.0 8.60.0 8.30.0 8.00.0 8.10.0 8.50.0 9.10.0 10.00.0 9.50.0 9.80.0 10.3

yeartotal

7.88.87.76.86.05.76.05.75.55.86.16.6

rain :

3164781

10699702641

00

454

184207199193179159161140123105114147

0.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.20.0 7.80.0 1.70.0 0.1

Figure 2a. Recorded and average rainfall for North West and North East

Figure 2b. Recorded and average rainfall for Central and Southern

At various places in the Southern Region a hailstorm was recorded on 06/02/95, whichtotally shredded leaves of sorghum plants. As the heads were not yet exposed, the plantsmade a full recovery and yielded well.

Dry spells

At all trial sites, one or more dry spells were recorded during the 1994/95 rainfall season.It should be remarked, that dry spells have been the cause of crop failure on those trialsites, where no germination took place or where no planting opportunity was identified.A dry spell in this study is defined as a period of at least 14 days of no or not effectiverainfall (rainfall less than the evapotranspiration). Some observations can be madeconcerning types and number of dry spells, and their effect on the grain yield. Consideredwere those trial sites, where seeds germinated, plants established, the crop growth waswell monitored and which had complete rainfall records.

19 from the 43 trial sites met the above requirements for an analysis of dry spells. Ofthree sites either the fertilized or the control plot failed due to a reason other than a dryspell (wind erosion or weeds). In one case the fertilized plot was planted 23 days earlierthan the control plot. For this analysis they were considered as two different trial sites,making a total of 20 sites.

The number of dry spells observed, varied from 1-4 all over the country. One single dryspell mainly occurred around Maun and the 4 dry spells were recorded around Mahalapye.In the majority of cases 2 or 3 dry spells were observed (see table 4).

Table 4. Number of dry spells

A classification is made of the first dry spells, as they often fall in an early stage of thecrop growth cycle, and can be most decisive for further crop development. Two maingroups were recognized according to the length of the dry spells:

short dry spells: 14-21 dayslong dry spells: 22 days or longer.

Sub-groups were distinguished based on the time of planting and the occurrence of thefirst dry spell (in days) after planting:

0-14 days after early planting in NOV3 or DEC10-14 days after late planting in DEC3 or JAN15-30 days after plantingmore than 30 days after planting

10

DRY SPELLS SITES % of TOTAL

4 20

2 10 50

3 4 20

4 2 10

From the 20 sites two showed an atypical behavior and could not be classified. Trial K1mainly failed due to bird damage. And M2 yielded very well despite a dry spell of 53 days,that started at planting. From the 18 classified trials 12 achieved a yield and 6 did not.From the 6 trials that did not yield, 3 probably failed due to the timing of a dry spell, 2 dueto livestock and 1 because of bird damage. Table 5 shows the classification of the first dryspells of the 18 trials and their impact on the yield.

Table 5. Classification of first dry spells

- fatal; the dry spell probably caused crop fa.lure+/- moderate; some restriction in growth, still yielding reasonably well+ minimal; no obvious signs of growth restriction, yielding well

" F - fertilized plot; C - control plot

Trial S4C had a short dry spell 18 days after planting, but fits best in lb.

44.4 % of the sites was affected by a short first dry spell (type 1), while 55.6 `)/0 sufferedfrom a long first dry spell (type 2). Of all 18 classified trials 72.3 `)/0 had a first dry spellthat affected the crop growth: 16.6 % fatally and 55.7 c/o moderately. No obvious damagewas caused by the first dry spell in 27.7 `)/0 of the trials.

Fatal seemed the short dry spells, that occurred within two weeks after planting in DEC3or later (group 1b) and the long dry spells taking place shortly after planting at the firstplanting opportunity in NOV3 or DEC1 (group 2a). In both cases seeds had the chance togerminate, but soil moisture conditions were not favorable enough to support the youngplants through the dry spell.

Some moisture stress and stunting was observed in case of a short dry spell, shortly afterplanting, when planting was done in NOV3 or DEC1 (group la), and in case of long dryspells, that happened shortly after late planting in JAN (group 2b) or 15-30 days afterplanting (group 2c). In general the plants were in their early vegetative stage and/or lateplanted in relatively moist soils and sustained some set back in their development. Thesedry spells did not cause a crop failure, however, and the sites had reasonably high yields.

No serious damage could be detected in the case of short first dry spells occurring 15-30days (group 1c) or more than 30 days (group 1d) after planting and when long dry spellswere recorded more than 30 days after planting (group 2d). In these instances plants were

11

TYPE No of TRIALS % of TOTAL IMPACT TRIALS

la 3 16.7 +/- M9, 53, S4F

lb 2 11.1 C5, S4C-

1 c 2 11.1 K5, K10

ld 1 5.5 K11

2a 1 5.5 - M1

2b 2 11.1 +/- K2, M8

2c 5 27.9 +/- K3, K7, K8F, M7, S2

2d 2 11.1 K6, K9

in their middle to late vegetative stage, well developed and resistant enough to stand aperiod without (sufficient) rainfall.

The impact of (second, third or fourth) dry spells (after a first dry spell of either type 1 or2) during the grain filling stage of the crop did not seem to be vital for the final yield. Atmost, a slight reduction in grain weight was found, the more dry spells occurred.

Based on the above analysis, the limited number of observations and bearing in mind, thatthe rainfall season 1994/95 was below average, no conclusions can be drawn on the idealtime of planting in order to minimize the risk of crop damage or failure due to dry spells.However, after characterizing the first dry spell, some predictions could perhaps be doneconcerning the crop performance, considering optimal crop husbandry.

2.3 Management observations

General

The cropping season 1994/95 was characterised by below average total rainfall, andconsequently low farmers' yields. Dryland maize failed nearly everywhere, while sorghum,cowpeas and melons were harvested throughout the country in amounts of 1-2 (70 kg)bags/ha. The number of farmers that obtained a yield was very low in the North WestRegion, both around Maun and in Chobe < 10 %. In Chobe the rainy season started lateand was the first planting rain used to loosen up the (relatively heavy) soils beforeploughing, hence postponing planting to the second opportunity. In the North East andCentral Regions some 50 `)/0 of the farmers achieved a yield. Rainfall was just belowaverage and other income generating activities seemed to get priority. In the SouthernRegion approximately 75 % of the f arming households harvested, despite the late start ofthe rains. Perhaps the farmers in that Region were more inclined to arable f arming and toconducting proper crop husbandry.

Draught power

Of all trial sites 85 % was ploughed with draught animals; in 72.5 % of the cases donkeyswere used and in 12.5 % oxen. A tractor was used in the remaining 15 %.

Often in Botswana, farmers give as excuse for late planting the reason that their draughtanimals are in a bad shape at the beginning of the rainy season. From the trials that wereploughed with animal draught power, it appeared that the vast majority was ploughedwithin six days after the identified planting rain. In many cases part of the farmer's ownfield was ploughed during the same period as well. It is hard to accept the argument ofweak draught power as cause for a delay in starting to plough/plant based on thisobservation. Additionally it could be stated, that grasses (fodder for the draught animals)need at least 20 days to germinate and produce some edible biomass. This would meanthat ploughing/planting should earliest be taking place some three weeks after the firstidentified planting rainfall event, which does not seem to happen in practice. It should beremarked, however, that due to the weakness of the draught animals, ploughing andplanting operations take more time in the beginning of the season, than later on.Frequently only the morning is used for ploughing/planting at the beginning of the season,leaving the animals enough time to recuperate, feed and drink. Later in the season,however, the animals are also used in the late afternoon.

12

Labour

When use is made of draught animals, the ploughing operation is often carried out by 3-4people and harrowing (if done) and planting with 3. The necessary minimum, however, is2 people for all three operations; one to control the implement and one to control thedraught animals.

Recordings show, that in the Maun trials on average 109.4 manhrs/ha was spent onfertilizing, harrowing, ploughing and planting. If the actual hours spent on these operationsis calculated for 2 people, then an average of 75.4 manhrs/ha should be spent. Assuminga working day of 6 hours (from 6 am to noon), it would take 2 people 6.3 working daysto finish one hectare. For the Kanye trials 107 manhrs/ha were used for fertilizing,ploughing and planting (against 96.9 manhrs/ha in Maun without harrowing). More timewas spent per operation (especially ploughing) in Southern Region, and calculated for 2people 93 manhrs/ha were used, which would take them 7.8 days/ha. From Serowe andKasane is reported that ploughing takes 48 manhrs/ha on average (2 people finish 0.25 hain 6 hours). See table 6 for more detailed labour hours spent per operation.

Table 6. Labour time used per management operation

All labour time used is converted to manhrs/ha

Apart from one or two lost days for looking for draught animals, the long time spent perhectare on land preparations explains the delay between the end of the rainfall event andthe day of planting. A further delay was sometimes caused by the fact, that farmers didnot work on the lands on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday, due to traditional/religiousreasons. Time was also lost due to social obligations as meetings, marriages and funerals.

It was noted in several regions that labour shortages occurred, especially in female headedhouseholds, for ploughing/harrowing/planting and in most types of households for the timeconsuming activities of weeding and birdscaring.

Fertilizing

Four farmers in the Southern Region used a planter with a mounted fertilizer hopper.Through the hopper 50 kg (corresponding to 200 kg/ha) of single superphosphate fertilizerwas applied next to the seeds and the balance was broadcasted before ploughing. At allother trial sites the fertilizer was broadcasted and ploughed in. Because of inaccurateploughing at some sites, fertilizer particles were still observed on the surface after planting.

In Chobe a standard dose of 50 kg (corresponding to 200 kg/ha) of single superphosphateand 3:2:1 were applied; no more accurate amounts could be given, due to the uncertaintyabout the phosphorus levels as a result of the soil tests.

13

REGION FERTILIZING PLOUGHING HARROWING PLANTING TOTAL

Kasane 48

Maun 8.4 63.5 12.5 25 109.4

Kanye 2 77 n/a 28 107

Serowe 48

Ploughing

Some farmers seem to believe, that they should wait with ploughing for one or two daysafter a sufficient rainfall event, in order to allow the rainwater to infiltrate and wet the soilproperly. This practice could also attribute to delayed planting (see under Labour). In theCentral Region it was observed, that the (sandy) topsoil had dried out by the time ofplanting, due to some delay in the start of ploughing.

In the Central Region on trial site S2, an experiment was done with a planter mounted ona double mouldboard plough. This combination was preferred by the farmer above thesingle mouldboard plough and single row planter, because of the time gain; only one passthrough the field is required. On the plot where the plough/planter combination was used,a poor germination and consequently gaps in the plant stand were observed. The singleplough/planted plot had a more uniform crop stand. Perhaps the difference in crop standcan be attributed to an uneven planting depth. Certainly, no harrowing could be carried outusing the combined implement.

Amongst several of the trial farmers in the Southern Region an awareness is noted aboutthe risks of shallow ploughing. This allows rainwater only to infiltrate to a certain depth,could create a pan and obstruct a deep penetration and proper development of the plantroots.

All trial plots (molapo and dryland fields) in the Chobe Enclave were situated on thefloodplain. The soils of the floodplain have a high clay content: 30-50 %. Often farmersuse the first planting rain (20-30 mm) to loosen up the topsoil. Only after the secondrainf all event ploughing/planting with animals is carried out. Ploughing of the heavy soilsbreaks the surf ace of the soils into big massive clods. Some of the farmers plough twiceor harrow to reduce the clods in size. In the Chobe Enclave four trial sites were ploughedby tractor. Generally the ploughing was inefficiently done: very superficial and often weedtufts were still left on the surface.

Harrowing

In most instances no harrowing was carried out on the trial sites in the Chobe Enclave,resulting in very irregular surfaces and uneven planting depth.

Only on the trial sites around Maun harrowing was carried out as a standard practice. Thesoils were generally sandy (Arenosols), and a smoother planting surface, relatively free ofweed tufts was achieved, as compared to farmers' fields that had not been harrowed. Theharrowing operation created a good condition for uniform planting depths.

Planting and seed rates

Planting is a crucial operation and the use of a row planter demands special care andaccurateness of the operator. Several ALUPs reported problems with the Sebele rowplanters used by the trial farmers. The main constraints were temporary blockage of theseed outlet and hence uneven seed droppings. Often grass tufts and damp soil clods weredragged along by the planter for a couple of meters, blocking the seed outlet and thusattributing to an uneven plant stand. Uneven surfaces caused by furrows, also led tovarying speed and direction of the planters, resulting in uneven seeding rates. At times,high amounts of seed were planted, e.g. seeding rates up to 40 seeds/m2 have been

14

observed, which would have resulted in a plant density of 400,000 plants/ha, if all seedswould have emerged.

DAR recommended a seeding rate of approximately 3 kg/ha in order to achieve a plantdensity of 15,000 plants/ha (for the Maun trials) and 5 kg/ha to obtain 50,000 plants/ha(for the other regions). Converted to quarter hectare trial plots, this resulted in 750gram/plot for Maun and 1250 gram/plot in Kanye. In both cases almost all farmers usedall distributed seed. Nevertheless it seemed very difficult to achieve the target plantdensities. Most trial around Maun reached plant densities below 5000 plants/ha, while inthe other regions plant densities between 15,000-30,000 plants/ha were achieved.

The DAR recommendations include a germination rate of 80 %. However, based on seedcounts, 3 kg of sorghum seed should be enough to reach a plant density of 100,000plants/ha (including 80 % germination rate). This discrepancy of 6.6 times might becaused by factors such as:

improper seedbed preparation (irregular ploughing, no harrowing), leading to unevenplanting depthplanter problems; uneven dropping of seeds, causing a competition for soil moistureof clusters of seedsno thinning operation carried out, maintaining the competition for soil moisture,restricting growth of individual plants and possibly leading to lesser grain yield perplants or failure to develop heads at allbird/insect damage to seed, just after plantingdamaged seedspoor germination potential (less than the guaranteed 80 %)

In the Chobe Enclave, the recommended Sebele row planter can not be used. Because ofthe big soil clods, the wheel of the planter does not function properly. No other row planterhas been developed so far, that is suitable for the soils in the Chobe Enclave. Most farmerspractice a type of third furrow planting by following the plough (in some cases a tractor)and drop the seeds by hand in each third furrow made by the plough. On the way back theplough covers the furrow with the next slice of soil.

The control plot of trial site S2, Makwate Central Region, was dry planted on 27-28/12/94, followed by good rains on 29/12/94.

In the majority of cases the first planting opportunity of the season was used to plant thetrial plots. Sometimes the topsoil had dried out within 4-6 days after the rainfall event andbefore ploughing was finished, so that planting had to be held up until the nextopportunity. As mentioned above, in the Chobe Enclave, planting generally took place atthe second planting opportunity due to the soil conditions.

Pest and disease control

In the Southern Region three farmers were assisted by the Plant Protection Division ofMoA with spraying against armyworm, stalk borers and corn crickets. Alphametrion wasused in knapsack sprayers. Half of the trial plots S3, Dihate Central Region, were sprayedwith "Sherpa" against bollworm by FSR. A concentration of 7.5 m1/15 I was used. Thebollworm disappeared, but no difference was observed between the treated and the nontreated sections of the plots.

15

In Maun, one trial site was sprayed with Decis ULV against aphids.

Aphid attacks were reported from most regions. They mainly occurred during the latevegetative stage and were usually washed off the plants by a good shower. In LotlhakaneWest (K3) near Kanye the trial site was not treated against aphids, and no timely rainoccurred, resulting in dying off of the first developed heads. Despite the black heads plantsdid develop some tillers with secondary heads.

Bird scaring during the crop's grain filling stage formed the farmers' main activity sinceMAR3. Where a shortage of labour occurred a large portion of heads was damaged (up to100 °/0).

Cattle entering the trial sites and severely damaging the crop was observed in a few cases.

On the molapo trial plots in the Chobe Enclave bird scaring was not necessary, becauseof the well protected maize crop. However, as fields are traditionally not fenced, damageby wildlife is a constant threat. Farmers are living on lands during the cropping season,prepared for full time vigilance.

Weeding

In general most farmers, vvhose trial crop established well, conducted a weeding operation.The first weeding operation usually took place between 30-40 days after planting and wascarried out in approximately 10 days. A second weeding operation (mainly conducted onthe Kanye trial sites, due to the use of fertilizer) happened 50-65 days after planting andtook around 1-5 days. The number of days spent on the weeding operations stronglydepended on the amount of labour available and whether the trial plots formed part of anoperation on the entire farmer's field or whether they were treated separately.

Farmers in the Chobe Enclave were reluctant to weed their fields after a poor germination.They reckoned, it was a waste of time to engage themselves in an activity, which theythought was not economically viable. The crops from those who did weed, remainedstunted (30-50 cm) for the whole season and did not yield.

Some farmers in the Southern Region were hesitant to conduct a timely weedingoperation, because as they stated, a dry spell had reduced the soil moisture and increasedthe soil temperature. The farmers explained, that weeding at that moment would damageplants, as hot soil would be pushed against them.

Another farmer near Kanye, in Sese (K9), had delayed weeding his trial plots, as he saidto protect the seedlings against wind erosion until they were a bit stronger. It seemed tohave made a positive impact on the plant establishment, because an adjacent field waspractically free of weeds, but had a very poor establishment rate.

A lack of knowledge was detected, when one farmer admitted, that she did not know thatweeds compete with crops for soil nutrients and fertilizer. She was very motivated to startweeding after obtaining this information.

The farmer in Polokwe (K5) conducted weeding with a cultivator and was enthusiasticabout the results of proper weeding.

16

Harvesting

In the Central Region and around Maun, it was observed that many sorghum growers arenot interested in small immature heads or in heads with only partially filled grains (so called"mothalane"). After approximately two weeks of harvesting mature heads, they stoppedand left the immature heads behind. In the Southern Region most farmers harvested allimmature/partially filled heads and dried and threshed them separate from the matureheads and used the grains to feed their chickens.

In the Southern Region the sorghum crop is often left to dry on the stem, out of tradition,until the first cold (winter) winds arrive to finalize the drying of the grains. Consequently,lodging may occur and some of the grain may be lost due to wind or rodent action.

At the successful molapo trial in the Chobe Enclave (C9), it was remarked that the farmerdelayed the harvest until all maize cobs had fully ripened on the stems. This was done, asthe farmer was reluctant to spend too much time in harvesting; due to probably the wayof planting, the plant stand had developed rather unevenly. Instead of harvesting themature cobs and let them dry near the hut, a crop damage of approximately 10%occurred, due to termite and other insect attacks and fungi. The obtained yield figure fromthis trial could well be underestimated, due to home consumption of green mealies by thefarm family.

2.4 Agronomic observations

Germination and plant establishment

On most trial sites in the Southern Region, 80 % of the established plants germinatedwithin 6-7 days after planting. The remaining 20 % of the seeds germinated,approximately 4-5 days after the next major rainfall event. Both groups of plantsestablished and continued developing (see Photograph 1, Appendix VI). The older plantsusually formed proper heads and yielded fully filled grains, whilst the later germinatedplants never finished their grain filling stage and ended up as "mothalane". This "secondgermination phase" was also observed around Maun and is known from the North EastRegion. Irregular planting depth and long dry spells shortly after planting might cause thisphenomenon.

At the Maun trials, germination normally took place around 10 days (7-11) after planting.At one occasion germination occurred 26 days after planting, but 5 days after a secondrainfall event of 28 mm.

From some trials in the Central Region poor germination was reported, due to a delaybetween the planting rainfall event and the actual planting. The prolonged dry spell and thehigh temperatures and the low moisture content of the topsoil may have caused the lowestablishment rates.

Those dryland farmers in the Chobe Enclave, who managed to plough and plant, had verypoor germination and crop establishment. This can be attributed to the uneven rainfalldistribution, resulting in high moisture stress during the cropping season. Farmers, whosecrop had not germinated three weeks after a dry spell in January, abandoned their fieldsand left for Kasane to look for employment.

17

Effect of fertilizer

Generally the use of fertilizer seemed to have a positive effect on plant growth in thevegetative stage. As compared to the plants on the control plots, fertilized plants wereslightly taller, had more and greener leaves and thicker stems (see Photographs 2 and 3,Appendix VI). The Photographs 2 and 3 show a clear difference in plant developmentbetween the control and the fertilized plot of the Gamoswana trial site (K1) at 26 and 60days after planting, respectively. As the fertilized plants were stronger than the non-fertilized, they were more resistant against wind erosion and dry spells. Often the fertilizedplants had developed 1-2 tillers more than the non-fertilized.

Plant stands and crop development

The trial sites in the Southern Region showed the most homogeneous plant stands. Soilpreparations and planting had been carried out well; straight rows with relatively few gaps.The extra time spent on ploughing and planting (as compared to Maun area) seems to havepaid off. In the other regions more heterogeneous plant stands have been observed, withplants in different development stages on one plot. Possible causes for this uneven plantdevelopment have been discussed above: improper land preparations, malfunctioningplanters and rainfall/soil moisture conditions.

In general the highest plant densities were achieved around Kanye. Often, however, wheretarget plant densities of approximately 30,000 plants/ha were achieved, plants had thinstems and only 2-3 tillers per plant. On trial plots with extremely low plant densitiesaround Maun, the surviving plants developed very well and generally formed 3-6 tillers perplant (see Photograph 5, Appendix VI).

It took the successful trials in all regions on average 71 days (55-87) from planting to 50% flovvering (see Photograph 6, Appendix VI). Flowering continued for approximately 10-20 days. The grain filling lasted for about 30-35 days (see Photographs 4 and 7, AppendixVI), while ripening took around 25 days.

The average length of the growing season (from planting till harvest) amounted 128 days(112-146) in all regions except Southern. There the crop was left to dry on the stems for1-1.5 month after reaching physiological maturity, resulting in an average season of 160days (150-176).

The slightly longer growing season of 128 days, than the average of 120 days for sorghumSegaolana, could have been caused by the relatively late start of the rainy season andconsequently late planting. Dry spells, moisture stress and low temperatures in June/Julymay also have led to a prolongation of the crop cycle.

Farmers in the Southern Region observed, that the amount of fully developed heads and"mothalane" depends on the rainfall situation. In a season with early rains, no "mothalane"occurs. In case of late planting, due to late rains, the optimal growing conditions areshortened and not all heads get the chance to grain fill properly, leading to a certainpercentage of "mothalane " heads (see Photograph 8, Appendix VI). Additionally a numberof secondary shoots of the main tillers may also develop "mothalane" heads. Theproportion of fully developed heads and "mothalane" was around 80 %-20 % in the1994/95 grovving season. The fully developed heads attributed on average 97 % of thegrain weight, while the "mothalane" made up for the remaining 3 %.

18

Pest and disease factors

Type and damage factors of pests and diseases vary per region and time of observation.

In the Southern Region army worm, stalk borers, corn crickets, termites, birds, baboons,rodents and cattle have been observed affecting crop yields. At Gamoswana (K1), termitesseemed to attack plants during the season and past activity (anthills) may be the cause ofpatches of poorly developed plants. Due to poor fencing cattle damaged most of the cropat the Ramonedi trial site (K2).

In Central Region minor aphid and African Bollworm infestations have been recorded onsome trial sites. Quelea (immature grains) and pigeons (ripe grains) formed a threat to theharvest on most of the Serowe trials.

Aphids, birds and livestock have been affecting some of the trials around Maun. At Segoro(M9), a promising crop failed for 100 %, due to bird damage. As the farmers' own cropshad already failed due to dry spells, motivation was lacking to carry out bird scaring on thetrial plots. At Xhana (M2), the harvested fertilized heads were approximately 10 %damaged by birds; despite bird scaring activities the remaining secondary heads wereseverely affected by birds, upto 90 % damage. Cattle ate around 75 % of the wellestablished plants on the Thamalakane West site (M7).

Sorghum plants are most prone to bird damage during the grain filling and early ripeningstages, when the grains still contain a high moisture content. Bird damage dependsgenerally on the amount of effort put into scaring. If well controlled, bird damage can bekept to a maximum of 10% of the grains of each mature sorghum head. Several methodshave been observed throughout the country: scare crows, plastic bags on the stems orcovering the heads, strings with tins around the field, and people residing in or next to thefield, scaring birds with stones, sticks or voice. Where not enough labour was available,or when other activities got priority, considerable damage occurred; observations showed80-100% of the grains on individual heads had been picked towards the end of theripening time.

Only early planted crops (NOV3-DEC3) could possibly ripen before the beginning of April,generally the start of the quelea infestations. But in a poor rainfall year like the 1994/95season, an additional hazard is formed by local birds (like pigeons), which attack crops assoon as seeds have formed, due to the lack of seed bearing grasses and berry formingshrubs in the surrounding bush.

Molapo farming

Two trials were conducted under the molapo (flood recession) farming system at Mabelein the Chobe Enclave. The two fields were adjacent to each other, situated in a riverchannel. Trial site C9 was located in the lowest part of the channel, where the plots of siteC10 were positioned slightly higher on a bank of the channel.

Both farmers ploughed and planted in the dekade SEP2. Due to the higher position of siteC10 and a fast drop of the groundwater table, crop establishment was very poor andfinally the trial failed.

19

Trial C9 had a good establishment rate and plants developed well. The plants at thefertilized plots looked stronger and were slightly taller than those on the control plot. Thefertilized plots had a higher weed burden than the control. The dominant weed wasSesbania bispinosa, a leguminous weed. When uprooted, it was noticed that the roots ofthe weed plants on both fertilized plots showed more nitrogen fixating nodules than thoseof the control plot. The fertilized plants flowered two weeks earlier than the control plot.On average one cob was formed per plant.

During the last two months of the crop cycle, a humid micro climate established on thetrial sites due to the prolific growth of the leguminous weed. Most of the cobs wereaffected by insects and fungi. The infestation resulted on the fertilized plots in a grain lossof approximately 40-50 %; on the control plot the loss was somewhat lower 30-40 %.Harvesting was done in the dekad FEB1/95.

20

3 RESULTS

3.1 Trial yields

In total 43 on-farm trials were programmed for the 1994/95 cropping season. Of this total14 trials (33 `)/0) were successful and 29 (67 %) failed. The three main reasons for failurewere: - climate 5 trials (11%)

farmer 15 trials (35%)superv s on 9 trials (21%)

No identified timely planting opportunity and dry spells were the main adverse climaticreasons for trial cancellation or failure. Shortage of labour, slow preparation for theploughing season, negligence and other activities (cattle, building, social obligations)attributed to farmers missing the first planting opportunity or carrying out improper crophusbandry, leading to sub-optimal crop yields or even failure. Logistical and communicationproblems of the supervising teams have led to missed planting opportunities, wrongfertilizer applications or mixtures of Segaolane seeds and local varieties, making trial resultsunsuitable for comparison.

The yield figures for the successful trials are reflected in Table 7. Trial C9 in Mabele wasconducted under molapo farming conditions and with two types of fertilizer. The controlplot yielded 1770 kg/ha of maize, while the plot treated with 3:2:1 compound NPKfertilizer yielded 42 % higher (2520 kg/ha) and the single superphosphate plot harvested55 % higher than the control (2750 kg/ha).

