Studies on Maize (Zea mays) at Bunda, Malawi. III. Yield in Rotations with Pasture Legumes

Abstract

SUMMARYYields of maize were increased when they followed successfully established pasture legumes in two rotation experiments. The largest increases were obtained after silverleaf and were equivalent in one experiment to the effects of about 30 kg N ha−1a−1over four years and in the other experiment to those of 40 kg N ha−1a−1over three years. The largest beneficial effect of some of the legumes was on the first crop of maize but in others did not occur until the third or fourth crop. The possible reasons for the different patterns of residual effect are discussed in relation to the nature of the legume residues, the quality of the seedbed following the legumes, and rainfall