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CIFOR–ICRAF publishes over 750 publications every year on agroforestry, forests and climate change, landscape restoration, rights, forest policy and much more – in multiple languages.

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Effects of intercropping systems and the application of Tundulu Rock phosphate on groundnut grain yield in Central Malawi

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Low soil fertility remains a major constraint in agricultural production in Malawi. Legumes hold the promise of being a cheap alternative to improve soil fertility owing to their ability of fixing atmospheric nitrogen (N2). Growing two leguminous crops on a piece of land at the same time and applying phosphorus (P) may increase N2 fixation while at the same time realizing high grain yield from the legumes. A study therefore, was conducted to investigate the effect on nitrogen fixation and grain yield in a groundnut/pigeon pea intercrop, groundnut/maize intercrop treated with an indigenous rock phosphate (TRP) and groundnut treated TRpResearcher designed but farmer managed trials involving eight farmers were mounted on farm. Treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design. The results indicated an apparent significant (P1.0) compared with the monoculture on equal land area. The application of the TRP appeared not to have affected the grain yield

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