Table 7. Yield figures and discrepancies control - fertilized plots

21

CODE REGION VILLAGE YIELD (kg/ha) DIFFERENCE%

CONTROL SSP

C9 North West/Chobe Mabele 1770 2750 + 55

K3 Southern Lotlhakane West 210 300 + 43

K5 Southern Polokwe 270 760 + 181

K6 Southern Kanngwe 460 1010 + 120

K7 Southern Mmathethe 170 350 + 106

K8 Southern Gasita failed 480

K9 Southern Sese 660 670 + 2

K10 Southern Mongwalale 470 870 + 85

K11 Southern Pitsane 1290 760 - 41

M2 North West/Maun Xhana failed 590

M8 North West/Maun Tsanakuna 560 failed

S2 Central Makwate 700 730 + 4

S3 Central Dihate 670 1000 + 49

S4 Central Dihate failed 670

SSP - single superphosphate molapo farming

Of the 10 dryland trials with successful control plots, the yields vary from 170-1290kg/ha, while the range for the 12 fertilized plots is 300-1010 kg/ha.

Nine of the above thirteen dryland sites, had both successful control and fertilized plots.In one instance (K11), the control plot yielded considerably more (41 %) than the fertilizedplot. In section 3.3.1 possible explanations for the deviating outcome of this trial are given.In two cases (K9 and S2), both control and fertilized plots yielded almost the same; thefertilized yields were 2 % and 4 % higher, respectively. On the remaining six sites (K3, K5,K6, K7, K10 and S3), the fertilized plot yielded significantly higher than the control plot;on average 97 %, ranging from 43-181 %.

The results from the Southern Region trials K5, K7, K9, K10 and K11 included fullydeveloped grains and "nnothalane". The harvested "nnothalane" varied from 1-48 kg/ha andcontributed 0.6-4.7 % to the control plot yields and 0.3-7.2 % to the fertilized yields,respectively. The highest amounts of "mothalane" were recorded in Sese (K9): 31 kg/ha(4.7 %) on the control plot and 48 kg/ha (7.2 %) on the fertilized plot.

It is suspected, that the yields from the Serowe trials are underestimated, since earlyharvested and immature heads have not been included. In addition, the used scale seemedto give rather round figures.

From the trials around Kanye, Maun and Serowe the average seed weight of harvestedmature heads has been recorded (see Table 8). The average seed weight of heads of non-fertilized plants was 26.4 g, varying from 6.9-60 g and of fertilized plants 29.4 g, rangingfrom 8.3-78 g. "Mothalane" in the Southern Region produced on average 8 g of seed perhead.

Table 8. Seed weight of sorghum heads

SSP - single superphosphate

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CODE REGION VILLAGE GRAIN WEIGHT/HEAD (gram)

CONTROL SSP

K3 Southern Lotlhakane West 8.0 8.3

K5 Southern Polokwe 24.7 32.5

K6 Southern Kanngwe 25.8 31.8

K7 Southern Mmathethe 6.9 10.3

K8 Southern Gasita failed 16.4

K9 Southern Sese 46.4 34.2

K10 Southern Mongwalale 17.8 38.5

K11 Southern Pitsane 29.6 23.9

M2 North West/Maun Xhana failed 78.0

M8 North West/Maun Tsanakuna 60.0 failed

S2 Centra'l Makwate 19.8 19.1

S3 Central Dihate 25.0 24.2

S4 Central Dihate failed 35.1

The relationship between grain weight of harvested heads and actual plant density isdepicted in Figure 3, for both control and fertilized plots. Although based on very fewobservations, a downward trend seems to exist in the grain weight/head with increasingplant density in the results of the control plots. On the other hand, the results of thefertilized plots show no obvious relationship between grain weight/head and plant density.

Figure 3. Relationship between grain weight/head and plant density

CONTROL FERTILIZED

3.2 CYSLAMB yields

The CYSLAMB simulations were based on trial observations as reflected in Appendix IV.Where a raingauge was placed on trial sites, recorded rainfall data were used. If no siterecords were kept, data from the nearest rainfall station were used instead. For synopticdata reference was made to the nearest synoptic station.

On most trial sites a soil pit was described and often (topsoil) samples were taken andanalyzed. The necessary soil characteristics to run CYSLAMB are: textural class, drainageclass, effective soil depth, available water holding capacity.

The simulated management factors are the dates of planting and the first weedingoperation, the plant density and the weed infestation rate.

The predicted yields for the successful trials and the discrepancy with the actuallyachieved yields are shown in Table 9. Under rainfed conditions, the CYSLAMB simulationsfor the control plots vary from 430-1070 kg/ha; for the fertilized plots the CYSLAMByields range from 670-1600 kg/ha. Due to the unreliable soil analysis, only the controlsituation of molapo trial C9 could be simulated (a phosphorus content of 6 ppm has beentaken).

The simulated yields under fertilized circumstances are on average 89 % (35-126) higherthan the simulations for the control plots.

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Table 9. CYSLAMB yields and discrepancy with actual trial yields

24

CODE PREDICTED YIELD (kg/ha) and DISCREPANCY (%)

CONTROL SSP *

09 2340 - 24 % nia n/a

K3 560 - 63 % 1190 - 75 %

K5 960 -72 % 1330 -43 %

K6 430 + 7 % 970 + 4 %

K7 1070 -84 % 1440 -76 %

K8 failed failed 920 - 48 %

K9 710 - 7 % 1470 - 54 %

K10 760 - 38 % 1600 - 46 %

Kll 440 + 191% 990 - 23 %

M2 failed failed 670 - 12 %

M8 500 + 12 % failed failed

S2 810 - 14 % 1280 -43 %

S3 710 - 6 % 1320 - 24 %

S4 failed failed 810 - 17 %

SSP - single superphosphate molapo farming

NB: The discrepancy columns reflect the trial yields (see Table 7): e.g. a discrepancy of- 38 `)/0, means the actual yield was 38 % less than the by CYSLAMB predicted yield.

3.3 Comparisons

3.3.1 Trial versus CYSLAMB yields

The achieved trial yields are generally lower than the simulated CYSLAMB yields. From allcomparisons of the control plots, in 73 % of the cases the actual yield was less than theCYSLAMB yield; the discrepancy varies from 6-84 %. On 27 % of the control plots, theachieved yield was higher than the CYSLAMB prediction; the discrepancy varies between7-191 % (see Figure 4a). From the fertilized plots, 92 % yielded lower and 8 % higherthan the CYSLAMB simulations; the ranges of differences were 12-76 % less and 4 %more, respectively (see Figure 4b).

It is assumed, that 20 % difference between actual and simulated yield can beconsidered as significant. In that case, from all 23 comparisons, both control and fertilized,35 % is not significantly different; 65 %, however, shows a large discrepancy.

A number of reasons for sub-optimal crop yields, and hence for the discrepancy betweenactual and predicted yields can be mentioned, derived from the management andagronomic observations described in the sections 2.3 and 2.4.:

uneven distribution of fertilizerdue to low rainfall, fertilizer not fully available to plantsimproper land preparationsirregular planting depths, leading to poor emergencewind and sheet erosionuneven plant stands, gaps and no thinningdry spellsimproper weedingpests and diseaseslodging and damage by wind, rain/hail storms

The large discrepancies of trial K3 Lotlhakane West (-63 % control and -75 % fertilized)can be attributed to an aphid attack, that wiped out the first developed heads; onlysecondary heads produced grain to harvest.

Planting of trial K5 Polokwe was done along the plough furrows, causing someirregularities in plant development. Additionally, capping of the topsoil occurred later in theseason, leading to some sheet and rill erosion and discrepancies of -72 % for the controland -43 % for the fertilized plot.

The large differences in actual and predicted yield (-84 % for the control and - 76% for thefertilized plot) at trial K7 Mmathethe, might be attributed to past and present termiteactivities. Several flattened termite mounts were observed in the field, which may havebeen the cause for the poor performance of clusters of plants. During the vegetative stagetermites attacked plants all over the trial plots.

The fact that the control plot of trial K11 Pitsane produced 191 % more than CYSLAMBpredicted might be attributed to an inaccurately determined phosphorus level. It is alsoknown, that the farmer has used kraal manure on the trial plot in the past. Perhaps the

Figure 4a. Trial and CYSLAMB yield for control plots

LI

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nutrient status of especially the control plot is much more favorable than simulated byCYSLAMB. The relatively low yield of the fertilized plot is probably caused by shallowploughing and subsequently the formation of a pan at approximately 20-30 cm below thesurface. This observation is supported by a high germination rate and a promising earlyvegetative stage, but a further hampering of the plant development, due to shallow rootpenetration. The result of the fertilizer trial was 23 % less than the CYSLAMB prediction.

Both control and fertilized yields of trial K6 Kanngwe show a very good correlation withthe CYSLAMB prediction: the trial yields were 7 % (control) and 4 % (fertilized) higherthan the CYSLAMB simulations.

Figure 4b. Trial and CYSLAMB yield for fertilized plots

I -1

3.3.2 Trial versus farmers' yields

In most regions no yield data was collected of farmers' yields. Either different varieties ofsorghum or a mixture of crops were planted, or farmers' crop had failed. In the SouthernRegion most of the trial farmers grew sorghum Segaolane as monocrop on their own fieldsand managed to obtain a yield (see Table 10). In all but one cases, the trial control plotsyielded higher than the farmers' own fields. The positive differences vary between 17-625%. The main reasons for the better performance of the trial plots is caused by proper crophusbandry. Labour shortage resulted often in improper weeding and birdscaring on thesometimes large farmers' fields, while enough attention was paid to the small trial plots.

Table 10. Trial and farmer yields (kg/ha) and discrepancy in Southern Region

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SITE K3 K5 K6,

K7 K9 K10 K11

farmer 180 220 260 220 100 160 600

control 210 270 460 170 660 460 1290

% + 17 % + 23 % + 77 % - 23 % + 625 % + 188 % + 115 %

3.4 Gross margin analysis

It is difficult to obtain a clear picture of the use of all available household labour. In someinstances a competition between arable farming and other (income generating) activitieswas observed, like livestock rearing and building. Unless known what the financial returnsof rainfed cropping are, nothing can be said about its feasibility.

The financial evaluation of the successful trials has been done through a gross marginanalysis, which compared input costs with the value of the produce. On the cost side ofthe equation, the cost of seed and fertilizer was taken into account. It can be debated,whether farm labour for land preparations, weeding and birdscaring should be included inthe gross margin analysis. Initially farm labour was excluded from the calculations. Theeffect of Drought Relief Subsidies for ploughing and row planting on the gross margin hasbeen compared; see Table 11 for the parameters of the gross margin analysis per region.

Table 11. Costs, prices and subsidies used in the gross margin analysis

SSP - single superphosphateDRS - drought relief subsidy

The results of the gross margin analysis are shown in Table 12. If no farm labour is takeninto consideration in the analysis, the 10 successful control plots of the dryland trialsachieved a positive gross margin varying from Pula 58-474/ha without and from Pula 228-644/ha including drought relief subsidies. If Pula 150/ha for farm labour was accountedfor, 3 out of the 10 control plots would have resulted in a negative gross margin.

When the fertilizer costs are written off in one year and no farm labour is considered, 1out of the 12 fertilized dryland plots would have had a slightly negative gross margin. Theother 11 obtained a positive gross margin, varying from Pula 9-265/ha without, to Pula1 79-435/ha with drought relief subsidies. Assuming Pula 150/ha is included for farmlabour, 9 out of the 12 fertilized plots would have had a negative gross margin.

A factor complicating the comparison of crop performance is the risk of crop failure, whichshould be studied over a range of years. From the scheduled trials for the 1 994/9 5cropping season 67 % failed (see also section 3.1). The costs and efforts put into thesefailed trials have not been returned. On the fertilized trial plots a residual effect might stillbe seen the next two seasons.

If the cost of fertilizer is divided over three years in order to simulate the residual effect,the gross margins of the 12 successful fertilized plots would be all positive, varying fromP75-341/ha without, to P245-511/ha including drought relief subsidies.

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Costs, prices and subsidies KANYE,

N1AUN/KASANE SEROWE,

seed P/kg 2.50 2.50 2.50

SSP. P/50 kg3:2:1 P/50 kg

27.50 28.5534.95

28.55

labour P/ha 150.00 150.00 150.00

BAMB producer price '94/95 P/kg 0.34 0.45 0.38

DRS - ploughing P/ha- row planting P/ha

120.0050.00

120.0050.00

120.0050.00

Table 12. Gross margins in pula/ha

GM - gross margin DRS - drought re ief subsidyGM - SSP/3, gross margin assuming a residual effect of 3 year, dividing fertilizer costs by 3 (without/with DRS)molapo farming

It is considered, that a difference of 20 % or more in gross margin between the controland fertilized plots is significant. When comparing the 9 trials with both successful controland fertilized plots (see columns 2 and 4 of Table 11), the use of fertilizer written off inone season would pay off in 22 % of the cases. In another 22 % no considerabledifference is obtained and in 56 % of the cases the use of fertilizer is not profitable.

lf, however, the cost of fertilizer is spread over three years (the residual effect), in 56 %of the trials the fertilized plot has a significantly better gross margin than the control plot.In 22 % no significant difference is achieved and in the remaining 22 % the fertilizer wasnot lucrative.

At the molapo farming trial in Mabele (C9) two types of fertilizer were tested. The grossmargins of the single superphosphate plot have been included in Table 12. The grossmargins for the plot treated with 3:2:1 compound NPK fertilizer turned out approximately10 % lower: Pula 993/ha without and Pula 1163/ha with drought relief subsidies. If thefertilizer costs are spread over 3 years, the gross margins are Pula 1086/ha excluding andPula 1256/ha including drought relief. The use of the compound fertilizer did not prove tobe more successful than the use of single superphosphate. The yield of the former wasslightly lower (not significantly) and the costs slightly higher, resulting in a somewhatlower gross margin.

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CODE CONTROL FERTILIZED (single superphosphate)

GM GM + DRS ' GM GM + DRS GM - SSP/3 GM - SSP/3 + DRS

C9 795 965 1122 1292 1198 1368

K3 72 242 19 189 75 245

K5 91 261 147 317 222 392

K6 158 328 178 348 289 459

K7 58 228 9 179 83 253

K8 failed failed - 3 167 108 278

K9 226 396 62 232 174 344

K10 158 328 103 273 233 403

K11 474 644 92 262 203 373

M2 failed failed 108 278 212 382

M8 251 421 failed failed failed failed

S2 265 435 145 315 232 402

S3 253 423 265 435 341 511

S4 failed failed 139 309 215 385

4 EVALUATION OF TRIALS

4.1 Lessons learned fronn farmers' point of view

Based on observations discussed in section 2.3 some general constraints met by groupsof trial farmers can be listed:

poor preparation for cropping seasonlabour shortages, especially in female headed householdsdependence on tractors for ploughing, making operations not flexibleproblems with plantersnot conducting of thinning operation (tradition or labour problem)negligence in fence maintenance, causing damage by livestock

From the management observations, the draught power argument (animals too weak toplough after the first rains) can be refuted. Most of the trial farmers managed to ploughand plant the trial plots within six days after the first planting rainfall event. In thebeginning of the season, draught animals are only used during the morning. They canrecuperate in the afternoon. In some cases draught animals are already used for ploughingof molapo fields as early as September.

Taking account of the large amount of manhrs/ha spent on fertilizing, ploughing, harrowingand planting, future trial plots should be reduced in size. To achieve timely completion ofoperations, instead of the 1/4 hectare plots, 1/8 hectare plots should be used. However,the 1/4 hectare plots showed clearly what the farmers' main constraints were.

Specific problems, based on confusion, inexperience or local traditions were the following:

wrong fertilizer dosage givenmixture of distributed seeds and local varieties usedother occupations more important than arable farmingfirst planting rain in Chobe Enclave used for loosening up of topsoil; secondconsiderable shower used for ploughing/planting; farmers consider season as failed,if no shower of 50 mm or more has fallen by the end of December

On initiative of the CPO and the DAO in Ngwaketse North a Farm Walk was organized onthe Polokwe trial site (K5) in April. Around 40 farmers mainly from the Moshupa Southextension area turned up. Although most of the innovations tested during the on-farm trialswere known, it appeared very motivating to the farmers participating in the walk, to seethe results with their own eyes and discuss with the farmer responsible for the site. Asimilar positive response was received from the participants to the Farmers' Day, held inMay on the same trial site. Approximately 100 people from all extension areas in theNgwaketse North District attended the event.

The ALUP team in Kanye conducted end-of-season interviews with those eight farmers,who participated in the trials and obtained a harvest. The following section is based on thefarmers' impressions of the trials. Five of the eight respondents were of the opinion, thatthe sorghum Segaolane had yielded poorly this past season, mainly due to the late startof the rains and the consequently late planting date in combination with the low rainfallamounts received. In addition wind erosion, bird damage, rodent and aphid attacks werementioned as hazards, that influenced the crop yield. Three of the eight interviewed

29

farmers considered the yield as medium high.

The farmer at Lotlhakane West (K3) blamed the two dry spells, which occurred at thebeginning and at the end of the vegetative stage for the moderate yield. Most farmersmentioned insufficient labour for proper weeding and birdscaring on their own fields as acause for partial failure. Fields of upto 15 ha were ploughed and planted with sorghum.The trial plots were generally given priority, when it came to conducting timely and propercrop husbandry activities.

When asked, which management operation was the most difficult to perform well, sevenout of the eight farmers answered: bird (and baboon) scaring. It is the most timeconsuming activity, because it requires a continuous presence in the field during daytime,from dawn to dusk. One farmer at Mmathethe (K7) did not consider birdscaring as thatcomplicated. He had made a device, consisting of strings with cans filled with pebblesaround the sides of his field, which would rattle when the strings were pulled. As damagedue to birds was very limited on most trial sites, credit should be given to the farmers'efforts.

In response to the question, which management operation conducted for the trials wasconsidered the most important to obtain a good yield, the farmers in Polokvve (K5) andSese (K9) mentioned proper weeding. In Polokwe, weeding with a cultivator had virtuallyeliminated all weeds on the plots.

The farmer in Lotlhakane West (K3) stated that no results of improved managementoperations could be noticed the past season, due to the insufficient rainfall. His fieldreceived 76 % of the average rainfall amount and suffered from two dry spells.

The farmers were finally asked, if they would adopt any of the improved managementoperations in their production system next year. All eight declared that they would try tofertilize (a part of) their own field, as they has appreciated the yield increase on thefertilized plots. Six farmers intend to buy inorganic fertilizer and two would use kraalmanure, as they could probably not afford the purchase single superphosphate. The othermanagement operations (row planting, weeding and birdscaring) were all carried out on thefarmers' own fields as well as on the trial plots the past season. Either a labour shortageor too high a hectarage under cultivation must have caused inefficient crop husbandry onthe farmers' fields and most farmers have the intention to improve this situation nextseason.

4.2 Lessons learned from supervision's point of view

From all 43 scheduled on-farm trials, 21 % failed due to poor supervision and 35 % dueto unfortunate farmers' decisions. The latter group could maybe have been reduced bymore extension and discussions with the concerned farmers. In future, the high failure ratecan perhaps be limited with help of the following reflections.

The main constraint in the execution of the trial program was a lack of logistical support.For proper farmer preparation and monitoring each trial region should have been providedwith a motivated and well qualified Technical Officer with a vehicle and driver at his/herdisposal. The past season this situation was created in Kanye and Maun. From these twostations the most detailed observations were collected. To prevent mistakes and to be able

30

to act swiftly, when necessary, two visits of each trial site per week are an absoluteminimum.

On several occasions fertilizing did not take place according to the specifications, plantingwas done when topsoil moisture was too low, or where the distributed seed was mixedwith local varieties, or fertilized and control plant heads were not separated at harvest. Thefinal results of these sites could not be compared to properly conducted trials and this typeof failure is basically due to insufficient supervision.

Although some flexibility should be allowed, depending on local conditions, it should betried to follow one method for the measurement of plant densities, weed cover andharvesting and yield calculation and presentation for all trial sites in the program.

In the Chobe Enclave the choice of crop was left to the farmers. Almost all opted formaize, which failed on all dryland trials. In order to use a more drought resistant crop andto facilitate countrywide comparison of results, it is advisable to use sorghum in the ChobeEnclave in future trials.

The Kasane ALUP team felt, that too much time was spent in travelling to and from trialsites for a relatively short time of observations. Their suggestion was to reduce the numberof participating farmers, and increase the number of plots and experiments per farmer.

The Preparation and Monitoring Protocols (Appendix I and II) served their purpose of to-dolists well. The Checklist (see Appendix III) to record trial and farmers' activities was founda bit too elaborate and time consuming to fill out at each visit to a trial site. This despitethe fact, that the lessons learned from the comparison of the farmers' performance on thetrial sites and on their own field were very valuable. Experience has proven, that the moretime spent on data collection, the more conclusions could be drawn concerning farmers'constraints. Unfortunately, the collected agronomic data (concerning timing of the differentcrop growth stages) are rather poor. There is no factual basis to give recommendations forthe validation of CYSLAMB in that respect.

The scheduled farm walks (two at each trial sites) were a bit too ambitious. In the firstplace, a farm walk should offer the farmers new developments, secondly budgets shouldbe available to organize meals for the participants and thirdly the logistics should be inplace for the organization of the events (e.g. transport of farmers). As not all conditionscould be met in many trial sites this season, more effort should be made in future toconvey trial results first hand to neighbouring farmers' households. Certainly one farm walkat each successful trial site should be scheduled and could perhaps be combined with afield day or farm walk organized in the same Extension Area by the AD or the CPO.

The post-season interviews as conducted in the Southern Region should be standardizedand carried out at all trial sites in future.

31

5 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

The concluding remarks presented here must be appreciated in the framework within,which they were achieved. Firstly they are based on the results of only one trial season.Secondly, that season was generally characterized by poor to moderate rainfall, both interms of quantity and in distribution over the season. The intention of this chapter is toshare the experiences obtained and to formulate suggestions for possible (regional) setsof extension recommendations for the improvement of the rainfed arable crop productionin Botswana.

Land preparations

From the observations in Kanye and Maun it appears, that a lot of time is spent on theoperations fertilizing, ploughing, harrowing and planting: 107 and 109.4 manhrs/harespectively. Converted in working days of six hours, this corresponds for two people to7.8 and 6.3 days/ha. When too much time is spent on the land preparations, the topsoilmoisture decreases and consequently a poor germination results or the plantingopportunity is missed altogether. Timeliness of operations is crucial and the most optimalways should be found to make use of the available soil moisture as soon after the rainfallevent as possible. Several alternatives can be thought of:

better preparation of implements and draught animals before the cropping seasonthe use of two spans of draught animals, in order to be able to alternate them andto carry out operations in the morning and in the late afternoona reduction of the time used for land preparations through the use of (small)mechanized draught powerconcentration on a small hectarage per planting opportunityspreading of operations

At each planting opportunity, farmers should concentrate on a small area; for the timebeing 0.5 ha seems to be a portion of land, that can well be managed with draught animalswithin 3-4 days. In future a relationship should be established between the amount andthe timing of rainfall, potential evapotranspiration and soil moisture, and the correspondingmaximum hectarage to plough and plant per agro-ecological region.

Especially on sandy soils a spreading of the land preparation operations could be carriedout. In the North Western Region, certainly around Maun, CYSLAMB identifies the firstplanting opportunity in NOV3 or DEC1 in approximately 80 % of the years. Operations asfertilizing and ploughing can be started from NOV2 onwards. Immediately after the firstplanting opportunity fields can be harrowed, followed by planting, thus gaining valuabletime and creating optimal conditions for germination and plant establishment.

The option of dry "ploughing/planting" on sandy soils brings all operations forward,including planting, and creates more flexibility to the farmer. This method of ploughing andplanting before the first planting rain is practiced all over the country, but at a very limitedscale. By ploughing, possible weeds should die and do not re-emerge during the dry periodbefore the first planting rain. If seeds are planted evenly at approximately 10 cm below thesurface, they should withstand the high topsoil temperatures and germinate after the firstrainfall event of at least 20 mm. Planting done from NOV2 onwards, will provide the seedsoptimal advantage of the rain of the first planting opportunity of the season. Planting tooearly (before NOV2) might lead to crop failure due to a lack of soil moisture.

32

In any case, farmers should try to utilize the first planting opportunity of the season,normally occurring in NOV3 or in December. Germination and early vegetative stage shouldthen take place in December, providing the plants with the best protection against dryspells in January and February, and hence creating the highest chance for good survivalrates and reasonable yields.

It is recommended, that more research should be done on the functioning of row planters,in order to minimize the occurrence of uneven plant stands.

Crop development

Although the trials aimed for plant densities of 15,000 plants/ha around Maun and 50,000plants/ha in the other regions, considerably lower plant densities were achieved. The usedseeding rates conformed to the recommendations of the Department of AgriculturalResearch. However, low germination rates were observed, due to various reasons (seesection 2.3 Planting and seed rates).

In general, it is recommended to keep plant densities low (possibly 10,000-30,000plants/ha). Even in below average rainfall years, plants in a small population will have thechance to develop properly and produce large heads and consequently a high grain weightper head or per plant. It is imperative to strive for a homogeneous plant stand. An evenrow spacing and in-row plant spacing will reduce competition for available soil moisture.Accurateness in planting, and where necessary a thinning operation, should be carried out.Even to achieve low plant densities, enough seed should be used to compensate for lossesduring planting and germination. The 10 kg seed pockets/ha, distributed under the droughtrelief scheme, seem too much, but must be based on similar experiences.

It was observed, that plants from the plots with the highest plant densities, developed thelowest number of tillers. For the control plots the grain weight from harvested headsdecreased with increasing plant populations. An extreme example occurred on trial siteXhane (M2), where a plant density of only 1700 plants/ha was achieved, and a mean of3-6 tillers developed per plant, yielding on average 78 g/head.

All trials that yielded well ( > 450 kg/ha, corresponding to 6.5 (70kg) bags), received aminimum amount of 20 mm of rain during the establishment phase of the crop. This tenday period just after germination, seems to be crucial for the crop development. Whenestablished well, the small plants are more resistant to possible dry spells.

A simple classification of first dry spells of the season was made (see section 2.2). Theanalysis made was too superficial to advise the best time of planting for the limitation ofcrop damage or failure due to dry spells. Dry spells can not be avoided, as they areinherent to agro-ecological conditions in Botswana. Farmers can only try to minimize theimpact of dry spells on their crop yield by a good preparation, swift action andconcentration on small areas per planting opportunity. After characterization of the firstdry spell, a prediction could perhaps be made concerning the final crop performance,indicating which crop management operations are still advisable.

Considering the low to average rainfall received during the trial season, the use of singlesuperphosphate fertilizer was rather successful. From the nine trial sites, where bothcontrol and fertilized plots reached harvest stage, in six instances the fertilized plot yieldedhigher than the control. The average yield increase due to fertilizer use was 97 %, ranging

33

from 43-181 %. In two cases the fertilized and the control yield did not significantly differ;the fertilized yield was 2 % and 4 % higher respectively. At one trial, however, the controlplot yielded 41 % higher than the fertilized. To investigate the financial viability of the usedproduction systems, a gross margin analysis was carried out. When assuming a differencein gross margin of 20 % as significant, fertilizer use would be attractive in 22 % of thecases, when paid off in one year. In another 22 % no financial difference is achieved andin 56 % fertilizer is not profitable. If,, however, the cost of fertilizer is spread over threeyears (assuming a residual effect), in 56 % of the trials the fertilized plot has a significantlybetter gross margin than the control plot. In 22 % no significant difference is achieved andin the remaining 22 % the fertilizer did not pay off.

