The evaluation and adoption of annual legumes by smallholder maize farmers for soil fertility maintenance and food diversity in central Malawi

We studied the process of assessment and adoption of 10 grain- and green-manure legumes by smallholder maize farmers differing in resource endowment in Chisepo, central Malawi. The legumes had been promoted with the farmers from 1998 to 2004, primarily as a way to diversify food production and maintain the fertility of their soils. Farmers (n?=?136) were surveyed in 2004 at the end of the period of promotion to assess the degree of awareness and uptake of the legumes and the reasons for adoption. A follow-up survey was conducted in 2007 among a broader sample of Chisepo farmers (n?=?84) to measure the persistence of adoption. An Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used in 2004 to create scales of priority and as a tool to compare predicted with actual legume uptake. Actual adoption of food grain legumes reflected predictions by the AHP but it over-predicted uptake of the non-food legumes. The AHP helped us understand how farmer perceptions and needs influence adoption, as well as limitations with the legumes. Suitability for food was the most important criterion that farmers identified for adoption, followed by contribution to soil fertility and suppression of weeds. Over 75 % of the farmers surveyed in 2004 were aware of most of the legumes. Frequent use of the grain legumes was reported in 2004 (79 % for CG7 groundnut, 77 % for soyabean and 47 % for pigeonpea) by both the better-resourced (wealthier) and less-well-resourced (poorer) farm households. Awareness rose to over 90 % of farmers surveyed in 2007 but adoption fell somewhat to 67 % for soyabean, 57 % for CG7 groundnut and 43 % with pigeonpea among the wealthier farmers, while Bambara groundnut rose to 38 %. Fifty-two percent of poorer farmers reported adoption of CG7, 46 % soyabean, 35 % Bambara groundnut and 27 % pigeonpea in 2007. There was greater uptake by the wealthier farmers than those with fewer resources. Overall, although the legumes were promoted for maintenance of soil fertility, farmers were largely interested in and mainly adopted those legumes they considered most useful for food diversity and security, and with potential for market sale. Only a few wealthier farmers used mucuna and tephrosia among the green manure legumes. Improving the food value of vigorous and productive multi-purpose legumes, particularly mucuna, may help raise the farmers’ interest, with secondary benefits for soil fertility.     

Development of a breeding program for improving the milk yield performance of Butana cattle under smallholder production conditions using a stochastic simulation approach

Butana is one of the local dairy cattle breeds of Sudan commonly kept by smallholder producers. This breed has been strongly promoted to advance the dairy production sector in the country. The main problem, however, is the lack of a systematic breeding program that involves smallholder producers. The aim of the current study was to identify the most promising design for a breeding program to improve the milk yield performance of Butana cattle under smallholder production conditions. In total, 3 breeding scenarios, including (1) the use of farm bulls, (2) the use of village bulls, and (3) the rotational use of village bulls within village groups, were simulated using a stochastic simulation approach. For each breeding scenario, 3 selection methods for bulls were considered, namely random mating, phenotypic selection, and selection based on estimated breeding value (EBV). The results showed that no genetic gain was realized with random mating in all breeding scenarios. In the farm bull breeding scenario, annual genetic gain (standard deviation units) ranged from 0.01 to 0.19 (phenotypic selection) and from 0.01 to 0.39 (selection based on EBV). In the village bull breeding scenarios, the annual genetic gain ranged from 0.01 to 0.21 (phenotypic selection) and 0.01 to 0.45 (selection based on EBV). The lowest genetic gain was realized for the rotational use of village bulls among villages within groups. Through the rotational use of village bulls, however, a higher genetic variance was maintained than in the farm and village bull breeding scenarios. We concluded that a village bull breeding program with selection based on EBV of young bulls was the most promising breeding design for achieving the breeding goal. Further studies are needed to assess the organizational feasibility of such a breeding program to ensure the participation of smallholder producers and its sustainability.     

The use of locally available materials as protectants of maize grain against insect infestation during storage in Malawi

Trials were so up under ambient conditions in southern Malawi to determine the effectiveness of admixing locally available powders with maize to protect the grain during storage. All of the powders, dolomite, wood ash, tobacco dust, sawdust and sand, restricted infestation. The effectiveness was directly related to dosage, the highest dose 30% by weight completely covered the grain. The protection afforded by wood ash admixed at 30% by weight was of the same order as that provided by admixing pirimiphos-methyl at 8.8 ppm.     

Stability of the Fusarium mycotoxins nivalenol, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in ground maize under typical cooking environments

The effects of moisture, pH and heat on the stability of nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) present as natural contaminants of ground maize were measured for different periods. Standard solution tests were also performed to measure pH, salt and temperature effects on NIV and DON. The solution tests showed NIV and DON to be relatively stable in buffer solutions over the pH range 1-10. Quite harsh conditions (pH 12, high salt concentration, 80°C, prolonged exposure) were needed to give substantial breakdown. In the ground maize substrate, these toxins were further stabilized relative to the solution tests. NIV and DON were both reduced (range 60-100%) by treatment with aqueous bicarbonate solution at 10, 20 or 50% of the ground maize dry weight, and subsequent heating at 80 or 110°C for 2 and 12 days. There was no measurable reduction at lower test temperatures (20, 40°C). NIV (but not DON) also showed some reduction following addition of water and heating at 80 or 110°C for 12 days. ZEN content was not reduced even by 12 days of heating at 110°C after treatment with a sodium bicarbonate solution.     

几个欧亚种系葡萄新品种在金华设施栽培的表现

近年来,日本葡萄育种与栽培技术研究进展很快,重点已从巨峰系欧美杂交种培育改良转移到欧亚种系新品种培育方面来。进入2000年,又一批新品种和新技术引入金华,促进金华葡萄优质丰产高效栽培,显示出较高的经济效益。现将品种介绍如下:1 品种来源与主要特征表现1.1 红高(Benitaka),欧亚种植原葡萄研究所引入。亲本原系巴西意大利葡萄红色芽变。果穗圆锥形,平均重550g,最大2000g。果粒短椭圆形,平均10～12g,最大15g(31mm×22mm)。果皮浓紫红色,着色艳丽。含糖18%～19%,肉质爽脆,香味浓郁。在金华地区避雨设施栽培,表现良好。晚熟。3月10日～…     

Grain protectants for use under tribal storage conditions in Rhodesia—1. Comparative toxicities of some insecticides on maize and sorghum

Median lethal doses of five insecticides were measured for Sitophilus zeamais on maize and sorghum using laboratory formulated dusts. Fenitrothion was the most toxic followed by fenthion, iodofenphos, tetrachlorvinphos and pyrethrins in order of decreasing toxicity. Fenitrothion on maize and sorghum (8·0 ppm), pirimiphos methyl on maize (5·0 ppm) and phenthoate on maize (4·0 ppm) showed good persistence for 12 months, other insecticides tested giving shorter periods. The optimum pyrethrins: piperonyl butoxide ratio was 1:15, smaller ratios demanding a higher deposit of pyrethrins than is normally recommended. Loss of insecticidal effect was more rapid on maize than on sorghum though responses to given doses of insecticide were less on the latter grain.