Meki Chirwa | Sokoine University of Agriculture (original) (raw)
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Papers by Meki Chirwa
The inclusion of legume crops in cropping systems has been shown to improve soil fertility and pr... more The inclusion of legume crops in cropping systems has been shown to improve soil fertility and productivity, but the adoption rate is low among many smallholder farmers. A study to determine the perceptions of the smallholder farmers on groundnut production, use of inputs and cropping systems was conducted in Chisamba District, Zambia. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 164 farmers from 20 villages within 11 agricultural camps in two agricultural blocks were randomly chosen for the study. Questionnaires were administered to only smallholder farmers who cultivated groundnuts. Results showed that the cropping systems used by smallholder farmers in Chisamba District were crop rotation (90%), mixed-intercropping (5%) and sole-cropping (5%). Groundnut production was mainly undertaken by female smallholder farmers (71%) on land averaging 1.68 ha. However, there was non-significant relationship between gender of the household head and adoption of cropping system (χ 2 (2) = 1.726; p = 0.414). Fifty-seven percent of the smallholder farmers perceived the groundnut variety Natal Common to be most suitable for the study area (χ 2 (4) = 9.745; p = 0.045). It was concluded that particular traits of varieties affected the perceptions and hence adoption decisions of smallholder farmers in Chisamba District.
The deficiency of zinc (Zn) in human nutrition, commonly found in cereal-based diets accounts for... more The deficiency of zinc (Zn) in human nutrition, commonly found in cereal-based diets accounts for impaired growth (stunting) in children. Since cereals are generally low in this element, bio-fortification may represent an opportunity to increase Zn intake by humans. A study was carried out to evaluate Zn uptake by maize and wheat when they are supplied with increasing rates of foliar or soil applied Zn. Maize and wheat were grown in the field and supplied with 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40 kg Zn ha-1 as ZnSO 4 applied to the soil, or, 0,1,2,4, or 8 kg Zn ha-1 as foliar spray. Zinc application to soil increased maize and wheat yields beyond increments obtained with foliar application, but Zn mass concentration in maize grain was better with foliar applications. Mean maize yield was 1.78 ton ha-1 with soil application and 1.14 ton ha-1 with foliar application. This was in relation to an average of 52 mg Zn uptake by maize under each of the application methods. Wheat yield was 3.69 ton ha-1 under soil application and 2.74 ton ha-1 under foliar application. In this case, Zn uptake was higher under soil application (11.31 mg) than under foliar application (7.25 mg). Sesquioxide bound Zn was shown to be best correlated with plant Zn uptake. It was shown that Zn application is beneficial on Zambian soils, and while soil application increases crop yields, foliar application can be more useful to increase Zn mass concentration in maize.
International Journal of Soil Science, 2012
A study was conducted to determine the soil fertility status and the suitability of land for the ... more A study was conducted to determine the soil fertility status and the suitability of land for the smallholder farmers' sustainable production of groundnut and maize in Chisamba District of Zambia. Composite soil samples (0 – 30 cm) were collected from the fields of 18 randomly selected major groundnut producing villages. The soils were analysed for various chemical and physical properties. Then focused group discussions as instruments of data collection were used to capture information on market availability for groundnuts. The simple limitation method was used to compute land suitability. The results showed that most (63.63%) of the soils were strongly acidic, with the mean pH of 4.95±0.35. The mean of CEC was 3.63±2.73 cmol / kg. There was a highly significant and positive relationship between pH CaCl2 and the concentration of Ca (r = 0.653,
The inclusion of legume crops in cropping systems has been shown to improve soil fertility and pr... more The inclusion of legume crops in cropping systems has been shown to improve soil fertility and productivity, but the adoption rate is low among many smallholder farmers. A study to determine the perceptions of the smallholder farmers on groundnut production, use of inputs and cropping systems was conducted in Chisamba District, Zambia. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 164 farmers from 20 villages within 11 agricultural camps in two agricultural blocks were randomly chosen for the study. Questionnaires were administered to only smallholder farmers who cultivated groundnuts. Results showed that the cropping systems used by smallholder farmers in Chisamba District were crop rotation (90%), mixed-intercropping (5%) and sole-cropping (5%). Groundnut production was mainly undertaken by female smallholder farmers (71%) on land averaging 1.68 ha. However, there was non-significant relationship between gender of the household head and adoption of cropping system (χ 2 (2) = 1.726; p = 0.414). Fifty-seven percent of the smallholder farmers perceived the groundnut variety Natal Common to be most suitable for the study area (χ 2 (4) = 9.745; p = 0.045). It was concluded that particular traits of varieties affected the perceptions and hence adoption decisions of smallholder farmers in Chisamba District.
The deficiency of zinc (Zn) in human nutrition, commonly found in cereal-based diets accounts for... more The deficiency of zinc (Zn) in human nutrition, commonly found in cereal-based diets accounts for impaired growth (stunting) in children. Since cereals are generally low in this element, bio-fortification may represent an opportunity to increase Zn intake by humans. A study was carried out to evaluate Zn uptake by maize and wheat when they are supplied with increasing rates of foliar or soil applied Zn. Maize and wheat were grown in the field and supplied with 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40 kg Zn ha-1 as ZnSO 4 applied to the soil, or, 0,1,2,4, or 8 kg Zn ha-1 as foliar spray. Zinc application to soil increased maize and wheat yields beyond increments obtained with foliar application, but Zn mass concentration in maize grain was better with foliar applications. Mean maize yield was 1.78 ton ha-1 with soil application and 1.14 ton ha-1 with foliar application. This was in relation to an average of 52 mg Zn uptake by maize under each of the application methods. Wheat yield was 3.69 ton ha-1 under soil application and 2.74 ton ha-1 under foliar application. In this case, Zn uptake was higher under soil application (11.31 mg) than under foliar application (7.25 mg). Sesquioxide bound Zn was shown to be best correlated with plant Zn uptake. It was shown that Zn application is beneficial on Zambian soils, and while soil application increases crop yields, foliar application can be more useful to increase Zn mass concentration in maize.
International Journal of Soil Science, 2012
A study was conducted to determine the soil fertility status and the suitability of land for the ... more A study was conducted to determine the soil fertility status and the suitability of land for the smallholder farmers' sustainable production of groundnut and maize in Chisamba District of Zambia. Composite soil samples (0 – 30 cm) were collected from the fields of 18 randomly selected major groundnut producing villages. The soils were analysed for various chemical and physical properties. Then focused group discussions as instruments of data collection were used to capture information on market availability for groundnuts. The simple limitation method was used to compute land suitability. The results showed that most (63.63%) of the soils were strongly acidic, with the mean pH of 4.95±0.35. The mean of CEC was 3.63±2.73 cmol / kg. There was a highly significant and positive relationship between pH CaCl2 and the concentration of Ca (r = 0.653,