For proper plant development, effective and timely weeding and bird scaring are highlyrecommended. Weeding with a cultivator proved to be successful, as in some instancesdelayed weeding to protect seedlings against wind erosion seemed important. Extensionefforts should be increased concerning the explanation of the relationship between fertilizerand increased weed growth. More attention should be given to the development of birdscaring techniques (like at the Mmathethe trial, K7) in order to alleviate this important taskfor farmers.

After swift action, spraying by the Plant Protection Division against several insects hasproven to be effective. It is recommended, that farmers contact this Division as soon aspest or diseases have been observed. On the other hand, insecticides and pesticides shouldbe made more widely available to the farming community through government or privateoutlets, so that timely action can be undertaken by farmers themselves and the relianceon government officers can be decreased.

As traditionally grain yields in Botswana are low, it can be recommended to harvest"mothalane" heads, which in the Southern Region formed up to 7.2 `)/0 of the yield.

The yields achieved on the successful control plots in the Southern Region are in 6 out ofthe 7 cases higher than the yields of the farmers' fields. The positive differences vary from17-625 %. The main reasons for the better performance of the trial plots must be soughtin better crop husbandry. Labour shortage resulted often in improper weeding andbirdscaring on the sometimes large farmers' fields, while enough attention was paid to thesmall trial plots.

For a more sound correlation of trial yields and CYSLAMB predictions, it is imperative tohave proper soil analysis results. An effort should be made to achieve a higher degree ofreliability in soil laboratory output in Botswana.

Despite the poor to moderate rainfall season and the high amount of crop failure and notrealized trials, certainly in the Southern Region the main objective of the trials (to showfarmers the scope for improvement) has been met. The recommendations as generated byCYSLAMB regarding timing of operations and the use of fertilizer can be adopted bymotivated and meticulous farmers. Not all the obtained yield figures can be used for thevalidation of the program, due to the impact of not modeled factors on the yield. The trialsdefinitely provided more insight in rainfed cropping in general and in individual managementoperations in particular. Future trials are recommended, especially to collect data undermore favorable rainfall conditions. Future trials may bridge gaps between farmers on theone hand and researchers and policy makers on the other, in order to jointly increaseoutputs of the arable crop production sector in Botswana.

34

APPENDIX I PREPARATION PROTOCOL

ON-FARM CROP TRIALS - SEASON 1994/1995

PREPARATION PROTOCOL

Consultation of concerned officers in Extension and Research (RAO, DAO, DAS, AD, CPO, RARO andothers)

Selection of farmers in cooperation with ADcriteria: - access to draught power, implements and labour

- prepared to experiment- representative

Selection of trial sitescriteria: - 1/2 hectare sites

- plots for fertilized and control on similar positions(altitude, slope and soil types)

Check, if applicable, the condition of the fence of the field and encourage farmer to take appropriateaction, where necessary

Verify cultivation history of the trial sites (crops grovvn, rotation, fertilizer use)

Take soil samples of the top 25 cm for routine analyses (including pH, N, P,

Run CYSLAMB with following parameters set: - rainfall 20 mm or- soil moisture 20 mm- phosphorus rate as analyzed- phosphorus rate of 10 ppm

in order to simulate: - optimal planting date- optimal plant density- optimal time of weeding (30-50 days after planting)

Calculation of phosphorus application rate for fertilized plots.Use Single Superphosphate (SSP) fertilizer and raise initial phosphorus level to 10 ppm.Use following table and formula to calculate the amount of fertilizer required:

bulk densities (in gm/cc): Arenosol 1.50 - 1.55Luvisol ferric 1.50 - 1.65

light 1.45 - 1.55heavy 1,40 - 1.50

Calcisol 1.55 - 1.70Vertisol 1.00 - 1.30Gleysol 1.10

formula: kg P needed = 2.5 x 106 x bulk density x portion of hectare / 106kg single superphosphate needed = kg P needed x 100/10.5 to raise the phosphorus levelof the topsoil of the trial plot with 1 ppm

(N.B. for topsoil is taken 2.5 dm, 106 is surface of 1 ha in dm2, portion of hectare is the surface ofthe fertilized plot, P content of single superphosphate is 10.5 %)

For Arenosols and Luvisols an application of 35 kg SSP corresponds with 1 ppm increase in P level.

Set out trial plots: - two 1/4 hectare plots, preferably 50x50 m per siteone plot fertilized, one control

- mark corners with (white) pegs

Install a rain gauge close to the trial site and instruct AD/farmer/TO how to record

35

Distribute seeds and fertilizer to participating ADs

Collect and prepare draught animals

Inspect, prepare, organize implements: plough, chains, harnesses, planter, harrow, cultivator

Organize access to threshing machine and scale

Identify the planting opportunity after 20 mm of effective rainfall in a given decade.

N.B.: Daily falls greater than the potential evapotranspiration (PET) are considered effective andsummed. As soon as the total effective rainfall in a dekad exceeds 20 mm, planting can take place.Farmers should be informed and mobilized ! The average dekadal PET values can be retrievedfrom the synoptic station databases in CYSLAMB.

Broadcasting of fertilizer by the farmer under supervision

Ploughing and harrowing (uf required)

Planting in rows, as closely to the required optimal plant density as possible

36

APPENDIX II MONITORING PROTOCOL

ON-FARM CROP TRIALS - SEASON 1994/1995

MONITORING PROTOCOL

Recording of rainfall as soon as rain gauge has been installed

Make a sketch map of the trial sites depicting topography, possible soil differences, number of rowsand location of fertilized and control plots for observations on crop performance

Make a rough estimate of the plant density and do observations on the homogeneity of the crop stand(show possible irregularities on the sketch map), 4 vveeks after planting

Mind replanting/gap filling by farmers; if signaled try to eradicate plants and/or map concerned spots

Estimate the weed coverage (% ground cover) just before weeding

Conduct a thinning operation, to reach the optimal plant density, concurrently with a first weedingoperation at the optimal time of weeding (simulated with CYSLAMB)

Estimate the exact plant density, three weeks after the first weeding operation, by counting thenumber of plants in randomly chosen, 2m long sections of 10 rows

Estimate the weed coverage (% ground cover) three weeks after the first weedingoperation

Make observations of: - infestation of pest/diseases, including rate of affected plants- nutrient deficiencies- dry spells, flooding/ponding water, hail/night frost (number of days)

Contact Plant Protection Unit and spray appropriate chemical, when more than 20-30% of plantsaffected by pest/decease

Organize possibly two farm walks; one 4-5 weeks and one 14-15 weeks after planting. All farmersfrom the extension area, where the trial is taking place, should be invited.

Conduct a second weeding operation, if considered necessary, 4-5 weeks after the first weedingoperation

Organize bird scaring activities for approximately 4 weeks during week 11-15 after planting

Harvest after 120 days all cobs/heads of plants in randomly chosen, 2m long sections of 10 rows.Count total number of plants and cobs/heads harvested and observe cob/head quality and grain filling.

When maize, dry at ADs office for 2-3 weeks

Threshing

Weighing and yield calculation

Comparison of achieved yield with CYSLAMB results, using actual (field) plant density

37

APPENDIX III CHECKLIST

38

1. Make a sketch map of field- Show location of .t.:,:rJ1 plots in field

mention landmarks to identify location of plots (dince from identifiahl,:.

fenceposts

to

corners,

etc).

Iwi:cat'e

which

plG

tis

fertilized,

direction of North. Show which ,iirectn rows arh

2,

Show "high" and "low" areas in tield and diffen

in soiltype (sandy

loamy, etc) on the map.

COMMENTS:

1NSrRUCTIONS: The following observatios

Hul

.dbe done at visits to trials:

EVERY VISIT: I) Check rainfall records,

ir

hat falmer is d.

:::Trec-

recording and figures are r.e'

hIe and

into:

RAINTALL SHEET (p3)

2) Record management opere,

sf

LABOUR CALFD

(p,7)

DRAUGHT PUNIR CALENDAR (p,

11)

use of INPUTS (p.12)

an,1 CI-OP OBSERVATIONS (p.13)

Make cor:lents about quality of work, special problems expressed

3. Make a rough estimate of plant density of crop JUST BEFORE WEEDING and

by farmer,

farmers opinion about trials,

,..omparison with own

show possible uneven density on sketch map (do 4

2m sections in each plot,

crop, etc., in the section "comments" at

k.::ttom of relevant

see page 5 for instructions).

pages.

In case of any attacks by pests and diseases: fill in CROP

OBSERVATIONS

(p.13)

and advice supervisor

immediatelly,

so

proper action may be taken.

Estirate

if

farmer

needs

assistance

for

weeding

and

birdscaring.

AT APPROXIMATELLY 30 DAYS AFTER PLANTING:

Measure percentage ground cover by weeds, record in WEED

COVER (1)

(p.4).

Estimate plant density, indicate on sketch map (p.2) and

determine if thinning is required to achieve optimal plant

density.

AT 50 DAYS AFTER PLANTING:

Measure plant density, record in PLANT DENSITY (p.5)

AT 60 DAYS AFTER PLANTING:

Measure percentage ground cover by weeds, record in WEED

COVER

(2)

(p.6).

Estimate

if

second weeding operation

is

necessary.

Note

if

this might conflict with other work by

farmer.

AT 90 DAIS AFTER PLANTING:

Take soil sample from both plots. Samples should be taken

FROM PLANT ROWS.

AT APPROXIMATELLY 120 DAYS

10) Measure yiel3

!m plots and record in

AESSMLN'i

(p.15 and 16).

SITE:

DATE:

FARMERS NAME:

TRIAL PLOT SIZES:

HA

P-CONTENT IN SOIL:

PPM

FERTILIZER TYPE:

FERTILIZER/HA:

KG/HA

FERTILIZER AMOUNT USED:

KG

NUMBER OF ROWS:

FERTILIZED PLOT/

NON-FERTILIZED PLOT

INSTRUCTIONS:

2 22

2 24

25

26

27

2 29

30

TOTAL

RA

INFA

LL

SH

EE

T

SITE:

INSTRUCTIONS: If farmer keeps rainfall records: transfer data from his/her

record to rainfall sheet, after assesing if it is correct. If you do reading:

enter figure. If no data available: contact nearest AD and obtain figure.

11.1

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

MM

IN

imill

1111

1111

1111

1M11

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

0111

1111

1111

11=

1111

1111

1111

1111

1=11

1111

1111

101

1111

1=11

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

M11

1111

1111

1111

=11

1=11

1111

1111

1111

1111

1

1111

1111

1=11

=11

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

11M

1111

1111

1=1

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1011

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

EIN

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

=11

1111

11E

1111

111

M11

1111

1111

1111

0111

1=11

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1011

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

11=

1111

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1111

1101

M11

1111

1111

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1111

1111

11=

1111

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1111

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1111

1110

1M

IIIIII

IIIN

IIIIIM

1111

1111

1111

1111

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1111

1111

111

1111

1111

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1=11

1111

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1=M

1111

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1111

111=

1111

1111

11E

1111

11N

INN

IIIIII

NIE

N11

1111

1111

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1=11

1111

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1110

1111

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1111

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1111

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1101

1111

1111

1111

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1111

1111

1111

1111

111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

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1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

11=

1111

=11

1111

1111

1111

111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1110

1111

1111

1111

1111

11=

1111

1111

1111

1111

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1111

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1111

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1111

1111

1111

111

M11

1111

1111

1111

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1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

111

1111

11=

1111

1111

1111

1111

0111

1111

11=

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

111=

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1=M

1111

1111

1111

111

1111

1111

1111

=11

1111

1111

1111

1011

1111

1111

1111

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0111

1111

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1111

1.11

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

11

10

20

DATE

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

WE

ED

CO

VE

R (

1)

SITE:

INSTRUCTION: Estimate percentage weed cover using 10 quadrats JUST BEFORE

WEEDING

(Approx.

30

days after planting).

Use the

following method to

identify the rows to sample: Count the total number of rows in a plot, divide

by three, and sample each row representing a third of the width (eg. in case

of 66 rows, sample between row number 22 and 23 from both borders (66/3=22).

Sample distance:

- 19 m in case of 100 m long plots and 9 m in case

of 50 m long plots

Place first quadrat:

- 4.5 m from the end.

DATE:

Quadrat number

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Percentage ground

cover (mean)

Percentage groundcover by weeds in quadrat

Fertilized plot

Non-fertilized plot

2)

If weed cover is very uneven in plots,

make sketch of

different areas (indícate average weed cover in each area in %)

2) SKETCH OF PLOTS WITH AREAS OF DIFFERENT % WEED COVER

CunTs: (any dominant weeds, very noxious weeds....):

SITE:

DATE:

INSTRUCTIONS: Count the number of live plants in 10 sections each measuring

2m in each plot

TH

RE

E W

EE

KS

AFT

ER

WE

ED

ING

.Count the number of plants in 5

2m long sections in two rows and record below. Use the following method to



of 66 rows, sample on row number 22 from both borders (66/3=22).

Sample first 2111 section:

-4 m from the end.

Section number

2 4 5 6 7 9 10

Total no. of plants

Plot length

Plot width

Rows sampled (eg.

number 22 and 44)

No. of rows

Plant density (mean)

Number of plants in section

Fertilized plot

Non-fertilized plot

70MMENTS (evenness of plant density, reasons, etc):

SITE:

DATE:

INSTRUCTION: Estimate percentage weed cover using 10 quadrats 4

WE

EK

S A

FTE

RW

EE

DIN

G(Approx.

60 days after planting).

Use the

following method to



of 66 rows, sample between row number 22 and 23 from both borders (66/3=22).

Sample distance:


of 50 m long plots

2)

If weed cover is very uneven in plots,

make sketch of

different areas (indicate average weed cover in each area in %)

2)

SKETCH OF PLOTS WITH AREAS OF DIFFERENT % WEED COVER

COMMENTS:

(any dominant weeds, very noxious weeds....):

Quadrat number

Percentage groundcover by weeds in quadrat

Fertilized plot

Non-fertilized plot

2 4 5 6 7 9 10 Percentage ground

cover (mean)

PLA

NT

DE

NSI

TY

WE

ED

CO

VE

R (

2)

Sample distance:


of 50 m long plots

Place first quadrat:

- 4.5 m from the end.

1. T

RIA

L P

LO

TS

LAB

OU

R C

ALE

ND

AR

SIT

E:

CO

MM

EN

TS:

LAB

OU

R C

ALE

ND

AR

(co

ntin

ued)

2. F

IEL

D

CO

MM

EN

TS:

ACTIVITY

Period(s):

Area

Time spent on

Record dates

(ha)

activity. Record

in hours or half

or full days

L bour force used

Household

Hired

age no. e pen-

se

gen-

de

PLOUGHING11111111111111111111

FERTILIZING11

1111

.111

1111

1111

111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1111

1PLANTING

WT

1111

1111

11.1

1111

1111

1BIRDSCARINGM

aIl

l11

1111

1111

OTHER:

IIIIII

IIIIIM

IIIIII

IOTHER:

1111

1111

1111

1111

HARVESTINGIIM

IIIIII

IIIIII

MIII

IIIIII

I

ACTIVITY

Period(s):

Record dates

Area

(ha)

Time spent on

activity. Record

in hours or half

or full days

Labour force used

Household

Hired

name

age no. expen-

se

age gen-

der

P OUGHING

F RTILIZING

PLANTING

WEEDING

ethod:

BIRDSCARING

OTHER:

OTHER:

RSTING

EXAMPLE OF

SKETCH MAP OF FIELD SHOWING WHEN OPERATIONS TOOK PLACE

IN

DIFFERENT PARTS OF FIELD.

COMMENTS:

A0B

(,,,,

CA

LMO

R A

ntic

.,INSTRUCTIONS: Show on sketch map when

activities took place at different

areas of field (see example on

following page).

COMMENTS:

ield)

plough:1.11-3.11.94

planting:7.11.94

1

weeding:1.12.94

4

plough:

planting:

weeding:

other:

plough:2.1-7.1.95

planting:10.1.95

2

weeding:15.2.95

other:

plough:

planting:

weeding:

other:

_

plough:

planting:

weeding:

other:

trial

plots

plough:

planting:

weeding:

other:

6

Area 1:

Ha (approx.)

Crop:

Area 2:

Ha (approx.)

Crop:

Area 3:

Ha (approx.)

Crop:

Area 4:

Ha (approx.)

Crop:

Area 5:

Ha (approx.)

Crop:

Area 6:

Ha (approx.)

Crop:

Area 1:

2 Ha (approx.)

Crop:MAIZE

Area 2:

1 Ha (approx.)

Crop:MAIZE

Area 3:

1 Ha (approx.)

Crop:COWPEA

Area 4:

0.5 Ha (approx.)

Crop:SORGHUM

Area 5:

3 Ha (approx.)

Crop:SORGHUM

Area 6:

0.5 Ha (approx.)

Crop:SUNFLOWER

SITE:

INSTRUCTIONS: Record inputs used in trial plots and in field.

ITRIALS

2FIELD

COMMENTS (dates, transport, etc):

SITE:

OTS

.FIELD

DR

A u

kJ-

HT

vl'E

R uALENDAR

COMMENTS:

COMMENTS:

ACTIVITY

Period(s):

Record

dates

Area

(ha)

Time spent on

activity,

Record in hours

or half or full

days

Draught power used (number

and type)

own

Hired

(expense)

Other

PLOUGHING

PLANTING

WEEDING

I 2

OTHER:

P OT

S EDS

FERTILIZER

OTHER:

AMOUNT

(KG)

AREA

(HA)

AMOUNT AREA

(HA)

TYPE AMOUNT SOURCE/

EXPENSEAREA

(HA)

F RTILIZE

NON-

FERTILIZED

CROP

SEEDS

MANURE

OTHER:

TYPE AMOUNT

(KG)

SOURCE/

EXPENSE

AREA

(HA)

TYPE AMOUNT SOURCE/

EXPENSE

AREA

(HA)

TYPE AMOUNT SOURCE/

EXPENSEAREA

(HA)

ACTIVITY

Period(s):

Record

dates

Area

(ha)

Time spent on

activity,

Record in hours

or half or full

days

Draught power used (number

and type)

own

Hired

(expense)

Other

PLOUGHING

PLANTING

WEEDING

1 2

OTHER:

I. TRIALS

2. FIELD

COMMENTS:

2. FIELD

COMMENTS:

TYPE (Name of

disease, etc)

PLOT (fert/

no fert.)

DATE OF

OCCURRENCE

AFFECTED PLANT

POPULATION (%)

COMMENTS (treatment,

dosage, dates)

CROP STAGE

DATE

DAYS FROM PLANTING

ertilized non-fertilized fertilized non-

fertilized

p anting

p ant emerge ce

flowering

se d formation

maturity (harvest)

CROP STAGE

DATE

DAYS FROM PLANTING

planting

plant emergence

flowering

seed formation

maturity (harvest)

TYPE

CROP

DATE OF

OCCURRENCE

AFFECTED PLANT

POPULATION (%)

COMMENTS (treatment,

dosage, dates)

SITE:

DATE:

SITE:

INSTRUCTIONS: Record any effect of pests, diseases, dry spells, nutrient

INSTRUCTIONS: Record the date that crop (more than 90% of all plants) have

deficiencies, hail damage, standing water,

frost. For field: Record only

reached development stage. Also calculate number of days from planting.

MAJOR attacks!!

Repeat for same crop in field as in trials (sorghum or maize).

I. TRIAL

CR

OP

OB

SER

VA

TIO

NS

(I)

CR

OP

OB

SER

VA

TIO

NS

(2)

FERTILIZED PLOT

.NON-FERTILIZED PLOTHA

RV

EST

ASS

ESS

ME

NT

(co

ntin

ued)

HA

RV

EST

ASS

ESS

ME

NT

)KMENTS:

sITE:

HARVEST DATE:

THRESHING DATE:

INSTRUCTIONS: Select 10 quadrats for harvesting using same method as

for

plant density measurements. Repeat for both plots.

The harvest assessment includes recording: total number of main sorghum

plants (excluding tillers) alive within each quadrant, the number of these

plants which have produced grain (excluding tillers)

and average plant

height. Average plant height is for productive plants in the quadrats only

and is based on visual assessment of average height to main panicles.

All sorghum heads or signs of heads within the quadrant are counted. They

are recorded in the table on the next page as follows:

Ready for harvest: Heads which are present and ready for harvest

Immature heads: Heads which are still immature but which could still

be harvested later. Immature heads which will not reach maturity during

the season should be ignored.

Grazed/picked heads:

Heads which are missing and stalk or

panicle

showing signs of feeding by livestock or birds. Partially damaged heads

should be treated as heads Ready for harvest.

All heads that are ready for harvest are cut and put in a sack. Labeling

on sack should include sita, plot (fertilized/non-fertilized)

and date. Weigh

the sack empty and record weight. Weigh sack+heads and record weight. Leave

heads to dry, if needed, before threshing. Fill in table below with data.

When heads are at a threshing moisture, they should be threshed and

gra'

weighted. Follow the same procedure as with heads (weigh the sack empty a

record weight.

Weigh

sack+grain

and record weight).

Immediately

att

weighing the threshed grains, 2 samples should be sealed in moisture pro,

containers (if short transport distance: sealed plastic bags) and sent to tt

staff in charge of trials for moisture determination.

COMMENTS:

uadrant

0Sorghum plants

Sorghum heads

Total

plants

Productive

plants

Plant

height

Ready for

harvest

Immature

heads

Grazed/picked

heads

o-

tiadrant

7Sorghum plants

Sorghum heads

Total

plants

Productive

plants

Plant

height

Ready for

harvest

Immature

heads

Grazed/picked

heads

0

f

Yield estimate data

Fertilized plot

non-fertilized plot

Empty sack weight

Weight of sack + heads

harvested from 10

quadrats

Empty sack weight

Weight of sack + grain

harvested from 10

quadrats

Grain moisture (%)

-

APPENDIX IV TRIAL PROGRESS

The soil analysis results for the CEC, Ca, Mg, K and Na levels are expressed in the unit cmol + /kg. The pHresults for the Chobe, Francistown and Serowe trials are expressed as pH-CaCl2, while for the Kanye and Mauntrials the pH-H20 results are given.

NORTH WEST REGION / CHOBE

Trial sites:

Cl KachikauC2 KachikauC3 KavimbaC4 KavimbaC5 KavimbaC6 KavimbaC7 MabeleC8 MabeleC9 MabeleCl O Mabele

Kasan

c,d"6C9-C1 0

C1 'C3-C4-05-C2

CHOBE

47

48

TRIAL SITE CS Kavimba Cl Kachikau

SYNOPTIC STATION Kasane Kasane

RAINFALL STATION Kavímba Kachikau

yearly average 614 mm 532 mm

01 Dec 19

I

20

02 Dec 1.6 2

09 Dec 1.5

11 Dec 2.1 10

22 Dec 30

23 Dec 2

24 Dec 5

28 Dec 10

29 Dec 28 21

30 Dec 19

31 Dec 21 2

09 Jan 20.5

10 Jan 14

12 Jan 15

13 Jan 25.5 29

19 Jan 5

27 Jan 11

31 Jan 1

03 Feb

04 Feb 10 6

05 Feb 3

06 Feb

09 Feb 7

11 Feb 10

12 Feb 6

13 Feb 4

14 Feb 18.5 10

19 Feb 8

20 Feb

22 Feb 28.5 11

23 Feb 20 7

27 Mar 150.5 100

28 Mar 120

29 Mar 15

02 Apr 65 60

10 Apr

25 Apr 2

26 Apr 1

23 May 30

TOTAL 606.7 425

% of AVERAGE 99 % 80 %

Cl

KA

CH

IKA

U

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: L

uvi-S

tagn

ic P

haeo

zem

AW

HC

: unk

now

nfe

rtili

zer

type

1;

fert

ilize

r ty

pe 2

:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

c op

:so

rghu

m S

egao

lane

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d,

Far

mer

fert

ilize

d pl

ots

in th

e de

kad

JAN

1/9

5 an

d pl

ough

ed th

e sa

me

deka

d w

ith h

is o

wn

donk

eys.

He

incu

rred

a d

elay

in p

lant

ing

(don

e in

dek

ad J

AN

2/95

), d

ue to

rep

air

of th

e ro

w p

lant

er. A

slig

htm

isun

ders

tand

ing

with

the

AD

cau

sed

the

dela

y in

rep

air.

Fin

ally

the

crop

did

not

est

ablis

h.

C2

KA

CH

1KA

U

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: S

odi-L

uvic

Cal

ciso

lA

WH

C: u

nkno

vvn

fert

ilize

r ty

pe 1

:fe

rtili

zer

type

2:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

crop

:so

rghu

m S

egao

lane

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

The

plo

ts w

ere

fert

ilize

d in

the

deka

d JA

N 1

/95.

Far

mer

was

del

ayed

in p

loug

hing

/pla

ntin

g, b

ecau

se s

heha

d to

wai

t for

a h

ired

trac

tor

until

JA

N2/

95. G

erm

inat

ion

was

ver

y po

or. T

he tr

ial p

lots

wer

e lo

cate

d on

a so

dic

soil;

sal

t was

obs

erve

d on

the

surf

ace.

Mr

H. L

unge

raA

LDE

P m

odel

II

slop

e 0-

1°U

TM

pos

ition

: 231

067E

799

4856

N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 2

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

00 k

g/ha

3:2:

1ap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

00 k

g/ha

Ms

A. M

otlh

oka

ALD

EP

mod

el I

slop

e: 0

-10

UT

M p

ositi

on: 2

3371

0E 7

9908

94N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 1

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

00 k

g/ha

3:2:

1ap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

00 k

g/ha

C3

KA

VIM

BA

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: S

tagn

ic L

uvis

olA

WH

C: u

nkno

wn

fert

ilize

r ty

pe 1

:

tops

o I a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

c op

:m

aize

Kal

ahar

i Ear

ly P

earl

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

The

plo

ts w

ere

fert

ilize

d an

d pl

ough

ed b

y a

hire

d tr

acto

r in

the

deka

d D

EC

1/94

. Plo

ughi

ng to

ok p

lace

that

early

, bec

ause

the

farm

er h

ad b

ooke

d th

e tr

acto

r fo

r th

at d

ekad

. Pla

ntin

g w

as d

one

stra

ight

afte

rpl

ough

ing

in th

e sa

me

deka

d. G

erm

inat

ion

was

poo

r an

d pl

ants

stu

nted

; the

plo

ts w

ere

wee

ded,

but

no

harv

est w

as o

btai

ned.

