Long-term-Conservation Agriculture Trial Msekera Research Station

Design period: Period 1 (1980—)

Design Type

Randomized complete block design

Design description

Plots measure 20x20m

Number of plots

40

Number of replicates

4

Crops

Crop	Years grown
maize
cow peas
soybeans

Crop Rotations

DS-M/C

• 1
  maize

  Direct seeding maize/cow pea intercropping, 90 cm rows

  cow peas

DS-MC

• 1
  maize
• 2
  cow peas

DS-CM

• 1
  cow peas
• 2
  maize

DS-MS

• 1
  soybeans
• 2
  maize

DS-SM

• 1
  maize
• 2
  soybeans

continuous maize

• 1
  maize

Factor combinations

T1

Control plot 1 (CPM1); traditional farmers practice mouldboard plough on the flat, maize as a sole crop, no residue retention, stubble incorporated into the row for the following season.

T2

Control plot 2 (CPM2); ridge and furrow system dug by hand, maize as a sole crop, no residue retention, stubble incorporated into the row for the following season

T3

Basins (BAM), residue retention on the surface, maize as a sole crop

T4

Dibble stick (DISM), residue retention on the surface, maize as a sole crop

T5

Direct seeder (DSM), residue retention on the surface, maize as a sole crop

T6

Direct seeding maize/cowpea intercropping (DS-M/C), 90cm rows, residue retention on the surface

T7

Direct seeding cowpea (Cowpea-maize rotation) (DS-MC), residue retention on the surface

T8

Direct seeding maize (Maize-cowpea rotation) (DS-CM), residue retention on the surface

T9

Direct seeding soya (Soybean-maize rotation) (DS-MS), residue retention on the surface

T10

Direct seeding maize (Maize-soybean rotation) (DS-SM), residue retention on the surface

Measurements

Variable	Material	Units	Frequency	Scale	Comment
rainfall	Not specified	mm	daily
management data	Not specified				Record dates of all activities
phenological observations	maize				50% plant emergence, 50% tasseling, 50% silking and 50% physiological maturity
weeds data	Not specified				Weed counts before glyphosate applications
soil moisture	Soil
grain yield trait	maize