Table 7.
Maize management in the second year (2011) of the rotation trial.
| External inputs in trial plots (% of trials) | Dowa (n = 11) | Mchinji (n = 18) | Salima (n = 17) | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPSa, Urea and Manure | 0.0 | 16.7 | 5.9 | 7.5 |
| NPS and Urea | 36.4 | 61.1 | 41.2 | 46.2 |
| Urea or CANb only | 0.0 | 11.1 | 11.8 | 7.6 |
| NPS only | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 2.0 |
| No inputs | 63.6 | 11.1 | 35.3 | 36.7 |
| Other crop management practices | Dowa (n = 8) | Mchinji (n = 18) | Salima (n = 17) | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sowing date | ||||
| First | − | 27 Nov | 11 Nov | |
| Median | − | 12 Dec | 6 Dec | |
| Last | − | 28 Jan | 15 Jan | |
| First weeding date (DAP) | − | 30 (16–54)c | 22 (14–70) | |
| Second weeding date (DAP) | − | 58 (43–75) | 40 (27–58) | |
| Improved varietyd (% of farmers) | 50 | 68 | 65 | 61 |
| Row spacing (cm) | 75 | 84 (75–90) | 77 (75–90) | 79 |
| Plant spacing (%) | ||||
| 20–25 cm; 1 seed per station | 25 | 5 | 29 | 20 |
| 40–50 cm; 2–3 seeds per station | 50 | 95 | 6 | 50 |
| 60–90 cm; 3–4 seeds per station | 25 | 0 | 65 | 30 |
| Sowing rate (1000 seeds ha−1) | 60.4 | 57.2 | 56.8 | 57.7 |
a
NPS (23:21 + 2S).
b
CAN is Calcium ammonium nitrate (27% N, 8% Ca).
c
Data in brackets are minimum and maximum observes values.
d
Includes hybrid and open pollinated maize varieties.