C4

KA

VIM

BA

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: S

tagn

ic L

uvis

olA

WH

C: u

nkno

wn

fert

ilize

r ty

pe 1

:f e

rtili

zer

type

2:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

Mr

G. L

ekok

oto

ALD

EP

mod

el II

I

slop

e: 0

-1°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 2

4268

7E 7

9992

27N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

l7

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

a o

rate

: 200

kg/

ha

Ms

E. M

azun

gaA

LDE

P m

odel

I

slop

e; 0

-1°

LEF

M p

oson

: 243

141E

799

8249

N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 9

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

00 k

g/ha

3:2:

1ap

plic

at o

n ra

te: 2

00 k

g/ha

c op

:m

aize

Kal

ahar

i Ear

ly P

earl

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

The

plo

ts w

ere

fert

ilize

d an

d pl

ough

ed b

y a

hire

d tr

acto

r in

the

deka

d D

EC

3/94

. Far

mer

did

not

pla

nt; s

heab

ando

ned

her

field

and

wen

t to

Kas

ane

beca

use

of s

ocia

l circ

umst

ance

s.

pH-C

aCI,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

4.1

2.1

24.2

423

.93.

690.

280.

96

pH-C

aCl2

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

7,1

0.9

5.92

15.1

61.

250.

360.

20

pH-C

aCI,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

7.2

0.4

3,24

9.9

1.06

0.77

0.44

pH-C

aCI,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

7.0

0.9

4.16

177.

62.

070.

320.

12

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: E

utric

Gle

ysol

AW

HC

: unk

now

nfe

rtili

zer

type

1:

fert

ilize

r ty

pe 2

:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

crop

:m

aize

Ka

ahar

i Ear

ly P

earl

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d_

Plo

ts w

ere

fert

ilize

d in

the

deka

d D

EC

3194

. A d

elay

in p

loug

hing

by

hire

d tr

acto

r an

d pl

antin

g oc

curr

ed(d

one

in J

AN

1/9

5), d

ue to

occ

upat

ions

with

cat

tle. G

erm

inat

ed v

ery

poor

and

fina

lly c

rop

faile

d to

yie

ld.

tops

oil a

naly

s s

cont

rol p

lot:

crop

:m

aize

Kal

ahar

i Ear

ly P

earl

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

Plo

t vva

s fe

rtili

zed

in th

e de

kadD

EC

1/94

. A lo

ng d

elay

in p

loug

hing

by

hire

d tr

acto

r an

d pl

antin

g oc

curr

ed(d

one

in J

AN

2/95

), d

ue to

occ

upat

ions

with

cat

tle. N

o ge

rmin

atio

n to

ok p

lace

,

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: M

ollie

Gle

ysal

AW

HC

: unk

now

nfe

rtili

zer

type

1:

tops

o I a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

crop

:m

aize

Kal

ahar

i Ear

ly P

earl

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

Plo

t was

fert

ilize

d in

the

deka

d D

EC

1/94

. Afte

r ha

ving

wai

ted

for

a tr

acto

r, th

e fa

rmer

dec

ided

to p

loug

hw

ith h

is o

wn

oxen

in D

EC

3/94

. Pla

ntin

g w

as d

one

imm

edia

tely

afte

r pl

ough

ing.

Ger

min

atio

nw

as v

ery

poor

and

as

a re

sult

no h

arve

st w

as o

btai

ned.

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

c op

:m

aize

Kal

ahar

i Ear

ly P

earl

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

Fer

tiliz

ing

was

don

e in

the

deka

d D

EC

1/94

. The

farm

er w

as r

eluc

tant

to p

loug

hon

rec

omm

enda

tion

ofA

LUP

s an

d di

d no

t ide

ntify

a p

rope

r pl

antin

g op

port

unity

for

him

self

until

mid

Jan

uary

and

sub

sequ

ently

left

the

land

s to

look

for

empl

oym

ent i

n K

asan

e. H

e ju

dged

"la

te"

plan

ting

not f

inan

cial

ly v

iabl

e.

pH-C

aCI,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

4.0

1.8

21.2

818

.53.

760.

770.

76

pH-C

aCI,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

6.8

1.9

20.1

614

0.8

33.6

1.98

10.4

3

pH-C

aCl2

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

6.0

1.8

19.4

24.8

5.27

1.58

1.12

pH-C

a C

I,or

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

5.4

2.4

32.8

428

.94,

71.

010.

72

C5

KA

VIM

BA

Mr

San

kwas

aA

LDE

P m

odel

Ill

C7

MA

BE

LEM

r N

. Nku

mba

ALD

EP

mod

el Il

l

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope:

0-1

°U

TM

pos

ition

: (ne

xt to

5/te

C5)

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope:

0-1

°U

TM

pos

ition

: 249

958E

801

0394

Nso

iltyp

e: E

utric

Gle

ysol

soilt

ype:

Mol

lic G

leys

olA

WH

C: u

nkno

wn

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il; 2

7 pp

mA

WH

C: u

nkno

wn

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 8

ppm

fert

ilize

r ty

pe 1

:si

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icon

rat

e: 2

00 k

g/ha

fert

ilize

r ty

pe 1

:si

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

ica

o ra

te 2

00 k

g/ha

slop

e: 0

-1°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 2

4071

9E 7

9967

40N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 3

5 pp

msi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 200

kg/

ha3:

2:1

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 200

kg/

ha

slop

e: 0

-1'

UT

M p

ositi

on: 2

5030

9E 8

0105

52N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 1

1 pp

msi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 200

kg/

ha

C6

KA

VIM

BA

Mr

Kan

yenv

uA

LDE

P m

odel

Ill

C8

MA

BE

LEM

r P

. Mab

uku

ALD

EP

mod

el II

plot

siz

e: 0

,25

haso

iltyp

e: M

ollic

Gle

ysol

AV

VH

C: 1

30 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe 1

:fe

rtili

zer

type

2:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

top

soil

text

ure:

fin

crop

:m

aize

Kal

ahar

i Ear

ly P

earl

fert

ilize

d pl

ot 1

:fe

rtili

zed

plot

2:

cont

rol p

lot:

slop

e: 0

-2°

UT

M p

osih

o24

8433

E 8

0076

06N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

6 pp

msi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 200

kg/

ha3:

2:1

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 200

kg/

ha

drai

nage

: im

perf

ectly

num

ber

of r

ows:

55

num

ber

of r

ows:

42

num

ber

of r

ows:

51

soil

dept

h: 1

00 +

cm

plan

t den

s ty

: 41,

800

p1/h

apl

ant d

ensi

ty: 2

9,40

0 pl

/ha

plan

t den

sity

: 24,

500

p1/h

a

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: M

ollic

Gle

ysol

AW

HC

: unk

now

nfe

rtili

zer

type

1:

fert

ilize

r ty

pe 2

:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

crop

:m

aize

Kal

ahar

i Ear

ly P

earl

resu

lt:T

rial f

a le

d.

Fer

tiliz

ing

was

don

e in

the

deka

d S

EP

1194

. Far

mer

cou

ld o

nly

plou

gh/p

lant

with

his

ow

n ox

en, o

ne w

eek

afte

r fe

rtili

zing

(S

EP

2/94

), d

ue to

the

oblig

ator

y va

ccin

atio

n ag

ains

t F&

MD

of h

is o

xen.

The

ani

mal

s vv

ere

not a

llow

ed to

do

any

heav

y ph

ysic

al la

bour

for

two

wee

ks a

fter

the

jab.

PH

-Caa

,or

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

4,7

3.4

37.4

427

.44.

510.

810.

96

pH-C

a C

I,or

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

5.8

1.8

20.3

622

.53.

890.

650.

88

C9

MA

BE

LEM

s E

. Chi

swan

iso

ALD

EP

mod

el Il

lC

10 M

AB

ELE

Mr

M. S

amos

ojo

ALD

EP

mod

el II

I

mol

apo

farm

inq

tria

lm

olap

o fa

rmin

g tr

ial

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

1: 2

750

kg/h

aA

s th

e fa

rmer

's fi

eld

was

situ

ated

on

the

slop

e of

a c

hann

el a

nd s

ince

the

grou

nd w

ater

tabl

e dr

oppe

dqu

ickl

y, g

erm

inat

ion

vvas

ver

y po

or a

nd n

o yi

eld

was

ach

ieve

d.yi

eld

fert

ilize

d pl

ot 2

: 252

0 kg

/ha

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:17

70 k

g/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

234

0 kg

/ha

Far

mer

fert

ilize

d in

SE

P1/

94 a

nd p

loug

hed/

plan

ted

with

ow

n ox

en in

SE

P2/

94. T

he p

lant

s in

the

two

fert

ilize

d pl

ots

deve

lope

d be

tter,

than

thos

e fr

om th

e co

ntro

l plo

t. T

he fe

rtili

zed

plot

s, h

owev

er, w

ere

mor

e in

fest

ed w

ith w

eeds

. The

mai

n w

eed

was

Ses

bani

a bi

spin

osa,

a le

gum

inou

s w

eed.

Whe

n th

e w

eed

was

upr

oote

d, it

vva

s ob

serv

ed th

at th

e ro

ots

of th

e w

eed

plan

ts o

n bo

th fe

rtili

zed

plot

s ha

d m

ore

nitr

ogen

fixa

ting

nodu

les

than

thos

e of

the

cont

rol p

lot.

The

fer

lized

pla

nts

flovv

ered

2 w

eeks

ear

lier

than

the

cont

rol p

lot.

On

aver

age

one

cob

was

form

ed p

erpl

ant.

Dur

ing

the

last

two

mon

ths

quite

a lo

t of i

nsec

ts w

ere

foun

d an

d at

har

vest

mos

t of t

he c

obs

wer

eaf

fect

ed. T

he in

fest

atio

n re

sulte

d on

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ots

in a

yie

ld lo

ss o

f app

roxi

mat

ely

40-5

0 %

; on

the

cont

rol p

lot i

t was

som

ewha

t lov

ver

30-4

0 %

, Har

vest

ing

was

don

e in

the

deka

d F

EB

1/95

.

slop

e: 2

'U

TM

pos

ition

248

433E

800

7606

N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 6

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

at o

n ra

te: 2

00 k

g/ha

3:2:

1ap

plic

at o

n ra

te: 2

00 k

g/ha

NORTH EAST REGION / FRANCISTOWN

Trial sites:

Fi SecheleF2 SiviyaF3 TapaladipooF4 MaitengweF5 MathangwaneF6 MatoboF7 Nata

TUTU ME

0F7

FRANCISTOWNMAS GA

oF1

SOUTHERN REGION / KANYE

Trial sites:

K1 GamoswanaK2 RamonediK3 Lotlhakane WestK4 ManyanaK5 PolokweK6 KanngweK7 MmathetheK8 GasitaK9 SeseK10 MongwalaleK11 Pitsane

NGWAKETSE YVEST

SOUTHERN

.NGWAKETSE CENTRAL-Ke

",:.- "

Kl---------

Pco

NGWAKETSE SOUTHI3AROLONG

-

\.NGWMETSE NORTH

,K3 4-1105

Rainfall data trial sites

53

TRIAL SITE F1 Sechele F2 Siviya F3 Tapaladipoo F6 Matobo

SYNOPTIC STATION Francistown Francistown Francistown Francistown

RAINFALL STATION Tshesebe Tshesebe Tonota Tuturne

yearly average 506 mm 506 mm 436 mm 520 mm

31 Oct 2

01 Nov 11.3 6.3

21 Nov 3.1 17.3

23 Nov 7.8

30 Nov 6 4

01 Dec 1.6

08 Dec 10 21

10 Dec 11.5 10.5

19 Dec 12

20 Dec 3.1

23 Dec 8.1 6.2

25 Dec 15.8 17 10 31.6

26 Dec 13 8

27 Dec 1.2

28 Dec 10 5

09 Jan 10

10 Jan 11

11 Jan

12 Jan 2.5 17

13 Jan 5,5

14 Jan 50

15 Jan 5 67.2

16 Jan 70.9 10 58

30 Jan 12

16 Feb 27

18 Feb 9.5 12 18.9

19 Feb 45.3 35 24 6,5

20 Feb a 27 40

21 Feb 8 5 50 49.7

22 Feb 6

28 Feb 28

18 Mar 38

20 Mar 15

21 Mar 10

22 Mar 8

continued:

54

23 Mar 25

24 Mar 10

25 Mar 15.9

26 Mar 11.4 7.5

27 Mar 5.5 3.5

28 Mar 4.6

29 Mar 4

30 Mar 5 10.3

31 Mar 17

03 Mayi

TOTAL 278.1 272 336 287

% of AVERAGE 55 % 54 % 77 % 55 %

TRIAL SITE F1 Sechele F2 Siviya F3 Tapaladipoo F6 Matobo

resu

lt:T

he r

esul

ts a

re n

ot s

uita

ble

for

com

paris

on, d

ue to

diff

eren

t soi

l typ

es o

f the

plo

ts a

nd a

mix

ture

of s

eeds

.

The

farm

er o

wns

a p

loug

h, b

ut p

loug

hing

was

don

e by

hire

d tr

acto

r, a

fter

broa

dcas

t ng

of s

eed

in th

ede

kad

NO

V3.

A m

ixtu

re o

f var

ietie

s w

as p

lant

ed: r

ed s

orgh

um 7

5 %

, whi

te h

airy

sor

ghum

15

%,

Seg

aola

ne 1

0 %

, mai

ze a

nda

few

mel

ons.

The

ach

ieve

d pl

ant d

ensi

ty is

app

roxi

mat

ely

30,0

00 p

lant

s/ha

; the

cro

p st

and

unev

en w

ith m

any

gaps

.T

he r

ed s

orgh

um p

lant

s w

ere

1.00

-1.4

0m h

igh,

with

2-3

tille

rs p

er p

lant

and

med

ium

to la

rge

mat

urin

ghe

ads;

bird

dam

age

1%. S

egao

lane

pla

nts

are

stun

ted

< 1

.00m

and

thin

, in

grai

n fil

ling

stag

e.

CO

NT

RO

L P

LOT

Bro

adca

sted

and

plo

ughe

d by

hire

d tr

acto

r in

NO

V3.

Als

o a

mix

ture

of s

eeds

, and

sim

ilar

plan

t den

sity

as o

n fe

rtili

zed

plot

; pla

nts

in g

ener

al ta

ller,

bet

ter

deve

lope

d, p

roba

bly

due

to th

e lig

hter

text

ured

soi

l.

fert

ilize

d pl

ot p

lant

den

sity

:11

,000

pl/h

aco

ntro

l plo

t pla

nt d

ensi

ty:

unkn

own

resu

lt:D

ue to

a m

ixtu

re o

f var

ietie

s, g

reat

cau

tion

is r

equ

red

with

the

inte

rpre

at o

n of

the

resu

lts.

Plo

ughi

ng w

as d

one

on 2

4-25

/12/

94 w

ith a

spa

n of

4 d

onke

ys. N

o ha

rrow

ing

oper

atio

n w

as c

arrie

d ou

t.P

lant

ing

was

don

e w

ith 1

don

key

on 2

8/12

/94.

Fer

tiliz

er w

as a

pplie

d as

a to

p dr

essi

ng o

n 07

/01/

95. A

wee

ding

ope

ratio

n w

as c

ondu

cted

4-5

wee

ks a

tter

plan

ting.

visi

t 15/

05/9

5

FE

RT

ILIZ

ED

PLO

T

A m

ixtu

re o

f var

ietie

s w

as o

bser

ved:

sor

ghum

Seg

aola

ne fo

rmed

70

% o

f the

pla

nt s

tand

, whi

te h

airy

sorg

hum

30

%. T

op h

alf o

f fie

ld h

ad a

n ev

en a

nd r

athe

r ho

mog

eneo

us p

lant

sta

nd; t

he m

ajor

ity o

f the

plan

ts w

as 1

.20-

1.50

m h

igh,

thin

ste

ms

and

few

tille

rs. P

lant

s w

ere

in g

rain

filli

ng to

rip

enin

g st

age,

with

med

ium

siz

ed h

eads

. Bot

tom

hal

f of f

ield

had

a p

oor

stan

d; p

lant

s st

unte

d an

d th

inly

ste

mm

ed, p

erha

psdu

e to

sha

llow

soi

l. N

o bi

rd p

robl

em. H

arve

stin

g w

as d

one

arou

nd b

egin

ning

of J

une.

CO

NT

RO

L P

LOT

Plo

t was

infe

sted

by

arm

y w

orm

; in

orde

r to

con

trol

the

pest

, the

farm

er d

ecid

ed to

plo

ugh

the

plot

. The

spre

adin

g of

pes

t was

sto

pped

, but

the

cont

rol p

lot w

as n

ot r

epla

nted

.

pH-C

aCl2

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

4.0

0.03

1.98

1.29

0.43

0.69

0.09

pH-C

aCI,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

4.9

0.4

54.0

11.

611.

111.

506.

48

F1

SE

CH

ELE

Ms.

K.K

. Sec

hele

ALD

EP

mod

el II

F2

SIV

IYA

Mr.

Lam

eck

Bac

hech

eA

LDE

P m

odel

I

visi

t 15/

05/9

5F

ertil

ized

plo

t:so

rghu

m S

egao

lane

- 10

5 kg

/ha

sorg

hum

loca

l var

iety

-45

kg/

ha

FE

RT

ILIZ

ED

PLO

TC

ontr

ol p

lot:

faile

d

plot

siz

e: 0

.5 h

asl

ope:

1°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 5

3708

0E 7

7059

66N

soil

type

fert

ilize

d pl

ot: V

ertis

olA

WH

C: u

nkno

wn

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 7

ppm

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 5

0 kg

/ha

soil

type

con

trol

plo

t: C

hrom

ic L

uvis

ol, p

etric

pha

seA

WH

C: u

nkno

wn

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: u

nkno

wn

tops

o I a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

plot

siz

e: 0

.5 h

asl

ope:

1-2

°U

TM

pos

ition

: 568

445E

769

3539

Nso

iltyp

e: C

ambi

c A

reno

sol

AW

HC

: 65

mm

/mP

hosp

horu

s co

nten

t top

soil:

4 p

pmfe

rtili

zer

type

:si

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 50

kg/h

a

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

F3

TA

PA

LAD

IPO

O

plot

siz

e: 0

.5 h

aso

iltyp

e: C

hrom

ic L

uvis

olA

WH

C: u

nkno

wn

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

F4

MA

ITE

NG

WE

resu

lt:N

o pl

antin

g op

port

unity

was

iden

tifie

d an

d no

plo

ughi

ng w

as d

one.

Tria

l was

te m

nat

ed.

Mr.

Dan

iel F

ranc

isA

LDE

P m

odel

slop

e 1°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 5

6064

0E 7

6143

13N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 7

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 5

0 kg

/ha

resu

lt:T

he r

esul

ts a

re n

ot s

uita

ble

f or

com

paris

on, d

ue to

the

use

of lo

cal v

arie

ties.

visi

t 16/

05/9

5

Plo

ts tr

acto

r pl

ough

ed a

nd r

owpl

ante

d m

uch

late

r IJ

AN

21 th

an fa

rmer

's fi

eld

INO

V31

; far

mer

not

too

inte

rest

ed. P

oor

germ

inat

ion,

no

wee

ding

nor

bird

scar

ing

done

. Une

ven

plan

t sta

nds.

100

% lo

cal r

edso

rghu

m v

arie

ty u

sed;

wee

d co

ver

appr

oxim

atel

y 40

%.

Far

mer

spe

nt ti

me

on b

irdsc

arin

g on

his

ow

n fie

ld a

nd n

egle

cted

tria

l plo

ts, r

esul

ting

in a

ppro

xim

atel

y 10

% b

ird d

amag

e on

hea

ds o

f tria

l plo

ts.

Far

mer

's fi

eld

look

ed v

ery

un fo

rm, r

elat

ivel

y hi

gh p

lant

den

sity

30,

000

+ ,

with

thin

ste

mm

ed p

lant

s;al

read

y ha

rves

ted.

FE

RT

ILIZ

ED

PLO

T

Uni

form

pla

nt h

eigh

t of 1

.30m

; pla

nts

that

ger

min

ated

are

med

ium

-wel

l dev

elop

ed a

nd h

avin

g up

to 6

tille

rs; h

eads

med

ium

to la

rge

for

the

varie

ty a

nd m

atur

ing.

CO

NT

RO

L P

LOT

Pla

nts

slig

htly

less

dev

elop

ed th

an fe

rtili

zed

plot

.

The

tota

l yie

ld o

btai

ned

from

bot

h th

e fe

rtili

zed

and

the

cont

rol p

lot w

as a

ppro

xim

atel

y 12

0 kg

/ha

red

sorg

hum

.

F5

MA

TH

AN

GW

AN

E

resu

lt:T

his

tria

l was

sup

pose

d to

hav

e be

en c

arrie

d ou

t und

er s

uper

visi

on o

f the

Dep

artm

ent o

fA

gric

ultu

ral R

esea

rch;

ho

wav

er, f

ertil

izer

was

not

ava

ilabl

e in

tim

e an

d he

nce

no p

loug

hing

has

been

und

erta

ken.

The

tria

l was

term

inat

ed.

F6

MA

TO

BO

plot

siz

e: 1

ha

soilt

ype:

unk

now

nA

WH

C: u

nkno

wn

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

Mr.

Fad

zani

Mm

usi

ALD

EP

mod

el I

slop

e: 1

0U

TM

pos

ition

: 511

125E

772

4278

N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: u

nkno

wn

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

at o

n ra

te: 2

5 kg

/ha

Thi

s tr

ial w

as c

arrie

d ou

t and

mon

itore

d by

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

tura

l Res

earc

h F

ranc

isto

wn,

whi

chal

so p

rovi

ded

the

farm

er w

ith a

row

pla

nter

. By

mis

take

all

fert

ilize

r w

as a

pplie

d on

1 h

a, in

clud

ing

both

the

fert

ilize

d an

d th

e co

ntro

l plo

t. H

ence

no

cont

rol p

lot o

n th

is tr

ial s

ite. T

he tr

ial w

as p

lant

ed w

ith r

edso

rghu

m, l

ocal

var

iety

(pr

obab

ly b

e so

rghu

m 8

01in

Jan

uary

199

5. N

o ha

rrow

ing

was

don

e, b

ut a

wee

ding

oper

atio

n w

as c

ondu

cted

.No

bird

pro

blem

s oc

curr

ed. A

lread

y ha

rves

ted

by M

ay 1

5th,

so

site

not

vis

ited.

The

yie

ld o

f red

sor

ghum

am

ount

ed 4

0.5

kg/h

a.

F7

NA

TA

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

resu

lt:T

he fe

rtili

zer

was

not

ava

ilabl

e in

tim

e an

d no

pla

ntin

g op

port

uni y

was

iden

tifie

d in

tim

e, s

ono

plo

ughi

ng to

ok p

lace

. The

tria

l was

term

inat

ed.

pH-C

aC12

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

5.2

0.09

9.9

7.32

1.16

0.65

0.08

pH-C

aCI,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

6.3

0.1

5.53

4.44

0.75

0.89

0.08

fert

ilize

d pl

ot p

lant

den

sity

:10

,000

pi/h

are

sult:

Res

ults

not

sui

tabl

ef o

r co

mpa

rison

, due

to w

rong

fert

ilize

r ap

plic

atio

nand

use

of l

ocal

var

iety

.

cont

rol p

lot p

lant

den

sity

:5,

000

pl/h

a

Rainfall data trial sites K1-K6

58

TRIAL SITE K1 Gamoswana K2 Ramonedi K3 Lotlhakane K4 Manyana K5 Polokwe K6 Kanngwe

SYNOPTIC STATION Kanye Konya Kanye Kanye Kanye Konya

RAINFALL STATION Kanye Pelotshetla Moshupa Moshupa Polokyve Pelorsherla

yearly average 490 mm 537 mm 389 mm 389 mm 429 mm 537 mmr

23 Oct

28 Oct 2

03 Nov 4.5 7 5

05 Nov 20

06 Nov

12 Nov 5 7

13 Nov 10

05 Dec 2

07 Dec 4.4 10 10

08 Dec 10 5 2 4

09 Dec 4 15

10 Dec 4

15 Dec 4

18 Dec 1 7

23 Dec 2

24 Dec 34

26 Dec 13 30 44

27 Dec 18 10 60 22

28 Dec 3 8.5

31 Dec 2 6

01 Jan 10

03 Jan 7

08 Jan 12

11 Jan

12 Jan 12 6 20

13 Jan 20 36 20

14 Jan 2 3 14

15 Jan 14 4.5 7

18 Jan 5

29 Jan 21

31 Jan 18 24 25 30

02 Feb 32

03 Feb 4

05 Feb 7

22 Feb 20

continued:

59

25 Feb 4.5 20 15 8

26 Feb 12 11 6

27 Feb 3 22 6

01 Mar 7 40

04 Mar

05 Mar

13 Mar 2

14 Mar 10

22 Mar 31

23 Mar 30 16 30

24 Mar 30 21 24 4 20

25 Mar 3 4 30

26 Mar 38 27 46

27 Mar 4 4 23 5

28 Mar 6

29 Mar 13

30 Mar 19 21 4 29

28 Apr 7.5 10 4.5 22

29 Apr 15 13.5 12

30 Apr 10 10

03 May 5

TOTAL 237.5 190.4 295 266.5 385.5 179

% of AVERAGE 48 % 35 % 76 % 68 % 90 % 33 °A,

TRIAL SITE K1 Gamoswana K2 Ramonedi K3 Lotlhakane K4 Manyana K5 Polokwe K6 Kanngwe

Rainfall data trial sites K7-K11

60

TRIAL SITE K7 Mmathethe 1(8 Gasita 1(9 Sese K10 Mongwalale K11 Pitsane

SYNOPTIC STATION Kanye Kanye Kanye Kanye Kanye

RAINFALL STATION Pelotshetle Jwaneng Jvvaneng Pitsane Pitsane

yearly average 537 mm 485 mm 485 mm 452 mm 452 mm

27 Oct 6 8

28 Oct

29 Oct 2

02 Nov 4

03 Nov

04 Nov 2

05 Nov

06 Nov 1 6

10 Nov 3 7

12 Nov 3 9

13 Nov 3 4

05 Dec 4 15

08 Dec 2 11

09 Dec

10 Dec 10 2

17 Dec 5 22

18 Doc 13 6

23 DOC 6

24 Dec 3

26 Dec 28 20

27 Dec 20 22.5 19

28 Dec 2

29 Dec 5 10 10

31 Dec 15 4

07 Jan 2

08 Jan 1 2

09 Jan 4

11 Jan 6 5

12 Jan 2 28 10 5

13 Jan 7 10

14 Jan 31 9 3 4

15 Jan 3 30 13 4 11

16 Jan 3 10

17 Jan

24 Jan 3.5

continued:

61

25 Jan

26 Jan 6

31 Jan 24 28 32 32 24

02 Feb 5 5

07 Feb 30

08 Feb 10

09 Feb 4

18 Feb 22

20 Feb 4

26 teb 18 24 12

28 feb 18

01 Mar 52 11 62 9

06 Mar 6 4.5 26

08 Mar

10 Mar 5 8

11 Mar

23 Mar 12 24 20

24 Mar 14 6 34 10 21

25 Mar 2

26 Mar 5 4

27 Mar 23 36

28 Mar 11 5

30 Mar 12 20 4

31 Mar 2 40

07 Apr 9

08 Apr 5

21 Apr 3 11

27 Apr 9

28 Apr 5

30 Apr 11

01 May 5

02 May

04 May 5

05 May

TOTAL 270 243 286.5

,

352 274

% of AVERAGE 50 % 50 % 59 % 78 % 61 %

TRIAL SITE K7 Mmathethe K8 Gasita K9 Sese K10 Mongwalale K 11 Pitsane

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

Plo

ughi

ng p

oorly

don

e by

trac

tor

on 0

4/01

/95

afte

r 52

mm

of r

ain

on 2

6-2E

3/12

/94,

lea

v ng

big

rid

ges

and

furr

ows.

