Smallholder farmers in East-Africa commonly intercrop maize (Zea mays L.) with grain legumes to maximize utilisation of land and labour, and attain larger crop yields. Conventionally, one legume line is intercropped between each pair of maize lines. This study evaluated the potential of a modifie...
Mucheru-Muna, M.
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Pypers, Pieter
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Mugendi, DN
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Kung'u, J.B.
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Mugwe, J
,
Merckx, R.
,
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
[A staggered maize-legume intercrop arrangement robustly increases crop yields and economic returns in the highlands of Central Kenya]
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A staggered maize-legume intercrop arrangement robustly increases crop yields and economic returns in the highlands of Central Kenya
The availability of P from rock phosphate (RP) is often too low to demonstrate an immediate impact on cereal production. Legumes may improve the immediate availability of P from RP and eventually benefit subsequent maize crops. The ability of Mucuna pruriens (L.) var utilis (Wright) Burck and Lab...
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Nwoke, O.C.
,
Diels, J.
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Sanginga, P.
,
Carsky, R.J.
,
Deckers, J.
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Utilization of rock phosphate by crops on a representative toposequence in the northern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria: response by Mucuna pruriens, Lablab purpureus, and maize]
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Utilization of rock phosphate by crops on a representative toposequence in the northern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria: response by Mucuna pruriens, Lablab purpureus, and maize
In cover cropping systems in the tropics with herbaceous legumes, plant residues are expected to supply nitrogen (N) to non-legume crops during decomposition. Field experiments were carried out to (i) determine the effects of residue quality on decomposition and N release patterns of selected pla...
Sanginga, P.
,
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Merckx, R.
,
Ibewiro, B.
,
[Nitrogen contributions from decomposing cover crop residues to maize in a tropical derived savanna]
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Nitrogen contributions from decomposing cover crop residues to maize in a tropical derived savanna
Populations of plant parasitic nematodes and their effects on symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation in herbaceous legumes and on some selected characteristics of other plant species associated with such cover crops were studied. Two legume species [mucuna, Mucuna pruriens (L) DC. var. utilis (Wright) B...
Sanginga, P.
,
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Merckx, R.
,
Ibewiro, B.
,
[Influence of phytoparasitic nematodes on symbiotic N2 fixation in tropical herbaceous legume cover crops]
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Influence of phytoparasitic nematodes on symbiotic N2 fixation in tropical herbaceous legume cover crops
Reliable estimates of symbiotically fixed N2 in herbaceous legumes are important in order to determine their role in maintaining or improving N levels in tropical low-external-input farming systems. We have studied the effects of different management systems on the suitability of two non-N2-fixin...
Ibewiro, B.
,
Sanginga, P.
,
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Evaluation of symbiotic dinitrogen inputs of herbaceous legumes into tropical cover crop systems]
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Evaluation of symbiotic dinitrogen inputs of herbaceous legumes into tropical cover crop systems
Root characteristics associated with phosphorus (P) uptake under limiting soil-P conditions were examined in two sets of greenhouse experiments. Average diameter and length of soybean, cowpea, maize and sorghum roots were assessed after 7 weeks in three low-P soils amended with P fertilizer at 0,...
Nwoke, O.C.
,
Diels, J.
,
Abaidoo, R.C.
,
Nziguheba, Generose
,
Merckx, R.
,
[Organic acids in the rhizosphere and root characteristics of soybean (Glycine max) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in relation to phosphorus uptake in poor savanna soils]
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Organic acids in the rhizosphere and root characteristics of soybean (Glycine max) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in relation to phosphorus uptake in poor savanna soils