Sub

sequ

ently

, pla

ntin

g do

ne o

n 06

/01/

95, n

ot v

ery

stra

ight

and

with

a w

ide

row

spa

cing

,re

sulti

ng in

rel

ativ

ely

low

pla

nt d

ensi

ties.

Ger

min

atio

n w

as e

ven

and

plan

t dev

elop

men

t qui

te g

ood

at th

ebe

ginn

ing.

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ants

look

ed g

reen

er, b

igge

r an

d m

ore

adva

nced

than

the

plan

ts in

the

cont

rol

plot

. Esp

ecia

lly in

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot, o

val s

hape

d, b

are

patc

hes

enco

unte

red,

The

farm

er g

ave

diffe

renc

esin

soi

l as

reas

on, p

ossi

blyc

ause

d by

a h

igh

term

ite a

ctiv

ity o

n th

e ba

te p

atch

es. T

erm

ites

seem

ed to

hav

eat

tack

ed p

lant

s. In

gen

eral

the

crop

look

ed h

ealth

y, b

ut s

tart

ed s

uffe

ring

from

moi

stur

e st

ress

afte

r30

/01/

95. T

he w

eed

cove

r w

as lo

w a

nd a

wee

ding

ope

ratio

n to

ok o

nly

a fe

w d

ays.

Cro

p fin

ally

atta

cked

by b

irds,

lead

ing

to a

100

% d

amag

e of

80

% o

f the

(m

atur

e) h

eads

; onl

y 20

°A

of t

he h

eads

wer

eha

rves

ted

as "

mot

hala

ne".

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

Cat

tle a

nd h

ouse

con

stru

ctio

n to

ok m

ost o

f the

farm

ers

time.

The

farm

er m

isse

d th

e fir

st p

lant

ing

oppo

rtun

ity. P

oor

plot

fenc

e al

low

ed c

attle

to e

nter

and

dam

age

crop

.

visi

t 04/

05/9

5

Tria

l plo

ts p

lant

ed in

dek

ad J

AN

3. P

lant

sta

nds

poor

; no

obvi

ous

diff

eren

ce b

etw

een

fert

ilize

d an

d co

ntro

lpl

ants

; pla

nts

80 c

m h

igh.

Wee

d co

vera

ge a

ppro

xim

atel

y 15

%, n

o w

eedi

ng o

pera

tion

carr

ied

out.

Pla

nts

with

thin

ste

ms,

sor

ne ti

llerin

g oc

curr

ed. P

lant

s in

gra

in fi

lling

sta

ge; b

ird p

robl

em (

not t

aken

car

e of

). D

ueto

farm

ers

negl

igen

ce n

o ha

rves

t was

ach

ieve

d.

pH-H

20E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.5

0.1

0.8

8.6

4.4

1.4

0.8

0.0

774.

8

pH-H

pE

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.9

0.0

0,5

5.1

3.5

0.4

0.3

0.0

820.

0

K1

GA

IVIO

SW

AN

AM

rs M

. Mod

utlw

aA

LDE

P m

odel

I1(

2R

AM

ON

ED

IM

r Le

kau

Sel

ebal

eng

ALD

ER

mod

el

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope:

1°

UT

M p

os io

n: 3

4803

6E 7

2202

30N

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope

1°U

TM

pos

ition

: 328

616E

721

6714

N

soilt

ype:

Chr

omic

Luv

isol

soilt

ype:

Pet

ri-C

hrom

ic L

uvis

olA

WH

C: 1

40 m

m/m

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 1

.5 p

pmA

WH

C: 1

40 m

m/m

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 1

.1 p

pm

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

99 k

g/ha

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 3

12 k

g/ha

tops

I ana

lysi

s co

ntro

l plo

t:to

psoi

l ana

lys

s co

ntro

l plo

t:

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

24

plan

t den

sity

: 20,

100

pl/h

afe

rtili

zed

plot

:nu

mbe

r of

row

s: 5

8pl

ant d

ensi

ty: 1

3,00

0 pl

/ha

cont

rol p

lot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

18

plan

t den

sity

; 16,

900

pl/h

aco

ntro

l plo

t:nu

mbe

r of

row

s: 5

8pl

ant d

ensi

ty: 1

1,60

0 pl

/ha

top

soil

text

ure:

med

ium

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 1

00 +

cm

top

soil

text

ure:

med

ium

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 8

0 cm

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

plan

t den

sity

: 16,

900

pl/h

apl

ant d

ensi

ty: 2

0,40

0 pl

/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

119

0 kg

/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

560

kg/h

a

Fie

ld lo

cate

d ad

jace

nt to

a s

teep

slo

pe; o

nly

a fe

w s

gns

of w

ater

ero

s on

in th

e fie

ld. F

irst p

lant

ed in

deka

d N

OV

1 an

d no

ger

min

atio

n oc

curr

ed; a

dry

spe

ll of

4-5

wee

ks fo

llow

ed a

nd r

epla

ntin

g vv

as d

one

on11

/01/

95,

Fer

tiliz

er n

ot e

very

whe

re p

loug

hed

in w

ell;

it w

as o

bser

ved

on th

e su

rfac

e at

pla

ces.

See

ds d

ropp

edun

even

ly fr

om p

lant

er.

A p

ortio

n of

the

cont

rol p

lot i

s lo

cate

d in

a d

epre

ssio

n, c

olle

ctin

g ru

n-of

f fro

m m

ost o

f the

fiel

d. P

lant

slo

oked

bet

ter

ther

e th

an in

oth

er p

arts

of t

he p

lot.

How

ever

, a c

lear

diff

eren

ce b

etw

een

fert

ilize

d an

dco

ntro

l pla

nts

has

been

not

iced

all

the

time,

with

f er

tiliz

ed p

lant

s lo

okin

g gr

eene

r, b

igge

r an

d fu

rthe

rde

velo

pedt

han

cont

rol p

lot p

lant

s. T

iller

ing

star

ted

whe

n pl

ants

wer

e on

ly 1

0 cm

hig

h; fl

ower

ing

occu

rred

in s

ome

case

s w

hen

plan

ts w

ere

only

20-

30 c

m,

visi

t 04/

05/9

5

Rat

her

unev

en p

lant

sta

nds;

con

trol

plo

t pla

nts

wer

e sl

ight

ly s

hort

er a

nd h

ad th

inne

r st

ems

than

fert

ilize

dpl

ot. O

n av

erag

e 2-

3 til

lers

per

pla

nt; f

ertil

ized

pla

nts

seem

ed to

be

affe

cted

mor

e se

vere

ly b

y ar

my

wor

mth

an c

ontr

ol p

lant

s. A

phid

s ge

nera

lly a

ttack

ed fi

rst t

iller

s, w

hich

wer

e dy

ing

and

blac

k at

the

time

of th

evi

sit.

New

tille

rs d

evel

oped

late

r; m

ostly

flow

erin

g no

w, s

ome

grai

n fil

ling

occu

rred

and

pro

babl

yha

rves

ted

as ''

mot

hala

ne".

Low

yie

lds

wer

e ac

hiev

ed, d

ue to

aph

d in

fest

atio

n an

d sm

all d

evel

oped

sec

onda

ry a

nd te

rtia

ry h

eads

.

tops

o I a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lat:

resu

lt:T

r al

faile

d, d

ue to

the

use

of a

loca

l var

iety

.

Plo

ughi

ng w

as d

one

on 0

8/01

/95

afte

r 60

mm

of r

ain

on 2

8/12

/94

and

plan

ting

was

furt

her

dela

yed

until

16/0

1/95

. The

farm

er c

laim

ed th

e pl

ante

r w

as v

vron

gly

adju

sted

and

all

the

seed

s po

ured

out

in b

ig h

eaps

,w

hich

was

con

firm

ed a

t ger

min

atio

n. T

he fa

rmer

than

rep

loug

hed

and

repl

ante

d Io

n 26

/01/

951

the

tria

lpl

ots,

usi

ng a

loca

l sor

ghum

var

iety

. Ger

min

atio

n oc

curr

ed 6

day

s la

ter

on 0

2/02

/95.

pH-H

20E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.5

0.0

1.2

83.

51.

80.

20.

271

0.0

pH-H

20E

Cor

g C

GE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.0

0.0

0.8

7.9

0.3

0.8

0.6

0.0

220.

0

K3

Lotlh

akan

e W

ES

TM

r K

gari

Dife

mo

ALD

EP

mod

el I

K4

MA

NY

AN

AM

r K

gole

go L

etlo

leA

LDE

P m

odel

II

plot

siz

e: 0

.125

ha

slop

e: 3

°U

TM

po

o32

7953

E 7

2546

75N

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope:

1°

UT

M p

oson

: 362

000E

726

0000

N

soilt

ype:

Chr

omic

Luv

isol

soilt

ype:

Rho

oll-C

hrom

ic L

uvis

ol

AW

HC

: 140

mm

/mP

hosp

horu

s co

nten

t top

soil:

1.7

ppm

AV

VH

C: 1

30 m

m/m

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 1

.2 p

pm

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

a io

n ra

te: 2

91 k

g/ha

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 3

08 k

g/ha

top

soil

text

ure:

med

ium

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 1

00 +

cm

top

soil

text

ure:

med

ium

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 1

00+

cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

32

cont

rol p

lot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

30

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

:30

0 kg

/ha

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:21

0 kg

/ha

K5

PO

LOK

WE

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: A

reni

-Fer

AW

HC

: 60

mm

/mfe

rtili

zer

type

;

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

Mr

and

Mrs

Mog

oros

i Kgo

piso

ALD

EP

mod

el II

slop

e: 2

°U

TM

Po

ion:

358

0E 7

2485

54N

Dis

tric

Reg

osol P

hosp

horu

s co

nten

t top

soil:

3.6

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

24 k

g/ha

and

only

one

med

ium

siz

ed h

ead

was

form

ed p

er p

lant

. Mos

t hea

ds m

ere

in g

rain

filli

ng a

nd r

ipen

ing

stag

es. B

ird s

carin

g do

ne b

y th

e fa

rmer

, was

so

far

effe

ctiv

e; a

ll he

ads

had

a m

axim

um o

f 5 %

dam

age.

Bird

scar

ing

stay

ed e

ffect

ive

until

har

vest

ing;

the

bird

dam

age

did

not i

ncre

ase.

At h

arve

st, t

he p

lant

s on

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot w

ere

talle

r th

an th

e co

ntro

l plo

t.

pH-H

,0E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.0

0.0

0.4

1.9

0.3

0.0

0.2

0.0

260.

0

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 6

0 cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

33

plan

t den

sity

: 16,

500

pl/h

aco

ntro

l plo

t:nu

mbe

r of

row

s: 3

3pl

ant d

ensi

ty: 1

4,40

0 pl

/ha

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

:76

0 kg

/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

133

0 kg

/ha

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:27

0 kg

/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

960

kg/h

a

Fie

ld lo

cate

d on

foot

slop

es o

f Pol

ok w

e H

ills,

slo

ping

tow

ards

the

Nor

th, w

ith e

vide

nce

of s

heet

and

rill

eros

ion.

The

tria

l plo

ts w

ere

loca

ted

in a

flat

par

t of t

he fi

eld.

The

soi

l is

loam

y an

d ca

ppin

g oc

curr

ed la

ter

in th

e se

ason

. The

farm

er w

as n

ot a

ble

to r

espo

nd a

s qu

ickl

y as

oth

ers

to th

e fir

st p

lant

ing

oppo

rtun

ity(4

4 m

m o

n 26

/12/

94).

Plo

ughi

ng (

with

8 o

xen)

and

pla

ntin

g w

ere

dela

yed

for

abou

t 14

days

(11

/01/

95an

d 12

/01/

95 r

espe

ctiv

ely)

. The

farm

er p

lant

ed a

long

plo

ugh

furr

ows,

whi

ch r

educ

ed a

ccur

acy,

mak

ing

row

dis

tanc

e un

nece

ssar

ilyw

ide

(1-1

.40

m).

The

larg

e ro

w s

paci

ng a

ffect

ed th

e pl

ant d

ensi

ty, w

hich

was

rela

tivel

y lo

w.

A c

lear

diff

eren

cein

pla

nt d

evel

opm

ent b

etw

een

fert

ilize

d an

d co

ntro

l plo

t was

obs

erve

d:fe

rtili

zed

plan

tslo

oked

gre

ener

, big

ger

and

furt

her

in d

evel

opm

ent t

han

cont

rol p

lant

s.W

hen

requ

este

d to

sta

rt w

eedi

ng, t

he fa

rmer

was

rel

ucta

nt a

t the

tim

e, a

s a

dry

spel

l had

red

uced

the

soil

moi

stur

e an

d in

crea

sed

the

soil

tem

pera

ture

. The

farm

er e

xpla

ined

, tha

t wee

ding

at t

hat m

omen

tvv

ould

dam

age

plan

ts if

hot

soi

l was

pus

hed

agai

nst p

lant

s. S

he w

as u

naw

are

of th

e fa

ct, t

hat w

eeds

sis

oco

nsum

e fe

rtili

zer,

and

was

ver

y m

otiv

ated

whe

n to

ld th

at w

eeds

com

pete

with

the

crop

s fo

r nu

trie

nts

(thi

s m

ight

be

a ge

nera

l kno

wle

dgeg

ap, v

vhic

h co

uld

expl

ain

the

low

rat

e of

ado

ptio

n of

fert

ilize

r am

ongs

tfa

rmer

s). W

eedi

ng w

as d

one

with

hoe

and

cul

tivat

or a

nd w

as e

ffici

ent (

06/0

3/95

). T

he u

se o

f the

culti

vato

r w

as fa

cilit

ated

by

the

wid

e ro

w s

paci

ng. T

he P

lant

Pro

tect

ion

Div

isio

n sp

raye

d ag

ains

t cor

ncr

icke

ts a

nd a

rmy

wor

m o

n 13

/04/

95, u

sing

alp

ham

etrio

n.

visi

t 04/

05/9

5

On

27/0

4/95

a h

ails

torm

occ

urre

d, w

hich

cau

sed

hard

ly a

ny d

amag

e to

the

crop

. Pla

nts

on th

e fe

rtili

zed

plot

look

ed s

light

ly b

ette

r th

an th

e co

ntro

l plo

t: m

ore

leav

es a

nd th

icke

r st

ems.

The

cro

p st

and

on th

eco

ntro

l plo

t vva

s ra

ther

ope

n. P

lant

s on

bot

h pl

ots

wer

e so

mew

hat s

tunt

ed, a

ppro

xim

atel

y 1

m h

igh.

Moi

stur

e st

ress

mus

t hav

e oc

curr

ed d

urin

g th

e ve

geta

tive

stag

e, b

ecau

se h

ardl

y an

y til

lerin

g ob

serv

ed

The

farm

er c

arrie

d ou

t an

early

plo

ughi

ng o

pera

tion

to lo

osen

the

soil,

on

half

of b

oth

tria

l plo

ts. P

loug

hing

was

don

e on

13/

12/9

4 af

ter

15 m

m o

f rai

n on

09/

12/9

4. P

loug

hing

was

poo

rly d

one

and

a lo

t of s

tove

rw

as le

ft on

the

surf

ace

. The

tops

oil w

as o

nly

moi

st e

noug

h fo

r pl

antin

g on

30/

12/9

4, a

fter

a ra

infa

ll ev

ent

of 2

2 m

m o

n 27

/12/

94. G

erm

inat

ion

took

pla

ce 7

day

s af

ter

plan

ting.

A fe

rtili

zer

hopp

er m

ount

ed o

n th

e pl

ante

r w

as u

sed,

whi

ch in

itial

ly d

id n

ot fu

nctio

n w

ell,

and

fert

ilize

rw

as s

pille

d th

roug

h cr

acks

and

was

vis

ible

on

the

surf

ace

at th

e st

art o

f som

e of

the

row

s.

Pla

nt d

evel

opm

ent w

as fa

irly

unev

en, w

ith p

lant

s in

diff

eren

t sta

ges

of d

evel

opm

ent.

Thi

s an

d qu

iteun

even

in-r

ow p

lant

spa

cing

s m

ay b

e at

trib

uted

to p

oor

plan

ting:

see

ds d

ropp

ed in

gro

ups

or n

ot a

t all

over

a fe

w m

eter

s, a

nd ir

regu

lar

plan

ting

dept

hs o

ccur

red.

Une

ven

germ

inat

ion

of s

eeds

duo

to d

iffer

ent

soil

moi

stur

e an

d te

mpe

ratu

re c

ondi

tions

res

ulte

d fr

om p

lant

ing

at ir

regu

lar

dept

hs. A

firs

t ger

min

atio

nw

as o

bser

ved

afte

r 54

mm

of r

ain

on 1

1-13

/01/

95; a

sec

ond

germ

inat

ion

phas

e w

as n

oted

afte

r 30

mm

of r

ain

on 3

0/01

/95.

The

farm

er e

xpla

ined

the

unev

en in

-row

pla

nt s

paci

ngsa

s a

resu

lt of

moi

stur

e st

ress

,w

hich

kill

ed s

eedl

ings

whi

ch h

ad a

ctua

lly g

erm

inat

ed in

the

gaps

. The

dea

d se

edlin

gs h

ave

sinc

e be

ensw

ept a

way

by

win

d an

d w

ater

ero

sion

. Thi

s ex

plan

atio

n se

ems

quite

like

ly, b

ecau

se o

f the

dry

spe

llsin

Jan

uary

of 2

wee

ks a

nd in

Feb

ruar

y of

3 w

eeks

.

The

wee

d bu

rden

was

less

in th

e no

n-fe

rtili

zed

plot

12-

3 %

), th

an in

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot 1

10 %

at p

lace

s).

The

farm

er s

tart

ed w

eedi

ng 3

0 da

ys a

fter

plan

ting

on 0

1/02

/95

and

finis

hed

the

first

ope

ratio

n on

10/0

2/95

. A s

econ

d w

eedi

ng o

pera

tion

was

con

duct

ed fr

om 0

1-07

/03/

95. T

he fa

rmer

hire

d la

bour

tow

eed

his

own

field

. Fin

ally

, a v

ery

even

rip

enin

g w

as o

bser

ved;

pla

nts

had

larg

e he

ads

and

only

1 %

of

',Ile

ne"

was

har

vest

ed.

A m

otiv

ated

farm

er, w

ho li

ves

next

to h

is fi

eld.

He

has

part

icip

ated

in th

e N

atio

nal T

illag

e T

rials

and

inA

Ds

varie

ty e

xper

imen

ts. N

o ra

infa

ll re

ceiv

ed in

Nov

embe

r; h

e on

ly r

ecor

ded

20 m

m o

n 27

/12/

94. H

epl

ough

ed a

nd p

lant

ed s

oon

here

afte

r on

02/

01/9

5 an

d 04

/01/

95, r

espe

ctiv

ely.

The

5 d

ays

betw

een

rain

fall

and

plou

ghin

g w

ere

spen

t on

wor

king

on

his

own

field

. Ger

min

atio

n w

as q

uite

eve

n an

d to

ok p

lace

14 d

ays

afte

r pl

antin

g. T

his

may

be

attr

ibut

ed to

a lo

w s

oil m

oist

ure

cont

ent,

as th

e ne

xt s

ubst

antia

lra

infa

ll ev

ent w

as 3

1 m

m o

n 14

/01/

95. T

his

rain

see

ms

to h

ave

trig

gere

d ge

rmin

atio

n on

18/

01/9

5.

Fer

tiliz

ed p

lant

s lo

oked

gre

ener

, big

ger

and

mor

e ad

vanc

ed in

dev

elop

men

t tha

n th

e co

ntro

l pla

nts

thro

ugho

ut. T

he fi

rst w

eedi

ng o

pera

tion

was

fini

shed

on

18/0

2/95

, 45

days

afte

r pl

antin

g. T

he fa

rmer

was

hes

itant

to w

eed

too

early

, whe

n th

e so

il w

as d

ry a

nd th

e te

mpe

ratu

re h

igh,

in o

rder

to a

void

scor

chin

g pl

ants

with

hot

soi

l. S

o a

few

mor

e sh

ower

s w

ere

awai

ted.

The

wee

d bu

rden

was

hig

her

in th

efe

rtili

zed

plot

, pro

babl

y du

e to

the

use

of fe

rtili

zer

and

a se

cond

wee

ding

ope

ratio

n w

as d

eem

ed n

eces

sary

and

cond

ucte

d fr

om 0

4-11

/03/

95.

Aro

und

09/0

3/95

a b

ig d

iff e

renc

es in

cro

p st

and

had

deve

lope

d. E

spec

ially

in th

e fe

rtili

zed

plot

, pat

ches

of p

lant

s in

dep

ress

ions

wer

e st

unte

d an

d un

der

moi

stur

e st

ress

. The

farm

er a

ttrib

uted

this

to d

iffer

ence

sin

soi

l typ

e.T

he P

lant

Pro

tect

ion

Div

isio

n sp

raye

d th

e tr

ial p

lots

and

the

farm

er's

fiel

d ag

ains

t cor

n cr

icke

ts a

nd a

rmy

wor

m w

ith a

lpha

met

rion

on 0

2104

/95.

visi

t 04/

05/9

5

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ants

wer

e hi

gher

(ap

prox

imat

ely

1.0

m)

and

had

thic

ker

stem

s th

an th

e co

ntro

l plo

t (pl

ants

60-8

0 cm

hig

h). T

he fe

rtili

zed

plan

ts h

ad d

evel

oped

on

aver

age

two

tille

rs p

er p

lant

. Bird

pro

blem

s w

ere

still

lim

ited

13 %

dam

age)

and

con

trol

led

by s

trin

gs w

ith e

mpt

y tin

s fil

led

with

peb

bles

.

pH-I

-120

EC

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

aP

BS

carb

o

6.2

i0.

00.

33

1.7

0.5

0.3

0.0

183

0.0

K6

KA

NN

GW

EM

r K

eele

diw

e K

osiw

eA

LDE

P m

odel

IIK

7 M

MA

TH

ET

HE

Mr

Nga

ka K

gotla

etsh

oA

LDE

P m

odel

I

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 6

0 cm

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 6

0 cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

61

plan

t den

sity

: 24,

400

pi/h

afe

rtili

zed

plot

:nu

mbe

r of

row

s: 5

9pl

ant d

ensi

ty: 2

9,50

0 pl

/ha

cont

rol p

lot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

53

plan

t den

sity

: 13,

600

pl/h

aco

ntro

l plo

t:nu

mbe

r of

row

s: 5

9pl

ant d

ensi

ty: 3

0,00

0 pl

/ha

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

:10

10 k

g/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

970

kg/

hayi

eld

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

350

kg/h

eC

YS

LAM

B p

redi

ctio

n: 1

440

kg/h

a

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:46

0 kg

/ha

CY

SLA

IVIB

pre

dict

ion:

430

kg/

hayi

eld

cont

rol p

lot:

170

kg/h

aC

YS

LAM

B p

redi

ctio

n: 1

070

kg/h

a

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope:

10

UT

M p

ositi

on: 3

2769

2E 7

2035

58N

soilt

ype:

Are

ni-F

erri-

Dys

tric

Reg

osol

AW

HC

: 60

mm

/mP

hosp

horu

s co

nten

t top

soil:

4.0

ppm

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

10 k

g/ha

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope:

0-1

°U

TM

pos

ition

: 304

750E

718

1760

Nso

iltyp

e: C

hrom

ic L

uvis

olA

WH

C: 6

0 m

m/m

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 0

.7 p

pmfe

rtili

zer

type

:si

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 325

kg/

ha

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

pH-H

PE

Cor

g C

CE

CI

Ca

Mg

Na

IP

BS

carb

o

5.5

0.0

0.3

1.8

0.5

0.1

0.2

0.0

440.

0

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

The

farm

er h

as b

een

livin

g on

the

field

sin

ce th

e st

art o

f the

cro

ppin

g se

ason

. The

fiel

d is

ver

y sa

ndy

and

win

d er

osio

n w

as a

rna

jor

cons

trai

nt. P

loug

hing

was

don

e fr

om 3

0/12

/94-

03/0

1195

, fol

low

ing

a ra

infa

llev

ent o

f 22

mm

on

26/1

2/94

. The

tops

oil m

oist

ure

cont

ent w

as to

o lo

w fo

r pl

antin

g. P

lant

ing

was

done

on 1

4/01

/95,

follo

win

g a

34 m

m o

f rai

n on

11-

12/0

1/95

. Ger

min

atio

n w

as r

ecor

ded

on20

/01/

95, 6

day

s

atte

r pl

antin

g.

A d

ry s

pell

of 2

1 da

ys in

com

bina

tion

with

win

d er

osio

n w

as d

etrim

enta

l to

plan

t gro

wth

. See

dlin

gs w

ere

burie

d un

der

sand

, soi

l tem

pera

ture

s in

crea

sed

and

root

s w

ere

expo

sed;

mos

t pla

nts

in th

e co

ntro

l plo

tdi

ed a

nd w

ere

swep

t a v

va y

by

the

win

d, c

ausi

ng a

ver

y lo

w p

lant

den

sity

. On

01/0

2/95

win

d de

posi

tion

mad

e th

e pl

ot lo

ok n

ot p

loug

hed.

The

f ew

sur

vivi

ng p

lant

s vv

ere

behi

nd in

dev

elop

men

t in

com

paris

on to

the

plan

ts o

n th

e fe

rtili

zed

plot

, vvh

ich

seem

ed to

hav

e be

en s

tren

gthe

ned

by th

e fe

rtili

zer.

The

surv

ival

rate

in th

e fe

rtili

zed

plot

was

4 ti

mes

as

high

as

on th

e co

ntro

l plo

t. C

attle

ent

ered

the

field

and

dam

aged

appr

oxim

atel

y 12

.5 %

of t

he p

lant

a.

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

The

farm

er li

ves

next

to th

e fie

ld; t

he tr

ial p

lots

are

loca

ted

on th

e ed

ge o

f a p

an w

ith a

pet

roca

lcic

horiz

on a

t app

roxi

mat

ely

80 c

m. P

loug

hing

/pla

ntin

gwas

don

e on

29-

30/1

2/94

, im

med

iate

lyaf

ter

a ra

infa

llev

ent o

f 29

mm

on

27-3

0/12

/94.

Win

d er

osio

n an

d de

posi

tion

was

sev

ere,

and

mad

e th

e fie

ld lo

ok n

otpl

ough

ed. T

he w

eed

cove

r (c

ompa

red

to o

ther

tria

ls in

Sou

ther

n R

egio

n/ w

as h

igh

and

amou

nted

8 %

on

the

fert

ilize

d an

d 5

% o

n th

e co

ntro

l plo

t. T

he m

ost d

omin

ant w

eeds

wer

e C

ynod

on d

acty

lon

(in p

atch

es,

clea

rly b

enef

ittin

g fr

om fe

rtili

zer)

, Hel

iotr

opiu

m s

teud

neri

I" w

hite

head

") a

nd s

ome

Tyl

osem

a es

cule

nrim

("m

oram

a be

an"l.

The

farm

er d

id a

goo

d fir

st w

eedi

ng jo

b fr

om 0

1-14

/02/

95 a

nd c

ondu

cted

a s

econ

dop

erat

ion

from

13-

23/0

3/95

. The

tria

l site

was

onl

y cu

ltiva

ted

durin

g th

e cr

oppi

ng s

easo

n 19

92/9

3,w

hich

cou

ld e

xpla

in th

e hi

gh w

eed

burd

en. T

he fa

rmer

had

del

ayed

wee

ding

, to

prot

ect t

he s

eedl

ings

agai

nst w

ind

eros

ion.

An

adja

cent

fiel

d, w

hich

was

wee

ded

earli

er, w

as p

ract

ical

ly fr

ee o

f wee

ds, b

ut h

adve

ry p

oor

germ

inat

ionl

esta

blis

hmen

trat

es, d

ue to

win

d er

osio

n. D

ue to

the

wee

d pr

essu

re, o

pen

patc

hes

vver

e ob

serv

ed in

bot

h fe

rtili

zed

and

cont

rol p

lots

. How

ever

, a c

lear

diff

eren

ce b

etw

een

fert

ilize

d an

dco

ntro

l pla

nts

was

not

iced

all

the

time,

with

f er

tiliz

ed p

lant

s lo

okin

g gr

eene

r, b

igge

r an

d fu

rthe

r de

velo

ped

than

the

cont

rol p

lot p

lant

s. T

he p

lant

den

sity

of t

he fe

rtili

zed

plot

vva

s hi

gher

, tha

n th

at o

f the

con

trol

plot

.

visi

t 04/

05/9

5

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ants

vve

re 1

-1.6

0 m

hig

h, w

ere

slig

htly

bet

ter

deve

lope

d an

d ha

d th

icke

r st

ems

than

the

cont

rol p

lant

s. A

n av

erag

e of

3 ti

llers

had

dev

elop

ed p

er p

lant

on

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot a

nd o

ccas

iona

llytil

lerin

g oc

curr

ed o

n co

ntro

l plo

t. F

ertil

ized

hea

ds w

ere

med

ium

-larg

e, fl

ower

ing,

gra

in fi

lling

and

som

erip

enin

g. C

ontr

ol p

lant

s ha

d m

ediu

m s

ize

head

s, a

nd w

ere

flow

erin

g to

gra

in fi

lling

. Som

e co

rn c

ricke

tsw

ere

obse

rved

, but

they

cau

sed

min

imal

dam

age

to th

e de

velo

ped

head

s. A

lthou

gh th

is s

ite r

ecei

ved

alo

w a

mou

nt o

f tot

al r

ainf

all (

59 %

of t

he a

vera

ge),

a r

elat

ivel

y go

od y

ield

was

ach

ieve

d. T

wo

phen

omen

am

ay h

ave

play

ed a

rol

e: d

ueto

the

slop

e of

the

field

som

e ru

n-on

may

hav

e oc

curr

ed a

nd th

e co

mbi

natio

nof

a s

andy

soi

l tex

ture

and

a p

etro

-cal

cic

horiz

on m

ay h

ave

kept

soi

l moi

stur

e lo

nger

ava

ilabl

e fo

r th

e pl

ant

root

s.pH-H

20E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

8.2

0.1

0.7

14.7

16.1

¡0.6

0.2

0.0

>10

00.

0

pH-F

120

EC

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

aP

BS

carb

o

6.8

0.0

0.3

21.

60.

00,

10.

085

1.9

K8

GA

SIT

AM

r R

. Tau

nyan

aA

LDE

P m

odel

IIK

9S

ES

EM

r Jo

hn S

eam

okw

ena

ALD

EP

mod

el I

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope:

1°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 2

8668

3E 7

2199

96N

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope:

2°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 2

7865

7E 7

2715

26N

soilt

ype:

Luv

ic A

reno

sol

soilt

ype:

Are

ni-P

etric

Cal

ciso

l

AV

VH

C: 7

0 m

m/m

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 0

.6 p

pmA

WH

C: 7

0 m

m/m

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 1

,5 p

pm

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 3

29 k

g/ha

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

99 k

g/ha

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: s, e

xc.

soil

dept

h: 7

0 cm

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 8

5 cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

47

plan

t den

sity

: 12,

600

pi/h

afe

rtili

zed

plot

:nu

mbe

r of

row

s: 4

7pl

ant d

ensi

ty: 1

9,20

0 pi

/ha

cont

rol p

lot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

47

plan

t den

sity

: 3,6

00 p

i/ha

cont

rol p

lot:

num

ber

of r

ows;

47

plan

t den

sity

: 15,

400

pl/h

a

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

:48

0 kg

/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

920

kg/

hayi

eld

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

670

kg/h

aC

YS

LAM

B p

redi

ctio

n: 1

470

kg/h

a

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:fa

iled

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

440

kg/

hayi

eld

cont

rol p

lot:

660

kg/h

aC

YS

LAM

B p

redi

ctio

n:71

0 kg

/ha

K10

MO

NG

WA

LALE

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: F

erric

Luv

isol

AW

HC

: 130

mm

/mfe

rtili

zer

type

:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

The

fiel

d is

situ

ated

app

roxi

mat

ely

1-2

km a

way

from

the

farm

er's

hou

se. P

loug

hing

was

don

e fr

om31

/12/

94-0

5/01

/95

afte

r a

rain

fall

even

t of 4

3 m

m d

urin

g 26

-30/

12/9

4. D

ue to

the

poor

con

ditio

n of

the

donk

eys

and

the

fact

that

the

farm

er p

loug

hed

a la

rger

are

a th

an ju

st th

e tr

ial p

lots

, plo

ughi

ng to

ok 6

days

. Ger

min

atio

n oc

curr

ed 6

day

s af

ter

plan

ting

and

plan

t dev

elop

men

t was

rel

ativ

ely

even

. Ini

tially

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ants

look

ed b

ette

r, la

ter

a hi

gh w

eed

burd

en a

nd p

ossi

bly

a di

ffere

ncei

n so

il ty

pe s

low

ed d

own

the

deve

lopm

ent i

n th

e fe

rtili

zed

plot

. Pla

nts

in th

e co

ntro

l plo

t wer

e lo

okin

g m

ore

heal

thy

and

the

plan

tst

and

was

den

ser.

Thi

s pi

ctur

e ch

ange

d af

ter

a w

eedi

ng o

pera

tion

was

con

duct

ed;th

e m

ain

wee

d in

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot, w

ithat

pla

ces

a gr

ound

cov

er o

f 10

% w

as C

ynod

on d

acty

lon.

On

06/0

3/95

the

plan

ts o

f the

fert

ilize

d pl

otlo

oked

mor

e de

velo

ped

than

the

cont

rol p

lot.

visi

t 04/

05/9

6

The

fert

ilize

d pl

anta

wer

e 0.

80-1

.20

m h

igh,

and

had

dev

elop

ed 2

-4 ti

llers

per

pla

nt. T

he h

eads

wer

e w

ell

form

ed, s

ome

wer

e 30

-40

cm lo

ng; t

he m

ajor

ity w

as fl

ower

ing

and

grai

n fil

ling,

som

e rip

enin

g. O

n th

eco

ntro

l plo

t, pl

ants

wer

e sl

ight

ly th

inne

r, 6

0-80

cm

hig

h, le

ss w

ell d

evel

oped

and

har

dly

any

tille

ring

occu

rred

. Bird

sca

ring

by th

e fa

rmer

see

med

effe

ctiv

e, n

o da

mag

e w

as n

otic

ed.

K11

PIT

SA

NE

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: F

erric

Luv

isol

AW

HC

: 130

mm

/mfe

rtili

zer

type

:

tops

oil e

naiy

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

Mr

Pet

rus

Chi

diA

LDE

P m

odel

II

slop

e: 1

°U

TM

pos

ition

: 357

174E

717

7028

N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 1

.3 p

pmsi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

on

rate

: 303

kg/

ha

The

fiel

d is

wel

l fen

ced,

abo

ut 2

km

from

the

farm

er's

hou

se. T

he fa

rmer

trad

ition

ally

use

s co

mpo

st. H

epl

ough

ed b

oth

plot

s on

24/

12/9

4 in

the

first

pla

ntin

g op

port

unity

, afte

r a

rain

fall

even

t of 2

2 m

m o

n16

/12/

94. P

loug

hing

and

pla

ntin

g to

ok a

whi

le, a

s do

nkey

s w

ere

wea

k (a

nd th

e fa

rmer

, who

is V

DC

chai

rman

, was

aw

ay fo

r m

eetin

gs).

Initi

ally

ger

min

atio

n an

d pl

ant d

evel

opm

ent l

ooke

d ve

ry e

ven.

Lat

er,

the

fert

ilize

d pl

anta

look

ed g

reen

er, b

igge

r an

d m

ore

deve

lope

d th

an c

ontr

ol g

roup

. A h

ails

torm

on

06/0

2/95

tota

lly s

hred

ded

leav

es o

f pla

nts,

but

they

rec

over

ed. F

ortu

nate

lyth

e he

ads

wer

e no

t dam

aged

,as

they

wer

e no

t yet

exp

osed

al t

he ti

me.

A n

umbe

r of

bar

e pa

tche

s in

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot r

educ

ed th

epl

ant d

ensi

ty a

nd fr

om 2

1/02

/95

the

plan

ts in

the

cont

rol p

lot l

ooke

d m

ore

heal

thy.

The

farm

er a

ttrib

uted

the

bare

pat

ches

to s

oil d

iffer

ence

sand

to p

oor

plou

ghin

g, w

hich

he

wou

ld h

ave

liked

to d

o tw

ice

in th

ose

area

s. H

e se

emed

to n

otic

e th

e sa

me

diffe

renc

es e

very

yea

r.

An

aphi

d at

tack

was

con

trol

led

by r

ain

and

the

hail

stor

m. T

he tr

ial p

lots

and

the

farm

er's

fiel

d w

ere

spra

yed

agai

nst s

talk

bor

ers.

Thi

s op

erat

ion

was

car

ried

by 2

peo

ple

from

the

Pla

nt P

rote

ctio

n D

ivis

ion,

usin

g kn

apsa

ck s

pray

ers

and

alph

amet

rion

at a

con

cent

ratio

n of

1:1

000

(120

m1/

1201

). B

irds

beca

me

a

maj

or p

robl

em a

s fr

om 0

1/03

/95,

esp

ecia

lly s

ince

the

farm

er's

cro

p w

as o

ne o

f the

firs

t in

the

area

tore

ach

the

grai

n fil

ling

stag

e. T

he fa

rmer

, how

ever

, was

not

abl

e to

ded

icat

e al

l his

tim

e to

bird

scar

ing,

due

to o

ther

com

rnitm

ents

.

visi

t 04/

05/9

5

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ants

look

ed w

orse

than

con

trol

gro

up; 8

0 cm

hig

h an

d 4-

5 til

lers

per

pla

nt. T

he h

eads

wer

e gr

ain

fillin

g an

d rip

enin

g. O

n th

e co

ntro

l plo

t, th

e pl

ants

look

ed v

ery

heal

thy,

var

ying

in h

eigh

t fro

m60

/100

-150

cm

and

hav

ing

3-4

tille

rs p

er p

lant

. The

y de

velo

ped

med

ium

siz

ed h

eads

of 2

5-35

cm, o

fw

hich

90

% w

as r

ipen

ing.

The

yie

ld o

f the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot s

eem

s to

be

seve

rely

affe

cted

by

the

poor

pla

nt d

evel

opm

ent o

n th

e ba

repa

tche

s.pH-H

pE

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.6

0.0

0.7

5.6

2.4

0.8

0.8

0.0

710.

0

pH-I

-120

EC

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

aP

BS

carb

o

6.7

0.0

0.6

9.2

2.2

1.3

1.2

0.0

821.

9

top

soil

text

ure:

med

ium

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 6

0 cm

top

so I

text

ure:

med

ium

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 6

0 cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

56

plan

t den

sity

: 26,

000

pi/h

afe

rtili

zed

plot

:nu

mbe

r of

row

s: 2

6pl

ant d

ensi

ty: 1

5,60

0 pi

/ha

cont

rol p

lot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

56

plan

t den

sity

: 33,

600

pl/h

aco

ntro

l plo

t:nu

mbe

r of

row

s: 2

6pl

ant d

ensi

ty: 3

3,30

0 pl

/ha

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

:87

0 kg

/ha

CY

SLA

M8

pred

ictio

n: 1

600

kg/h

ayi

eld

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

760

kg/h

aC

YS

LAM

B p

redi

ctio

n: 9

90 k

g/ha

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:47

0 kg

/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

760

kg/

hayi

eld

cont

rol p

lot:

1290

kg/

haC

YS

LAM

B p

redi

ctio

n: 4

40 k

g/ha

Mrs

Keb

oets

e M

osea

ALD

EP

mod

el I

slop

e: 1

°U

TM

pos

ition

: 337

792E

718

4398

N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

0.2

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

on r

ate:

342

kg/

ha

NORTH WEST REGION / MAUN

Trial sites:

M1 ChanugaM2 XhanaM3 KomanaM4 NxaragaM5 MatlapanengM6 MatlapanengM7 Thamalakane WestM8 TsanakunaM9 SegoroM10 Xwee

68

Rainfall data trial sites M2, M7-M9

69

TRIAL SITE M2 Xnana M7 Thamalakane M8 Tsanakuna M9 Segoro

SYNOPTIC STATION Maun Maun Maun Maun

RAINFALL STATION Maun Maun Maun Maun

yearly average 454 mm 454 mm 454 mm 454 mm

01 Nov 1 7 10

02 Nov 10

16 Nov 4 21 12

17 Nov 20 6 15

18 Nov 10

20 Nov 5

21 Nov 1

23 Nov 2

28 Nov 30 3 9

29 Nov 10 7

30 Nov 8 2 14 12

01 Dec 2

27 Dec 10

28 Dec 18

12 Jan 6 10 8

14 Jan 5 10

17 Jan 24 25

18 Jan 13

27 Jan 5

30 Jan 9

02 Feb 9 10 16 3

05 Feb 5 4

08 Feb 6

10 Feb 3 38 41

21 Feb 28 22

23 Feb 2

22 Mar 18

23 Mar 4 20 30 8

24 Mar 1 2

26 Mar 1 2

27 Mar 16 2 2 75

29 Mar 11 1 13

30 Mar 16 14 7

TOTAL 184 171 198 254

% of AVERAGE 41 % 38 % 44% 56 %

Ml C

HA

NU

GA

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: L

uvic

Are

noso

lA

WH

C: 6

5 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

Mr.

Gaa

tadi

we

Mod

ise

ALD

EP

mod

el II

slop

e: 0

.5'

UT

M p

ositi

on: 7

7798

7E 7

7719

45N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il. 2

.0 p

pmsi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

cat

ion

rate

: 280

kg/

ha

resu

lt:T

rial f

a le

d,

visi

t 31/

10/9

4

A r

aing

auge

was

inst

alle

d; d

onke

ys (

5) a

nd c

attle

(5)

wer

e on

the

field

.

visi

t 02/

12/9

4

34 m

m o

f rai

n on

28-

30/1

1/94

; fer

izin

g do

ne o

n 02

/12/

94; p

loug

hing

sta

rted

on

02/1

2/94

.

vis'

17/

01/9

5

Som

e se

eds

germ

nat

ed s

hort

ly a

fter

plan

ting;

pla

nts

10 c

m h

igh.

Sta

rt o

f sec

ond,

mor

e ge

nera

l,ge

rmin

atio

n ph

ase:

pla

nts

appr

oxim

atel

y 0.

5 cm

hig

h.C

owpe

as p

lant

ed o

n 02

/12/

95 o

n th

e fa

rmer

's o

wn

field

ger

min

ated

wel

l; m

aize

pla

nted

06/

12/9

4re

ache

d 10

-20

cm, b

ut d

ied

afte

r a

dry

spel

l of 3

wee

ks.

visi

t 31/

01/9

5

Ger

min

atio

n on

bot

h pl

ots

poor

, aro

und

20 %

; pla

nt s

tand

s lo

okin

g po

or, n

ot m

uch

diffe

renc

e in

pla

ntde

nsity

bet

wee

n fe

rtili

zed

and

cont

rol p

lot.

Pla

nts

on fe

rtili

zed

plot

slig

htly

talle

r. S

ome

darn

age

by s

mal

lan

telo

pes.

Bot

h th

e fe

rtili

zed

and

the

cont

rol p

lot h

ave

9 %

gro

und

cove

r of

wee

ds (

Trib

ulus

terr

estr

is,

Com

mel

ina

beng

hale

nsis

,Gis

ekia

pha

rnac

eoid

esan

d "d

elel

e", a

kin

d of

veg

etab

le).

visi

t 14/

02/9

5

Goa

ts h

ave

dam

aged

70

% o

f cro

p; th

e re

st w

as s

ever

ely

moi

stur

e st

ress

ed. T

he w

eed

cove

r w

as u

pto

M2

XH

AN

A

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: H

aplic

Are

noso

lA

WH

C: 6

5 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

:10

0 he

ads

(max

10%

dam

aged

) -

7.8

kg; s

eedw

eigh

t 1 h

ead

78 g

ram

1 he

ad (

unda

mag

ed)

wei

ghs

78 x

10/

986

.5 g

ram

3 he

ads/

plan

t x 1

700

plan

ts/h

a =

441

.15

kg/h

a 16

.3 b

ags)

4 he

ads/

plan

t x 1

700

plan

ts/h

a =

588

.2 k

g/ha

18.

4 ba

gs)

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

670

kg/

ha

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:fa

led

In o

rder

to c

ompa

re th

e tr

ial y

ield

vvi

th a

CY

SLA

MB

s m

ulat

ion,

the

yiel

d of

the

dam

aged

hea

ds w

asco

nver

ted

into

und

amag

ed w

eigh

t and

an

aver

age

of 4

hea

ds p

er p

lant

was

take

n.

visi

t 25/

10/9

4

A r

aing

auge

was

inst

alle

d,

visi

t 02/

12/9

4

48 m

m o

f rai

n on

28-

30/1

1/94

; far

mer

rea

dy to

sta

rt; t

he T

echn

ical

Offi

cer

judg

ed th

e so

il to

o w

et a

ndm

ade

the

farm

er w

ait;

fert

ilizi

ng w

as d

one

on 0

1/12

/94;

plo

ughi

ng s

tart

ed o

n 02

/12/

94.

visi

t 28/

12/9

4

Poo

r ge

rmin

atio

n du

e to

the

depo

sit o

f 5 c

m o

f san

d bl

own

on th

e pl

ots.

On

the

cont

rol p

lots

onl

y a

few

plan

ts w

ere

obse

rved

, whi

le th

e fe

rtili

zed

plot

had

a s

light

ly h

ighe

r pl

ant d

ensi

ty w

ith w

ell l

ooki

ng p

lant

s,

The

sec

tion

of th

e fa

rmer

's fi

eld

plan

ted

arou

nd 0

1/12

/94

with

sor

ghum

"go

ose-

neck

" va

e y

(sh

ort

25 %

. No

mor

e su

bsta

ntia

l rai

nf a

ll re

ceiv

ed in

the

follo

win

g w

eeks

, hen

ce p

lant

s w

ilted

and

tria

l fai

led.

stem

med

, 90

day

varie

ty),

mill

et a

nd m

elon

s lo

oked

mor

e un

iform

and

hig

her

plan

t den

sity

.

pH-H

20E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

7.0

0.1

0.8

4.0

1.7

0.6

0.5

0.1

721.

0

pH-H

pE

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

7.5

0.1

0.3

1.8

1,3

0.3

0.2

0.0

>10

03.

8

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 1

00+

cm

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: s. e

xc.

soil

dept

h: 1

00 +

cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

66

plan

t den

sity

: 2,0

00 p

l/ha

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

57

plan

t den

sity

: 1,7

00 p

l/ha

cont

rol p

lot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

66

plan

t den

sity

; 2,1

50 p

l/ha

cont

rol p

lot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

57

plan

t den

sity

:15

0 pl

/ha

Mr.

Seg

otsa

Mak

hiA

LDE

P m

odel

II

slop

e: 0

°U

TM

pos

ition

: 795

629E

776

8639

N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

I: 2

.2 p

pmsi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

ica

on r

ate:

273

kg/

ha

visi

t 31/

01/9

5

Pla

nts

on th

e fe

rtili

zed

plot

look

ed h

ealth

y, v

aryi

ng in

hei

ght f

rom

15-

55 c

m. S

ome

leav

es a

ffect

ed b

ypo

ssib

ly a

n in

sect

eat

ing

the

chlo

roph

yll o

f the

leav

es, l

eavi

ng d

ry ti

ssue

beh

ind.

Plo

t had

a 3

°/.

wee

dco

ver;

mai

nly

mel

on ty

pe w

eeds

. Con

trol

is a

mer

e fa

ilure

; ver

y fe

w p

lant

of 1

0-20

cm

.

visi

t 09/

02/9

5

Far

mer

's lo

cal s

orgh

um v

arie

ty is

flow

erin

g.

visi

t 20/

02/9

5

Pla

nts

appr

oxim

atel

y 1

m h

igh,

look

ing

heal

thy,

abu

ndan

t till

erin

g. A

roun

d 40

% s

tart

ed to

flow

er.

visi

t 06/

03/9

5

90 %

of p

lant

s flo

enng

on

21/0

2/95

. Fer

tiliz

ed p

lot h

ad 3

0 %

wee

d co

ver,

whi

le th

e co

ntro

l plo

t had

20 %

wee

d co

ver.

visi

t 23/

03/9

5

Hea

ds g

rain

filli

ng; b

ird p

robl

em s

ince

14/

03/9

5. F

arm

er's

wife

and

chi

ldre

n tr

ied

to d

o bi

rd s

carin

g fr

om6a

m to

6pm

, but

had

als

o ot

her

hous

ehol

d du

ties

to fu

lfill,

v si

t 02/

12/9

4

visi

t 28/

03/9

5

Fer

tiliz

ed p

lot:

plan

ts a

re a

bout

1.2

0 m

hig

h, h

eads

are

larg

e (la

rges

t of a

ll tr

ial s

ites

visi

ted)

, 10

%da

mag

ed b

y bi

rds.

App

roxi

mat

ely

20 %

of t

he h

eads

are

rip

enin

g, g

rain

s no

t milk

y an

yrno

re a

nd le

sspr

one

to b

ird d

amag

e.

v si

t 07/

04/9

5

Des

pite

the

bird

sca

ring

effo

rts,

50

% o

f the

pla

nts

for

100

% d

amag

ed, A

s re

ason

for

the

influ

x of

loca

lsp

ecie

s (n

o qu

elea

s) g

iven

by

farm

er's

wife

was

the

shor

tage

of f

low

erin

g gr

asse

s an

d be

rry-

form

ing

shru

bs (

like

Gre

wia

and

Ziz

iphu

s) a

roun

d th

e fie

ld th

is y

ear,

due

to th

e lo

w r

ainf

all.

The

farm

er's

wife

had

star

ted

harv

estin

g an

d dr

ying

mat

ure

head

s (w

ith 1

0 %

bird

dam

aged

) fr

om tr

ial p

lot o

n 04

/04/

95. A

nav

erag

e of

4 h

eads

per

pla

nt is

cou

nted

. Gra

in fi

lling

and

rip

enin

g st

ill c

ontin

ued

for

the

late

r fo

rmed

head

s.

M3

KO

MA

NA

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: H

aplic

Are

noso

lA

WH

C: 6

5 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lat:

22 m

m o

f rai

n on

28-

30/1

1/94

; the

farm

er h

ad to

be

loca

ted

in M

aun

by th

e A

D.

visi

t 05/

12/9

4

The

farm

er w

as o

n th

e la

nds,

look

ing

for

his

donk

eys

at th

e tim

e of

the

visi

t. H

e fe

rtili

zed

on 1

3/12

/94

and

plou

ghed

from

13-

15/1

2/94

. The

soi

l moi

stur

e co

nditi

ons

wer

e un

favo

rabl

e fo

r pl

antin

g, s

o th

e ne

xtop

port

unity

had

to b

e aw

aite

d.

visi

t 18/

01/9

5

19 m

m o

f rai

n on

12-

13/0

1/95

; the

farm

er h

arro

wed

with

Aca

cia

tree

on

13/0

1/95

and

pla

nted

on

14/0

1/95

.

visi

t 31/

01/9

5

visi

t 20/

04/9

5A

lthou

gh 7

8 m

m o

f rai

n be

twee

n 12

/01-

10/0

2/95

no

germ

inat

ion

took

pla

ce a

nd th

e tr

ial f

aile

d. N

oge

rmin

atio

n to

ok p

lace

on

the

farm

er's

ow

n fie

ld e

ither

. The

trai

l plo

ts w

ere

cove

red

by 3

% o

f wee

ds.

Ear

lier

ripen

ed h

eads

sev

erel

y da

mag

ed b

y bi

rds,

upt

o 10

0 %

. Las

t hea

ds s

till g

rain

filli

ng a

nd r

ipen

ing.

Bird

s se

em le

ss a

ctiv

e at

the

time

of th

is v

isit;

they

see

med

to h

ave

spre

ad. H

arve

sted

and

drie

d (1

0 %

dam

aged

) he

ads

wer

e ke

pt in

a d

rum

, and

wer

e th

resh

ed o

n 22

/04/

95,

pH-H

PE

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.8

0.1

0.4

2.8

2.0

0.3

0.3

0.1

960.

0

top

sod

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: s. e

xc.

soil

dept

h: 1

00*

cm

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

visi

t 01/

11/9

4

A r

a ng

auge

was

inst

alle

d.

Mr,

Loa

bo J

ohan

nes

ALD

EP

mod

el II

slop

e: 4

-5°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 7

4566

6E 7

7736

43N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

i6.

0 pp

msi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 210

kg/

ha

M4

NX

AR

AG

A

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: H

aplic

Are

noso

lA

WH

C: 6

5 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

resu

lt:T

rial t

erm

tnat

ed.

visi

t 24/

10l9

4

Ms.

Ren

osi M

otsa

mai

ALD

EP

mod

el I

slop

e: 1

°U

TM

pos

iton:

723

320E

777

3022

N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 4

.6 p

pmsi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

89 k

g/ha

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

resu

lt:T

rial t

erm

inat

ed.

vis

02/1

2/94

21 m

m o

f rai

n on

28-

30/1

1/94

; far

mer

was

rel

ucta

nt to

sta

rt.

visi

t 06/

1219

4

Far

mer

was

org

aniz

ing

donk

eys

to b

orro

w; h

e di

d no

t man

age

in ti

me

and

faile

d to

ben

efit

from

this

firs

tF

emal

e he

aded

hou

seho

ld. A

rai

ngau

ge w

as in

stal

led;

don

keys

wer

e on

the

field

. The

tria

l plo

ts w

ere

plan

ting

oppo

rtun

ity,

plou

ghed

with

hire

d la

bour

on

12-1

4/12

/94.

drai

ne;

s. e

xc.

soil

dept

h: 1

00cm

20 m

m o

f rai

n on

12/

01/9

5; th

e ch

ildre

n w

ent b

ack

to s

choo

l, th

e si

ster

of t

he fa

rmer

was

bre

ast f

eedi

ng,

so s

he h

ired

two

man

to p

loug

h he

r ow

n fie

ld.

Har

row

ing

was

don

e by

hire

d la

bour

on

18-1

9/01

/95;

the

AD

judg

ed th

e so

I m

oist

ure

as to

o lo

w a

ndad

vise

d fa

rmer

not

to p

loug

h an

d pl

ant (

this

aga

inst

the

inst

ruct

ions

of t

he A

LUP

team

), N

o pl

antin

gop

port

unity

occ

urre

d an

ymor

e be

fore

the

end

of J

anua

ry, s

o th

e tr

ial w

as te

rmin

ated

.

M5

MA

TLA

PA

NE

NG

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: H

aplic

Luv

isol

AW

HC

: 72.

5 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

visi

t 26/

10/9

4

A r

aing

auge

was

inst

alle

d.

visi

t 18/

01/9

5vi

sit 1

8/01

/95

Mr.

Sel

awe

Saw

ete

ALD

EP

mod

el

slop

e: 1

-2°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 7

6243

4E 7

7938

44N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 9

.2 p

pmsi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

ica

on r

ate:

28

kg/h

a

Alth

ough

aw

aitin

g en

ough

rai

nfal

l, fa

rmer

hire

d tw

o m

en to

plo

ugh

a pa

rt o

f his

ow

n fie

ld a

nd th

e tw

otr

ial p

lots

on

16-1

8/01

/95.

No

plan

ting

oppo

rtun

ity o

ccur

red

anym

ore

befo

re e

nd o

f Jan

uary

, so

the

tria

lw

as te

rmin

ated

.

pH-H

20E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

5.8

0.1

1.7

3.8

2.6

0.3

0,2

0.0

821.

0

M6

MA

TLA

PA

NE

NG

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: H

aplic

Are

noso

lA

WH

C: 6

5 m

mim

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

tops

o I a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

v si

t 26/

10/9

4

A w

as r

aing

auge

inst

alle

d.

visi

t 02/

12/9

4

drai

nage

: s. e

xc.

soil

dept

h: 1

00+

cm

22 m

m o

f rai

n on

29-

30/1

1/94

; the

farm

er s

tart

ed lo

okin

g fo

r hi

s do

nkey

s on

01/

12/9

4; fo

und

four

on

02/1

2/94

and

fert

ilize

d on

02/

12/9

4. H

e pl

ough

ed fr

om 0

4-07

/12/

94, h

arro

wed

on

08/1

2/94

and

pla

nted

on 0

9/12

/94.

v si

t 18/

01/9

5

No

germ

inat

ion

had

occu

rred

; mod

erat

e w

ind

eros

on

and

depo

sitio

n ob

serv

ed o

n th

e tr

ial p

o s

. The

farm

er h

ad n

ot p

loug

hed

yet o

n hi

s ow

n fie

ld.

visi

t 31/

01/9

5

The

tria

l plo

ts w

ere

cove

red

by a

thin

laye

r of

san

d (a

ppro

x m

atel

y 5

cm);

no

germ

inat

ion;

wee

d co

ver

10 %

. Tria

l fai

led.

Por

tion

of fa

rmer

s fie

ld p

loug

hed

by tr

acto

r, n

o ge

rmin

atio

n ob

serv

ed th

ere

eith

er.

M7

TH

AM

ALA

KA

NE

WE

ST

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iityp

e: H

aplic

Are

noso

lA

WH

C: 6

5 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

cont

rol p

lot:

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

visi

t 09/

12/9

4

Ms.

S. D

ikol

eA

LDE

P m

odel

I

slop

e: 1

-2°

UT

M p

o'o

n: 7

4658

9E 7

7756

99N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 1

.2 p

pmsi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 308

kg/

ha

Fem

ale

head

ed h

ouse

hold

.Aw

aitin

gsuf

fic e

ntra

n, t

he fa

rmer

did

fert

ilize

on

06/1

2/94

and

the

plot

s vv

ere

plou

ghed

from

07-

09/1

2/95

by

her

sons

.

vis

18/0

1195

24 m

m o

f rai

n on

17/

01/9

5; h

arro

win

g w

as d

one

on 1

8-19

/01/

95 a

nd p

lant

ing

on 2

0/01

/95.

visi

t 31/

01/9

5

Ger

min

atio

n to

ok p

lace

on

27/0

1/95

. Pla

nts

2-6

cm h

igh

and

look

ing

reas

onab

le.W

eed

cove

r w

as 1

%.

Cow

peas

on

the

tria

l of t

he C

rop

Pro

duct

ion

Offi

cer

(CP

O)

had

not y

et g

erm

inat

ed, w

hils

t the

y w

ere

plan

ted

a da

y af

ter

our

tria

l. F

arm

er's

sor

ghum

, pla

nted

bef

ore

Chr

istm

as, w

as s

ever

ely

moi

stur

e st

ress

ed.

visi

t 14/

02/9

5

Pla

nts

look

ed h

ealth

y on

bot

h pl

ots,

but

slig

htly

sm

alle

r on

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot; m

aybe

due

to la

tera

lsu

bsur

face

flow

of w

ater

from

fert

ilize

d to

con

trol

plo

t (si

tuat

ed s

light

ly lo

wer

). W

eed

cove

r w

as 3

0 °/

ii;a

wee

ding

ope

ratio

n w

as c

ondu

cted

on

13,1

5-16

/02/

95.

Far

mer

's s

orgh

um a

nd b

eans

see

med

rec

over

ed fr

om m

oist

ure

stre

ss, a

nd lo

oked

wel

l; ho

wev

er, w

eed

cove

r 60

°hi

. Cow

pea

tria

l of t

he C

PO

ger

min

ated

on

07/0

2/95

, the

pla

nts

wer

e w

ell e

stab

lishe

d.

visi

t 20/

02/9

5

Pla

nts

appr

oxim

atel

y 20

cm

hig

h, m

oder

atel

y m

oist

ure

stre

ssed

and

si g

htly

affe

cted

by

aph

ds.

pH-H

20E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

7.0

0.1

0.5

3.2

1.7

0.4

0.2

0.0

720.

0

pH-H

20E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.2

0.0

0.3

2.6

1.6

0.3

0.2

0.0

814.

8

Mr.

Kad

isa

Kad

isa

ALD

EP

mod

el II

slop

e: 1

-2°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 7

5438

6E 7

7943

90N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

3.0

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

45 k

g/ha

drai

nage

: s. e

xc.

soil

dept

h: 1

00 +

cm

num

ber

of r

ows:

56

plan

t den

sity

: 3,9

50 p

l/ha

num

ber

of r

ows:

56

plan

t den

sity

: 4,1

50 p

l/ha

visi

t 28/

03/9

5

Live

stoc

k ha

d en

tere

d th

e fie

ld a

nd d

amag

ed tr

ial c

rops

for

appr

oxim

atel

y75

%. T

he p

lant

s on

the

cont

rol

plot

wer

e ap

prox

imat

ely

70 c

m h

igh

and

look

ed a

ffect

ed b

y lo

ng d

ry s

pell;

wee

d co

ver

of 1

5 %

. The

fert

ilize

d pl

ot h

ad m

any

gaps

, pla

nts

wer

e 70

cm

hig

h, a

nd a

ffect

ed b

y dr

y sp

ell;

wee

d co

ver

35 %

.

visi

t 10/

04/9

5

The

rem

aini

ng p

lant

s di

d no

t sur

vive

the

long

dry

spe

ll of

6 w

eeks

and

the

aphi

d at

tack

. Tria

l fai

led.

Far

mer

's o

vvn

crop

die

d as

vve

ll,

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:20

0 he

ads

(not

dam

aged

) -

12 k

g; s

eedw

eigh

t 1he

ad 6

0 gr

am1.

5 he

ads/

plan

t x 3

700

plan

ts/h

a =

333

kg/

ha 1

4.8

bags

)2

head

s/pl

ant x

370

0 pl

ants

/ha

= 4

44 k

g/ha

(6.

3 ba

gs)

2.5

head

s/pl

ant x

370

0 pl

ants

/ha

= 5

55 k

g/ha

17.

9 ba

gs)

3he

ads/

plan

t x 3

700

plan

ts/h

a66

6 kg

/ha

(9.5

bag

s)

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

500

kg/

ha

In o

rder

to c

ompa

re th

e tr

ial y

ield

with

a C

YS

LAM

B s

imul

atio

n an

ave

rage

of 2

.5 h

eads

per

pla

nt v

vas

take

n.

visi

t 01/

11/9

4

A r

aing

auge

inst

alle

d; s

oil s

light

ly m

oist

at 2

5 cm

afte

r fe

w m

m o

f rai

n on

31/

10/9

4.

visi

t 11/

11/9

4

Cyn

odon

dac

tylo

n ge

rmin

ated

and

spr

eadi

ng o

ver

fert

ilize

d pl

ot a

nd p

artly

ove

r co

ntro

l plo

t.

visi

t 02/

12/9

4

19 m

m o

f rai

n on

29-

30/1

1/94

; the

farm

er w

as lo

okin

g fo

r th

e la

st d

onke

y; fe

rtili

zing

don

e on

02/

1219

4.

visi

t 09/

12/9

4

Far

mer

fini

shed

plo

ughi

ng; h

owev

er, s

oil m

oist

ure

too

low

for

plan

ting

and

the

next

pla

ntin

g op

port

unity

had

to b

e aw

aite

d. P

loug

hing

fini

shed

late

due

to o

ther

occ

upat

ions

(lo

okin

g fo

r ca

ttle,

bui

ldin

g hu

t, in

tow

n). T

he fa

rmer

use

d A

caci

a m

ellif

era

to h

arro

w th

e fie

ld a

nd to

red

uce

the

wee

d co

ver

betw

een

08/1

2-20

/12;

94.

pH-H

PE

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.3

0.0

0.3

3.0

5.5

0.5

0.3

0.0

>10

00.

0

top

Soi

l tex

ture

: coa

rse

drai

nage

: s. e

xc.

soil

dept

h: 1

00 +

cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

32

plan

t den

sity

:10

0 p1

/ha

cont

rol p

lot:

num

ber

of r

ows:

32

plan

t den

sity

: 3,7

00 p

l/ha

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

:fa

iled.

M8

TS

AN

AK

UN

AM

r. B

. Keb

idits

we

ALD

EP

mod

el II

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

hasl

ope:

2°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 7

4802

1E 7

7783

24N

soilt

ype:

Hap

lic A

reno

soi

AW

HC

: 65

mm

/mP

hosp

horu

s co

nten

t top

soil:

3.5

ppm

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

ion

rate

: 227

.5 k

g/ha

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

visi

t 18/

01/9

5

25 m

m o

f rai

n on

17/

01/9

5; th

e fa

rmer

bro

adca

sted

mai

ze a

nd p

loug

hed

his

own

field

on

18/0

1/95

. He

did

not h

ave

time

for

the

tria

l plo

ts.

visi

t 31/

01/9

5

Har

row

ing

done

on

26/0

1/95

and

pla

ntin

g on

27/

01/9

5, 1

0 da

ys a

fter

effe

ctiv

e ra

infa

llev

ent.

The

aver

age

row

spa

cing

was

1.6

0 m

(pr

obab

ly, f

arm

er w

ante

d to

fini

sh q

uick

ly).

Cyn

odon

dac

tylo

n fo

rms

seve

re p

robl

em o

n fe

rtili

zed

plot

and

mod

erat

e pr

oble

m o

n th

e co

ntro

l plo

t.

visi

t 14/

02/9

5

Apa

rt fr

om C

ynod

on d

acty

lon

prob

lem

(co

verin

g 25

% o

f con

trol

plo

t and

60

% o

f fer

flize

d pl

ot)

germ

inat

ion

and

esta

blis

hmen

tOK

, pla

nts

upto

8 c

m h

igh

and

rela

tivel

y ev

enly

spa

ced.

visi

t 28/

03/9

5

Aro

und

90%

of t

he p

lant

s w

ere

flow

erin

g; p

lant

s lo

oked

rem

arka

bly

wel

l afte

r a d

ry s

pell

of 6

wee

ks,

slig

htly

stu

nted

, app

roxi

mat

ely

80 c

m. F

arm

er's

wife

did

con

duct

a w

eedi

ng o

pera

tion

of th

ree

days

betw

een

03-0

7/03

/95

and

cont

rolle

d th

e C

ynod

on d

acty

lon

arou

nd th

e pl

ants

on

the

cont

rol p

lot.

On

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot, h

owev

er, o

nly

a fe

w p

lant

s w

ere

left.

The

farm

er's

ow

n m

aize

faile

d, a

nd h

is s

orgh

umlo

oked

ver

y th

in, w

hile

the

cow

peas

wer

e do

ing

wel

l.

visi

t 19/

04/9

5

Gra

in fi

lling

had

sta

rted

on

11/0

4/95

, no

bird

pro

blem

s so

far.

visi

t 10/

05/9

5

Far

mer

's w

ife r

esid

ing

in s

helte

r on

the

field

for

bird

sca

ring.

On

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot o

nly

a fe

w s

tron

g pl

ants

with

3-4

tille

rs le

ft; h

eads

med

ium

siz

ed, g

rain

filli

ng a

nd r

ipen

ing.

The

pla

nts

on th

e co

ntro

l plo

t had

a

unifo

rm h

eigh

t of 1

.20-

1.40

m, l

ooke

d he

alth

y, o

n av

erag

e 2-

3 til

lers

/pla

nt h

ad d

evel

oped

and

ofte

na

seco

ndar

y he

ad a

t one

of t

he th

ree

tille

rs. H

eads

gra

in fi

lling

and

rip

enin

g. L

arge

gap

s in

the

stan

d,du

eto

une

ven

germ

inat

ion.

Whe

re p

lant

s w

ere

clos

e to

eac

h ot

her,

onl

y on

e til

ler

had

deve

lope

d an

d th

est

ems

stay

ed th

in. T

he p

lant

s lo

oked

bet

ter

deve

lope

d th

an th

ose

on th

e fa

rmer

's o

wn

field

. Har

dly

any

bird

dam

age

(1-3

%)

obse

rved

.

visi

t 23/

05/9

5

Mat

ure

head

s w

ere

harv

este

d on

19/

05/9

5 an

d w

ere

drie

d on

rac

k of

f the

gro

und

inco

ne s

hape

d pi

leco

vere

d by

gra

ss o

n th

e tim

e of

this

vis

it. T

he h

arve

sted

hea

ds fr

om th

e fe

rtili

zed

and

cont

rol p

lot

wer

em

ixed

; as

only

a fe

w fe

rtili

zed

head

s w

ere

harv

este

d an

d no

obv

ious

diff

eren

cew

as o

bser

ved

betw

een

the

cont

rol a

nd th

e fe

rtili

zed

head

s, th

e yi

eld

figur

e w

as n

ot s

erio

usly

affe

cted

. Sev

eral

hea

dsw

ere

still

ripen

ing,

a s

light

dam

age

by c

attle

and

bird

s w

as o

bser

ved

(1-3

%).

M9

SE

GO

RD

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: H

aplic

Are

noso

lA

WH

C: 6

5 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

Mr.

Fan

abi S

asa

ALD

EP

mod

el II

slop

e: 3

-4°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 7

8749

6E 7

7642

04N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 4

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 2

45 k

g/ha

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

visi

t 31/

10/9

4

A r

aing

auge

was

inst

alle

d.

visi

t 11/

11/9

4

Cyn

odon

dac

tylo

n ge

rm n

ated

and

was

spr

eadi

ng o

ver

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot.

visi

t 02/

12/9

4

26 m

m o

f rai

n on

28-

30/1

1/94

; fer

tiliz

ing

was

don

e on

02/

12/9

4; p

loug

hing

star

ted

on 0

2/12

/94.

visi

t 18/

01/9

5

Ger

min

atio

n on

03/

01/9

5, 2

6 da

ys a

fter

plan

ting

and

5 da

ys a

fter

two

rain

fall

even

ts o

f 28

mm

in to

tal.

Ger

min

atio

n se

emed

to b

e sl

ight

ly b

ette

r on

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot, t

han

on th

e co

ntro

l plo

t. A

wee

ding

oper

atio

n w

as s

tart

ed b

y th

e fa

rmer

's w

ife o

n 11

/01/

95 a

nd c

arrie

d on

in s

mal

l por

tions

over

15

days

15

even

ts)

until

bot

h pl

ots

wer

e fin

ishe

d.

v si

t 31/

01/9

5

Pla

nts

on b

oth

plot

s w

ere

reas

onab

ly w

ell e

stab

lishe

d. C

ynod

on d

acty

lon

beco

min

ga

prob

lem

on

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot; m

any

term

ites

arou

nd th

e ro

ots

of th

e pl

ants

as

vvel

l.

pH-H

z0E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.6

0.1

0.6

1.6

1.3

0.2

0.3

0.1

>10

0

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: s. e

xc.

soil

dept

h: 1

00 +

cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

plan

t den

sity

: 2,1

00 p

liha

cont

rol p

lot:

plan

t den

sity

: 2,2

50 p

liha

visi

t 14/

02/9

5

The

pla

nts

wer

e 50

-70

cm h

igh,

slig

htly

moi

stur

e st

ress

ed; n

o ob

viou

s di

ffere

nce

betv

veen

fert

ilize

d an

dco

ntro

l plo

t. M

ajor

ity o

f pla

nts

tille

ring

prof

usel

y: u

pto

6-8

tille

rs p

er p

lant

. Aph

ids

affe

ctin

g ap

prox

imat

ely

85 %

of t

he c

rop

on th

e tr

ial p

lots

. The

farm

er's

cow

peas

nex

t to

the

tria

l plo

ts lo

oked

wel

l dev

elop

ed,

but w

ere

for

appr

oxim

atel

y 25

% a

ffect

ed b

y ap

hids

. A s

pray

ing

oper

atio

n w

as c

ondu

cted

(in

clud

ing

farm

ers

co w

peas

) w

ith k

naps

ack

spra

yer

by th

e P

lant

Pro

tect

ion

Div

isio

n on

16/

02/9

5; th

e ch

emic

al u

sed

was

Dec

is (

Ultr

a Lo

w V

olum

e) w

ith a

rat

e of

12

I/ha.

visi

t 20/

02/9

5

The

spr

ayin

g w

as e

ffect

ive,

pla

nts

look

ed m

ore

heal

thy,

but

stil

l som

e m

oist

ure

stre

ss. H

eads

wer

ede

velo

ping

.

visi

t 28/

03/9

5

Aro

und

90 %

of t

he p

lant

s w

ere

flow

erin

g on

06/

03/9

5. S

ever

e m

oist

ure

stre

ss fo

r 5-

6 w

eeks

. Pla

nts

80-1

00 c

m h

igh

and

upto

8 h

eads

per

pla

nt w

ere

obse

rved

Ion

aver

age

4-5

head

s pe

r pl

ant)

. At t

he ti

me

of th

e vi

sit 8

0 %

of h

eads

wer

e gr

ain

fillin

g an

d bi

rds

form

a pr

oble

m. T

he p

lant

sta

nd o

f the

con

trol

plo

tis

slig

htly

mor

e un

iform

than

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot (

may

be d

ue to

Cyn

odon

dac

tylo

n in

fert

ilize

d pl

ot).

On

f arm

er's

ow

n fie

ld a

ll cr

ops

faile

d, e

xcep

t the

cov

vpea

s, w

hich

wer

e st

ill lo

okin

g go

od a

nd in

the

grai

nfil

ling

stag

e.

vis

t 07/

04/9

5

M10

XW

EE

plot

siz

e: 0

.25

haso

iltyp

e: H

aplic

Are

noso

lA

WH

C: 6

5 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

tops

oil a

naly

s s

cont

rol p

lot:

37 m

m o

f rai

n on

28-

30/1

1/94

; the

farm

er w

aite

d fo

r he

r ch

ildre

n to

fini

sh s

choo

l on

02/1

2/94

to a

ssis

tF

arm

er's

fam

ily w

as n

ot ïn

tere

sted

in b

irdsc

arin

g fo

r th

e tr

ials

plo

ts o

nly;

the

crop

100

% d

amag

ed b

yhe

r in

deb

ushi

ng p

art o

f fie

ld.

bird

s. T

rial f

aile

d.vi

sit 0

8/12

/95

Far

mer

and

chi

ldre

n de

bush

ed tr

ial p

lots

on

03-0

4,06

/12/

94. F

ertil

izin

g w

as d

one

on 0

5/12

/94

and

plou

ghin

g fr

om 0

6-08

/12/

94. S

oil m

oist

ure

at th

e tim

e of

the

visi

t too

lovv

for

plan

ting,

so

plan

ting

oppo

rtun

ity m

isse

d,

By

the

end

of J

anua

ry n

ot e

noug

h ra

in fo

r a

plan

ting

oppo

rtun

ity h

ad b

een

reco

rded

, so

tria

l was

term

inat

ed.

Ms.

T. S

ejak

gom

oA

LDE

P m

odel

Ill

slop

e: 0

°U

TM

pos

ition

: 798

478E

775

3829

N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 3

,5 p

pmsi

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 227

.5 k

g/ha

pH-H

20E

Cor

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

PB

Sca

rbo

6.2

0.0

0.2

1.9

0.9

0.3

0.1

0.0

680.

5

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: s. e

xc,

soll

d pt

h 10

0+ c

m

resu

lt:T

rial t

erm

inat

ed.

visi

t 31/

10/9

4

Fem

ale

head

ed h

ouse

hold

. A r

a ng

auge

was

inst

alle

d,

visi

t 02/

12/9

4

CENTRAL REGION / SEROWE

Trial sites:

Si MakwateS2 MakwateS3 DihateS4 DihateS5 Makoro

SEROWE

CENTRALS5

S3+S4

MAHALAPYE

77

PALAPYE

Rainfall data trial sites S1/2, S314, S5

78

TRIAL SITE S1 /S2 Makwate 531S4 Dihate S5 Makoro

SYNOPTIC STATION Mahalapye Mahalapye Mahalapye

RAINFALL STATION Machaneng Kalamare Palapye

yearly average 417 mm 439 mm 403 mm

15 Oct 9.3 5.7

16 Oct 7.1 14

24 Oct 3

02 Nov

03 Nov 6.6 21.1 11

04 Nov 2

08 Nov 1.5

12 Nov 5.6 20

13 Nov 9

17 Nov 16 42 7

18 Nov 8 22

24 Nov 4

30 Nov 0.6 14 5

01 Dec 3.3 9 16

09 Dec 11 0.3

10 Dec 29.8 10 30

11 Dec 9

28 Dec 12.3 14

29 Dec 18

03 Jan 12

09 Jan 10

10 Jan 11

13 Jan 18 30

14 Jan 12

15 Jan 4

16 Jan 5 7

03 Feb 20

10 Feb 10

18 Feb 70 5

19 Feb 60

20 Feb 1.5 100+ 100+

21 Feb 30

14 Mar 3 9

24 Mar 26 24 40

25 Mar 4 1.5 20

continued:

79

26 Mar 27.5

27 Mar 30

28 Mar 1.4

31 Mar 26 20

10 Apr 6 6.1

TOTAL 323.2 391.3-i-

,

442.7+

% of AVERAGE 78 % 89 % 110 %

TRIAL SITE S1/S2 Makwate S3/S4 Dihate SS Makoro

Si

MA

KW

AT

E

plot

siz

e: 0

,33

haso

iltyp

e: C

hrom

ic L

uvis

olA

WH

C: 1

10 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

tops

o I a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

Mr.

Pet

er G

arab

aits

evi

s5/

03/9

5

slop

e: 0

-1°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 5

3140

0E 7

4254

00N

The

var

iety

pla

nted

is n

ot S

egao

lane

, but

the

"goo

sene

ck"

or "

Rai

gap"

. The

farm

erha

d us

ed th

edi

strib

uted

Seg

ao/a

nese

eds

som

ewhe

re e

lse.

No

wee

ds, f

ew w

ater

mel

on in

the

field

. No

pest

s ob

serv

ed.

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 3

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

atio

n ra

te: 5

0 kg

/ha

vis

12/0

4/95

Cro

p w

as s

till i

n a

good

con

ditio

n; th

e m

ajor

ity o

f pla

nts

had

not y

et m

atur

ed. N

o m

ajor

pes

ts o

bser

ved.

Far

mer

had

pic

ked

fevv

hea

ds o

f pla

nts,

whi

ch w

ere

lyin

g on

the

grou

nd. T

hese

hea

ds a

rest

ored

on

a

plat

form

und

er a

tree

.pH

-CaC

I,or

g C

CE

CC

aM

gK

Na

5.0

0.3

4.0

2.2

1.0

0.3

0.04

top

soil

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 8

0 cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

plan

t den

sity

: 16,

000

pl/h

aco

ntro

l plo

t:pl

ant d

ensi

ty:

6,70

0 pl

/ha

resu

lt:B

ecau

se o

f mis

take

s w

ith fe

rtili

zer

and

varie

ty, t

his

tria

l is

not s

uita

ble

for

furt

her

anal

ysis

.

vis

14/1

1/94

Initi

ally

thre

e tr

ial p

lots

wer

e la

id o

ut: 1

for

the

supe

rpho

spha

tefe

rtili

zer,

1 fo

r a

kraa

l man

ure

appl

icat

ion

and

a co

ntro

l plo

t. D

ue to

tran

spor

t pro

blem

s, th

e kr

aal m

anur

e co

uld

not b

e ap

plie

d in

tim

e, s

oth

e id

ea

was

left.

The

farm

er li

ves

in M

ak w

ate,

and

has

a (

sum

mer

) ho

mes

tead

nea

r th

e fie

ld. N

o ac

tivity

yet

on

14/1

1/94

.

Rai

ngau

ge in

stal

led

prev

ious

ly, b

ut n

o re

cord

ing

at s

ite s

o fa

r.

visi

t 14/

12/9

4

By

acci

dent

50

kg s

uper

phos

phat

e di

strib

uted

ove

r 1

ha, i

nclu

ding

the

two

tria

l plo

tsof

0.3

3 ha

, The

plot

s w

ere

plou

ghed

on

13/1

2194

with

a d

oubl

e m

ould

boar

d pl

ough

and

don

keys

. At t

he ti

me

of th

e vi

sit

plan

ting

had

not b

een

done

yet

, will

sta

rt p

lant

ing

on 1

5/12

/94.

The

re a

re n

o tr

acto

rsav

aila

ble

in th

e

area

; the

y ha

ve le

ft be

caus

e of

the

late

rai

ns.

visi

t 18/

01/9

5

The

farm

er o

wns

asp

an o

f mul

os a

nd h

arne

ss. T

he tv

vo fe

rtili

zed

plot

s w

ere

plan

ted

on 1

4-.1

5/12

/94;

the

cont

rol p

lot w

as p

lant

ed o

n 27

-28/

12/9

4, d

ue to

the

lovv

soi

l moi

stur

e co

nten

t mid

Dec

embe

r, a

new

show

er h

ad to

be

awai

ted.

The

pla

nt d

ensi

ty w

as r

elat

ivel

y lo

w, a

nd a

poo

r al

ignm

ent o

f row

s w

asob

serv

ed. T

he p

lots

had

alre

ady

been

wee

ded.

visi

t 15/

02/9

5

Pla

nts

at k

nee-

heig

ht a

nd in

fairl

y go

od c

ondi

tion;

pat

ches

of t

he fi

eld

show

edm

oist

ure

stre

ss; P

lant

sun

even

ly d

istr

ibut

ed li

n-ro

w c

lust

ers)

, few

pla

nts

vver

e flo

wer

ng,

Few

pla

nts

wer

e af

fect

ed b

yaph

ids.

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

:73

0 kg

/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

128

0 kg

/ha

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:70

0 kg

/ha

CY

SLA

MB

pre

dict

ion:

810

kg/h

a

visi

t 14/

11/9

4

Initi

ally

thre

e tr

ial p

lots

wer

e la

id o

ut: 1

for

the

supe

rpho

spha

tefe

rtili

zer,

1 fo

r a

kraa

l man

ure

appl

icat

ion

and

a co

ntro

l plo

t. D

ue to

tran

spor

t pro

blem

s, th

e kr

aal m

anur

e co

uld

not b

e ap

plie

d in

tim

e,so

the

idea

was

left.

The

farm

er li

ves

in M

akvv

ate,

and

has

a (

sum

mer

) ho

mes

tead

nea

r fie

ld. H

ew

as p

rese

nt a

t the

fiel

d on

14/1

1/94

and

rea

dy to

plo

ugh

vvith

the

first

rai

n. H

e liv

es a

t lan

ds m

ost o

f the

tim

e. H

e us

ed d

onke

ys fo

rpl

ough

ing.

Som

e fe

rtili

zer

was

app

lied

on th

e tr

ial s

ite 5

yea

rs a

go (

gift

from

MoA

). R

aing

auge

inst

alle

dpr

evio

usly

, but

no

reco

rdin

g at

site

so

far.

visi

t 14/

12/9

4

Fer

tiliz

ed p

lot w

as p

loug

hed

on 1

3-14

/12/

94, f

irst w

ith a

sin

gle

mou

ldbo

ard

plou

gh a

nd s

ingl

e pl

ante

r,la

ter

with

a d

oubl

e m

ould

boar

d pl

ough

/pla

nter

. Plo

ughi

ng w

as d

one

at a

ppro

xim

atel

y 7

cm d

eep.

The

tops

oil w

as a

lread

y dr

y, c

ompa

cted

and

cru

sted

, mor

e so

than

soi

ls o

f oth

er tr

ial s

ites.

visi

t 18/

01/9

5

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ot w

as c

hara

cter

ized

by

a m

oder

ate

plan

t den

sity

with

man

y ga

ps. T

hear

ea p

lant

ed w

ithth

e S

ebel

e si

ngle

row

plan

ter

had

a hi

gher

pla

nt d

ensi

ty th

an th

e ar

e pl

ante

d w

ith th

e do

uble

mou

ldbo

ard

plou

gh/p

lant

er.F

ew w

eeds

wer

e ob

serv

ed. T

he c

ontr

ol p

lot w

as p

lant

ed o

n 27

-28/

12/9

4, d

ue to

low

soi

lm

oist

ure

cont

ent,

henc

e a

the

next

sho

vver

had

to b

e aw

aite

d. T

he c

ontr

ol p

lot s

how

eda

som

ewha

tbe

tter

stan

d th

an th

e fe

rtili

zed

plot

.

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ot lo

oked

slig

htly

bet

ter

than

the

cont

rol p

lot (

the

plan

tsvv

ere

slig

htly

hig

her

on th

efe

rtili

zed

plot

). M

ost p

lant

s re

ache

d kn

ee-h

eigh

t and

sho

wed

sig

ns o

f slig

ht m

oist

ure

stre

ss. R

oth

plot

sw

ere

free

of w

eeds

(w

eede

d on

06-

10/0

2/95

). M

any

gaps

and

in-r

ow c

lust

ers

obse

rved

. Far

mer

ackn

owle

dged

, tha

t pla

nter

ofte

n go

t blo

cked

.

The

sor

ghum

(lo

cal v

arie

ty "

goos

enec

k" o

r "R

aigo

p")

plan

ted

at la

ter

date

(ar

ound

05/0

1/95

) ad

jace

ntto

tria

l site

look

ed b

ette

r th

an S

egao

lane

on

the

tria

l site

s. T

he fa

rmer

had

als

oa

good

sin

gle

stan

ds o

fco

wpe

a, ju

go b

ean

and

tepa

ry b

ean.

Cow

pea

vvas

a g

ood

inte

r-cr

op, b

ecau

se o

f its

spr

eadi

ngna

ture

,

visi

t 15/

03/9

5

Cro

p ha

d do

ne r

elat

ivel

y w

ell s

ince

15/

02/9

5. F

evv

Afr

ican

Bol

lvvo

rm o

bser

ved.

The

dev

elop

edhe

ads

wer

esm

all,

due

to th

e m

oist

ure

stre

ss b

efor

e 19

/02/

95. N

o (v

isua

l) di

ffere

nces

bet

wee

n fe

rtili

zed

and

cont

rol

plot

to b

e se

en. N

one

of th

e pl

ants

wer

e rip

e ye

t; so

me

wer

e on

ly fo

rmin

g he

ads.

The

plot

s w

ere

free

of

wee

ds.

Jugo

bean

and

cow

pea

wer

e do

ing

very

wel

l in

the

adja

cent

plo

t. A

lso

the

mai

zelo

oked

pro

mis

ing,

cons

ider

ing

the

low

rai

nfal

l rec

eive

d th

is s

easo

n,

visi

t 12/

04/9

5

Cro

p ke

pt p

erfo

rmin

g w

ell a

nd w

as a

bout

1.5

0 cm

hig

h. A

few

pla

nts

wer

e at

tack

ed b

y pi

geon

s (r

ipe

grai

ns);

als

o da

mag

e by

que

lea

(imm

atur

e gr

ains

) w

as o

bser

ved.

Wee

ds c

over

eda

few

per

cent

;w

ater

mel

on p

lant

ed o

n th

e tr

ial p

lots

. Min

or o

ccur

renc

e of

bol

lwor

m o

bser

ved,

pH-C

aa,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

4.9

0.3

4.0

2.0

1.0

0.3

0.04

S2

MA

KW

AT

EM

r, O

gom

odits

e M

artin

visi

t 15/

02/9

5

plot

siz

e: 0

.33

hasl

ope:

0-1

°U

TM

pos

ition

: 531

400E

742

5400

Nso

iltyp

e: C

hrom

ic L

uvis

olA

WH

C: 1

15 m

m/m

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 2

ppm

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

plic

a on

rat

e: 2

30 k

g/ha

(to

8 p

pnn)

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

top

soil

text

ure:

med

ium

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ned

soil

dept

h: 1

00 +

cm

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

plan

t den

sity

: 22,

300

pl/h

aco

ntro

l plo

t:pl

ant d

ensi

ty: 2

4,70

0 pl

/ha

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

cont

rol p

lot:

yiel

d fe

rtili

zed

plot

:

yiel

d co

ntro

l plo

t:

visi

t 14/

11/9

4

plan

t den

sity

: 31,

300

pllh

apl

ant d

ensi

ty: 2

8,00

0 pl

/ha

1000

kg/

haC

YS

LAM

B p

redi

ctio

n: 1

320

kg/h

a

670

kg/h

aC

YS

LAM

B p

redi

ctio

n:71

0 kg

/ha

The

farm

er li

ves

in S

osho

ng a

nd h

as a

(su

mm

er)

hom

este

ad n

ear

his

field

. No

activ

ityye

t on

14/1

1/94

,de

spite

goo

d ra

ins

and

soil

moi

st u

p to

a d

epth

of 1

00 c

m.

Firs

t pla

ntin

g op

port

unity

on

03/1

1/94

; per

haps

som

ewha

t ear

ly. S

pars

e gr

een

wee

ds in

farm

er's

fiel

d.W

eek-

old

gras

reg

row

th in

the

surr

ound

ing

area

.

No

ra n

rec

ord

ng a

t tria

l site

. Far

mer

ow

ns a

trac

tor

and

a pl

ante

r.

visi

t 14/

12/9

4

Bot

h pl

ots

wer

e pl

ough

ed b

y tr

acto

r on

05/

12/9

4 an

d pl

ante

d on

08/

12/9

4. C

rop

just

em

erge

d.

visi

t 18/

01/9

5

Som

e th

inni

ng w

as c

arrie

d ou

t on

11/0

1/95

. Man

y ga

ps in

the

row

s (d

ue to

poo

r pl

antin

g); t

he p

lant

sw

ere

appr

oxim

atel

y 30

cm

hig

h. T

he g

row

th in

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot lo

oked

bet

ter

than

in th

e co

ntro

l plo

t.A

wee

d co

unt w

as c

arrie

d ou

t in

both

plo

ts; t

he m

ain

wee

d w

as U

roch

loa

spp.

, agr

ass

and

easy

tore

mov

e. T

he fa

rmer

was

adv

ised

to w

eed.

visi

t 15/

02/9

5

A r

easo

nabl

epla

nt s

tand

vva

s ob

serv

ed, b

ut n

o pr

oper

thin

ning

was

don

e: m

any

in-r

ow c

lust

ers

and g

aps.

50 %

of t

he p

lant

s w

as fl

ower

ing;

nea

rly a

ll pl

ants

wer

e af

fect

ed b

y ap

hids

. Slig

ht m

oist

ure

stre

ssvv

asob

serv

ed. F

ew w

eeds

12

%I.

Not

muc

h di

ffere

nce

to b

e se

en b

etw

een

the

fert

ilize

d an

d th

e co

ntro

l plo

t.

No

(vis

ual)

diffe

renc

ebet

wee

n th

e fe

rtili

zed

and

the

cont

rol p

lot o

bser

ved.

Rai

n of

mid

Feb

ruar

yw

ashe

da

way

the

aphi

ds. B

oth

plot

s at

tack

ed b

y A

fric

an B

ollw

orm

; als

o fe

w c

orn

cric

kets

see

n. S

ome

head

sw

ere

read

y fo

r ha

rves

ting.

Few

wee

ds (

mai

nly

Ses

amum

ala

tum

, "w

ild s

esam

um")

obs

erve

d. S

igns

of s

heet

and

rill e

rosi

on in

the

field

, cau

sed

by th

e he

avy

rain

from

mid

Feb

ruar

y.

visi

t 12/

04/9

5

Hal

f of e

ach

plot

was

spr

ayed

by

FS

R a

gain

st B

ollw

orm

on

20/0

3/95

with

"S

herp

a"co

ncen

trat

ion

7.5

m11

15 I.

No

notic

eabl

e di

ffere

nce

betw

een

spra

yed

and

not s

pray

ed s

ectio

ns o

bser

ved;

the

Bol

lwor

m h

addi

sapp

eare

d th

roug

hout

. The

cro

p co

ntin

ued

to d

o w

ell,

and

was

alm

ost m

atur

e. S

ome

stal

ksha

d fa

llen

dow

n be

caus

e of

str

ong

win

d. S

ome

atta

ck b

y pi

geon

s an

d qu

elea

obs

erve

d. T

he w

eed

cove

r w

as a

few

perc

ent.

The

farm

er w

as tr

ying

to fi

ght a

obn

oxio

us w

eed

(Ses

amum

ala

tum

) by

pul

ling

itup

and

colle

ctin

g it

in p

iles.

visi

t 16/

05/9

5

On

the

tria

l plo

ts s

orgh

um w

as m

ixed

with

mel

ons;

the

plan

t den

sity

of t

he s

orgh

um a

mou

nted

on b

oth

fert

ilize

d an

d co

ntro

l plo

t app

roxi

mat

ely

30,0

00 p

lant

e/ha

; the

mel

ons

reac

hed

an a

ppro

xim

ate

dens

ityof

5,0

00/h

a.

The

pla

nt s

tand

on

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot v

vas

rath

er h

omog

eneo

us, t

he p

lant

sw

ere

1.10

-1.3

0 hi

gh, t

hinl

yst

emm

ed, a

nd u

pto

3 til

lers

had

dev

elop

ed (

mai

nly

1 th

ough

). T

he p

lant

s on

the

cont

rol p

lot

wer

e sl

ight

lyth

inne

r an

d lo

wer

than

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ants

, onl

y 1

tille

r ha

d de

velo

ped.

The

mai

n m

atur

e he

ads

wer

eha

rves

ted

in A

PR

3; th

e ha

rves

ted

head

s w

ere

med

ium

-larg

e, a

ndw

ere

dryi

ng a

t the

tim

e of

the

visi

t.S

ome

3 %

bird

dam

age

was

don

e to

the

harv

este

d he

ads;

the

smal

l im

mat

ure

seco

nd a

ndth

ird h

eads

wer

e le

ft by

the

farm

er; t

hey

vver

e no

t wor

th th

e ef

fort

to h

arve

st.

pH-C

aCI,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

4.5

0,3

2.8

1.0

0.5

0.2

0.04

S3

DIH

AT

EM

r. K

otam

e B

atla

ngvi

s5/

03/9

5

plot

siz

e: 0

.5 h

asl

ope:

2°

UT

M p

o i

on: 4

5560

0E 7

4407

00N

soilt

ype;

Chr

omic

Luv

isol

AW

HC

: 105

mm

/mP

hosp

horu

s co

nten

t top

soil:

1 p

pmfe

rtili

zer

type

:si

ngle

sup

erph

osph

ate

appl

icat

ion

rate

: 200

kg/

ha (

to 6

ppm

)

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

top

so I

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ined

soil

dept

h: 1

00+

cm

The

site

was

situ

ated

on

the

foot

slop

e, li

able

to s

heet

ero

sion

; con

tour

was

plo

ughi

ng d

one,

In a

nad

jace

nt fi

eld,

pre

viou

sly

expe

rimen

ts w

ere

carr

ied

out w

ith b

road

rid

ging

alo

ng th

e co

ntou

r an

d m

aize

prod

uctio

n; lo

cally

rill

s ha

d br

oken

thro

ugh

the

ridge

s.

The

farm

er li

ves

in S

osho

ng a

nd h

as a

(su

mm

er)

hom

este

ad n

ear

his

field

. No

act v

ity y

et o

n 14

/11/

94,

desp

ite g

ood

rain

s an

d so

il m

oist

up

to a

dep

th o

f 100

cm

.F

irst p

lant

ing

oppo

rtun

ity o

n 03

/11/

94; p

erha

ps s

omew

hat e

arly

. Spa

rse

gree

n w

eeds

obs

erve

d in

the

farm

er's

fiel

d. V

Vee

k-ol

d gr

as r

egro

wth

in s

urro

undi

ng a

rea.

Far

mer

ow

ns d

onke

ys a

nd a

plo

ugh-

plan

ter.

visi

t 12/

12/9

4

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ot w

as p

loug

hed

and

plan

ted

on 0

5-06

112/

94, E

mer

genc

e to

ok p

lace

on

14/1

2/94

.

visi

t 18/

01/9

5

The

con

trol

plo

t was

plo

ugh-

plan

ted

on 2

8-29

/12/

94, d

ue to

the

low

soi

l moi

stur

e in

mid

Dec

embe

r, a

new

sho

wer

had

to b

e a

wai

ted,

Ver

y fe

w p

lant

s ha

d em

erge

d. A

few

wee

ds w

ere

obse

rved

: Uro

chlo

asp

p an

d T

ribu(

us te

rres

tris

("m

oset

lho"

).

On

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot a

ver

y lo

w p

lant

den

sity

and

man

y ga

ps w

ere

foun

d. T

he fa

rmer

was

adv

ised

to fi

llin

the

gaps

. Fev

v w

eeds

wer

e ob

serv

ed.

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ot w

as w

eede

d on

05/

03/9

5. A

few

pla

nts

wer

e at

tack

ed b

y th

e A

fric

an B

ollw

orm

, A fe

whe

ads

wer

e re

ady

for

harv

estin

g.

visi

t 12/

04/9

5

pH-C

aCl2

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

4.8

0.4

3.3

1.1

0.6

0.3

0.04

S4

DIH

AT

EM

r. M

polo

king

Les

ele

visi

t 15/

0219

5

plot

siz

e: 0

,5 h

asl

ope:

2°

UT

M p

ositi

on: 4

5560

0E 7

4407

00N

The

farm

er w

as a

t the

cat

tle p

ost,

and

did

not s

eem

ver

y in

tere

sted

in c

ropp

ing

(any

mor

e).

soilt

ype:

Chr

omic

Luv

sol

Pla

nts

wer

e 1

m h

igh

and

flow

erin

g on

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot. M

ost p

lant

s w

ere

affe

cted

by

aphi

ds. W

eed

AW

HC

: 105

mm

/mP

hosp

horu

s co

nten

t top

soil:

1 p

pmco

vere

d ap

prox

imat

ely

5 %

. The

pla

nt d

ensi

ty w

as a

roun

d 15

,000

pla

nts/

ha, b

ut m

any

in-r

ow g

aps

and

fert

ilize

r ty

pe:

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

eap

p ca

tionr

ate:

200

kg/

ha (

to 6

ppm

)cl

uste

rs w

ere

seen

. The

con

trol

plo

t was

a c

ompl

ete

failu

re.

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

vis

15/0

3/95

top

5ml

text

ure:

coa

rse

drai

nage

: wel

l dra

ned

soil

dept

h: 1

00+

cm

Con

side

rabl

e da

mag

e w

as d

one

by p

igeo

ns a

nd q

uele

a. A

few

sca

recr

ows

wer

e er

ecte

d, b

ut th

ey d

id n

otse

em v

ery

effe

ctiv

e.T

he B

oliw

orm

had

dis

appe

ared

.A fe

w p

lant

s ha

d fa

llen

on th

e gr

ound

. A p

ortio

n of

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

plan

t den

sity

bef

ore

hinn

ing:

14,

000

pl/h

afie

ld w

as w

ell w

eede

d, th

e re

mai

ning

par

t was

cov

ered

by

man

y gr

asse

s (u

p to

20

%);

the

cont

rol p

lot

was

cov

ered

by

Ses

amum

ala

tum

.yi

eld

fert

ilize

d pl

ot:

670

kg/h

aC

YS

LAM

B p

redi

ctio

n: 8

10 k

g/ha

visi

t 16/

05/9

5yi

eld

cont

rol p

lot:

fa le

d

On

the

fert

ilize

d pl

ot, s

orgh

um w

as m

ixed

with

mel

ons;

the

plan

ts w

ere

stun

ted

and

poor

ly d

evel

oped

.vi

sit 1

4/11

/94

Har

vest

ed h

eads

, med

ium

siz

ed a

nd <

3 %

bird

dam

age,

wer

e dr

ied

at th

e tim

e of

the

visi

t.

S5

MA

KO

RO

Mr.

L. T

shup

elo

plot

siz

e: 0

,5 h

aso

iltyp

e: C

hrom

ic L

uvis

olA

WF

IC: 1

15 m

m/m

fert

ilize

r ty

pe;

tops

oil a

naly

sis

cont

rol p

lot:

pH-C

aCI,

org

CC

EC

Ca

Mg

KN

a

4,7

0.2

4.3

1.6

1.0

0.4

0.04

top

soil

text

ure:

med

ium

dna

ge: w

ell d

rain

edso

il de

pth:

100

+ c

m

resu

lt:T

rial f

aile

d.

visi

t 14/

11/9

4

Far

mer

live

s in

Ser

owe

and

has

a (s

umm

er)

hom

este

adne

ar th

e fie

ld. N

o ac

tivity

yet

on 1

4/11

/94,

des

pite

good

rai

n on

13/

11/9

4.

Firs

t pla

ntin

g op

port

unity

on

13/1

1/94

. No

rain

rec

orde

d ye

t at t

rial s

i te

visi

t 14/

12/9

4

The

farm

er r

ecor

ded

30 m

m o

n 10

/12/

94; t

he to

psoi

l was

alre

ady

dry

on 1

4/12

/94.

Ave

ry u

neve

ndi

strib

utio

n of

fert

ilize

r w

as o

bser

ved.

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ot w

as p

lant

ed w

ith p

loug

h/pl

ante

ron

14/

12/9

4w

ith 8

don

keys

. App

roxi

mat

ely

30-4

0 se

eds

wer

e pl

ante

d pe

r m

eter

, row

dis

tanc

e 75

cm, p

lant

ing

dept

h10

cm

; the

see

ds w

ere

cove

red

loos

ely

with

alm

ost d

ry s

andy

tops

oil.

visi

t 17/

01/9

5

The

fert

ilize

d pl

ot w

as a

nea

r-fa

ilure

. The

farm

er w

as a

dvis

ed to

rep

lant

(br

oadc

ast a

nd h

arro

w),

whi

chw

as d

one

on 1

5/01

/95.

Pos

sibl

e re

ason

for

failu

re: h

igh

(soi

l) te

mpe

ratu

res

afte

r pl

antin

g (a

s su

gges

ted

by M

r M

odia

kgot

la).

The

con

trol

plo

t par

tly p

lant

ed o

n 16

/01/

95.

vis'

12/

04/9

5

The

rep

lant

ing

of th

e fe

rtili

zed

plot

on

15/0

1/95

and

the

plan

ting

of th

e co

ntro

l plo

ton

16/

01/9

5 bo

thfa

iled.

Som

e pl

ants

em

erge

d, b

ut a

t a v

ery

late

dat

e. S

ome

plan

ts o

f the

orig

inal

pla

ntin

gon

the

fert

ilize

dpl

ot 1

14/1

2/95

1 di

d su

rviv

e; a

ver

y lo

w p

lant

den

sity

was

obs

erve

d. M

any

plan

tsw

ere

eate

n by

goa

ts.

The

fiel

d w

as le

ft un

atte

nded

f or

a p

erio

d in

Mar

ch/A

pril,

bec

ause

the

farm

er p

asse

daw

ay m

id M

arch

1995

. Few

pla

nts

wer

e af

fect

ed b

y A

fric

an B

ollw

orm

, A w

eed

cove

r of

10-

15 %

vvas

obs

erve

d. T

he p

lots

had

not b

een

wee

ded

sinc

e th

ey w

ere

plou

ghed

.

slop

e: 0

-10

UT

M p

ositi

on: 4

9750

0E 7

4885

00N

Pho

spho

rus

cont

ent t

opso

il: 1

ppm

sing

le s

uper

phos

phat

ea

pplic

atio

nrat

e: 2

00 k

g/ha

(to

6 p

pm)

APPENDIX V EXAMPLE OF A BAR-CHART

An easy way of monitoring and comparing the progress of several trial sites is a bar-chart like the following:

2

FE

OS

1842

2214

873

8,73

1

3

ES

tEtE

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PL.

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days

atte

r pl

antin

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nder

opt

ima

circ

umst

ance

s),

pIou

gIon

gM

ania

g

S S

8 8

El .

8 8

8 8

f

3,5

BS

23E

6.6.

6633

.38

E

7003

1127

881

82

EE

135

.2-

3=11

I 181T

éT

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stab

lishr

nerk

v_ye

geta

bse'

LL6T

im1

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flow

erin

gyi

eld

form

ato

Wee

ding

inis

carin

gge

rmin

ahoh

zoj

7140

DIS

TR

ICT

LOC

AT

ION

CO

DE

FA

RM

ER

NG

W.V

Ves

tS

eso

K9

Who

See

mok

won

a

NG

W.W

est

Gas

itaK

8

NG

W.N

oeM

Man

yana

K4

Kgo

!ego

Let

ole

NG

W N

orth

Loth

laka

ne W

K3

Kga

n D

eern

o

NO

W N

orth

PoI

okw

eK

5K

gom

so

NG

W.C

erar

alG

amos

wan

eK

1M

enem

/an°

Mod

utlw

a

NG

W.C

entr

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wrd

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2Le

kau

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ebal

eng

NO

W.S

outh

Kan

ngw

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eele

diw

e K

osiw

e

NG

W.S

outh

Mrn

athe

the

N. K

7N

gaka

Kge

taet

sho

hare

Iong

Mon

gwaI

ale

K10

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oets

e M

osca

B.7

-601

1gP

ftane

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rus

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di

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l111

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9101

01/..

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a o

1011

12

13 1

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16

17 /0

192

32/ 2

2 23

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5282

733

2830

12

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1/ 1

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1518

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12

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8186

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WF

E82

32N

io

11ez

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7=-7

roil'

f TT

1-1

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/IWW

iiWW

vy-

jyyj

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5

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0 41

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5,3

TT

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2131

4151

6171

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222

3242

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L8.3

7: '

22 4

ser

e a

10i,

i2O

S18

19O

S31

1310

2425

1027

OS

3010

12

3456

7 8

9 1

011

1213

1415

1617

It .8

0211

5352

4OS

2835

Z10

351

2345

45 6

7 8

R 1

0111

2R

0688

6 pe

r

264V

0B55

.B77

al, .

7.-i

nCr,

TI-

1111

2a5

7

193

170

APPENDIX VI PHOTOGRAPHS

Photograph 1. Trial site K5 Polokwe date: 13/02/95

Two different germination phases and plant development stages. The two big plants in themiddle germinated on 18/01/95, while the small seedlings left and right germinated on09/02/95, following a rainfall event of 32 mm on 02/02/95.

Photograph 2. Trial site K1 Gamoswana date: 01/02/95

The fertilized plot in the background (right; bigger plants, darker green) and the control plotin the front (left). The plants are in the early vegetative stage, 26 days after planting.

Photograph 3. Trial site K1 Gamoswana date: 06/03/95

The fertilized plot in background (bigger plants, denser crop stand), and the control plotin the front (smaller plants, gaps in the rows). The plants are in the late vegetative stage,60 days after planting.

Photograph 4. Trial site K6 Kanngwe date: 05/05/95

Crop in the grain filling stage, 95 days after planting. The plants of the fertilized plot are1 25-1 50 cm high and have developed 1-3 tillers.

Photograph 5. Trial site M2 Xhana date: 23/02/95

Crop in flowering stage, 77 days after planting. The high number of tillers (4 are floweringand 2 more may develop later) is attributed to the low plant density (1700 plants/ha).

Photograph 6. Trial site Kll Pitsane date: 03/03/95

Flowering head, 64 days after planting. The plant is prone to bird attacks for approximatelythe next 30-45 days, during the grain filling and the early ripening stages.

Photograph 7. Trial site K10 Mongwalale date: 06/04/95

Grain filling stage, 90 days after planting. Secondary heads develop on the main stem,with noticeably smaller heads.

Photograph 8. Trial site K9 Sese date: 29/06/95

Harvest, 176 days after planting. The farmers let the heads dry on the stem, hence thetime between harvest and date of physiological maturity. The grain weight per head is onaverage 34 g for fully developed heads and 8 g for "mothalane".

86

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On-farm crop trials cropping season 1994/1995. Results … · Land Use Planning for Sustainable...

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Transcript of On-farm crop trials cropping season 1994/1995. Results … · Land Use Planning for Sustainable...