The most appropriate plant density and planting pattern to use for optimum growth and yield of groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Eswatini among those currently used is not known, as the patterns are highly influenced by environmental conditions in specific regions. A field trial was conducted with the objective of determining the optimum plant density and planting pattern for groundnut in the Wet Middleveld of Eswatini. The experiment was conducted at the University of Eswatini, Luyengo Campus during the 2018/2019 cropping. The treatments consisted of three planting densities (i.e. 88,889 plants/ha, 44,444 plants/ha, and 29,630 plants/ha) and two planting patterns (i.e. Ridges and Raisedbeds) in a split plot arrangement. Results showed that all the measured parameters including seed yield were not significantly different in all treatments. However, the highest seed yield was obtained at low plant density which was 71.4 kg/ha followed by 568 kg/ha at medium and the least was 434 kg/ha at high plant density. The high plant density (88889 plants/ha) obtained the highest value of dry biomass (13018 kg/ha) at ridges which was higher than 3859 kg/ha obtained at the low plant density (29630 plants/ha) at raised beds at R6 growth stage. The ridges at the intermediate plant density (44444 plants per hectare) obtained the highest shelling percentage of 59.67% while the lowest (56%) shelling percentage was obtained at raised beds at 88889 plants per hectare. It is concluded that groundnuts at raised beds with low plant density yielded higher than those at ridges with high plant density. It is therefore, recommended that groundnuts be planted at raised beds with low plant density to increase groundnut production and for ease of harvesting.
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is the most grown storage root crop in Eswatini. However, its storage root yield is low among smallholder farmers partly due to use of inappropriate varieties and agronomic practices such as planting method. Thus, a field experiment was conducted at the University of Eswatini, Faculty of Agriculture, Luyengo, during 2019/2020 cropping season to determine the effects of planting method on growth and yield of the three sweet potato varieties. Two planting methods, namely horizontal and vertical; and three sweet potato varieties, namely Kenya-white, Ligwalagwala and Lamngititi were evaluated in a factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design in three replications. Results showed non-significant difference between the planting methods in most growth and yield parameters recorded for the sweet potato varieties. However, the vertical method of planting had relatively higher vine length, number of branches, mass of storage roots and storage root yield than the horizontal method. On the other hand, there were significant (P<0.05) differences among the sweet potato varieties for most of parameters recorded. The sweet potato variety Ligwalagwala had the highest vine length, number of storage roots per plant (6.47), mass of storage roots per plant (1137 g) and storage root yield (12.01 tonnes/ha). Thus, either horizontal or vertical method of planting and variety Ligwalagwala can be used to increase the productivity of sweet potato in the study area.
Maize is the staple food in Swaziland but there have been shortfalls in production mainly due to the high cost of commercial fertilisers. One possible means of addressing the problem is the use of sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), a green manuring legume, which is cheap and easy to produce. A field experiment was conducted at the Malkerns Research Station during the 2014/2015 cropping season. The main objective of the study was to evaluate whether sunnhemp can be used as a substitute for inorganic fertilisers. The treatments were (1) maize with 40 kg/ha sunnhemp used as mulch, (2) maize with 80 kg/ha sunnhemp used as mulch, (3) maize with 120 kg/ha sunnhemp used as mulch, (4) maize with 40 kg/ha sunnhemp soil incorporated, (5) maize with 80 kg/ha sunnhemp soil incorporated, (6) maize with 120 kg/ha sunnhemp soil incorporated (7) maize with no fertilisers (8) maize with half rates of inorganic fertilisers and (9) Maize with recommended rates of inorganic fertilisers. The design of the experiment was a randomized complete block design and each treatment was replicated four times. Maize variety SC 403 was used. Data were collected on sunnhemp biomass, cost of placement and rate of mineralisation. Maize data were on growth, yield and yield components. The results on labour cost of placement show that soil incorporation was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than mulching with sunnhemp being 29.8 man-days/ha while it was 18.6 man-days/ha for mulching. The amount of mineralised sunnhemp was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in incorporated sunnhemp than from sunnhemp used as mulch. Maize grown with 120 kg/ha of sunnhemp yielded 7662.7 kg/ha while maize with 40 kg/ha of sunnhemp was lowest with 7251.1 kg/ha, a yield difference of 5.4%. Maize from soil incorporated sunnhemp yielded 7519.3 kg/ha while maize grown with sunnhemp used as mulch was lower with 7325.0 kg/ha, a yield difference of 2.6%. Maize grown with the recommended rates of fertilisers yielded higher than the rest of the treatments, it yielded 8405.7 kg/ha while maize grown with 80 kg/ha of sunnhemp later used as mulch was lowest with 6945.7 kg/ha. It is concluded that labour cost of sunnhemp placement was significantly (P < 0.01) higher for soil incorporation than mulching. Nitrogen mineralisation was significantly (P < 0.05) higher when sunnhemp was incorporated than when used as mulch. It is recommended that farmers grow their maize with 80 kg/ha of sunnhemp and use it as mulch seven weeks after planting.
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is an economically important food crop in Eswatini. Since its introduction, numerous agronomic research activities were carried out in agricultural research centers, non-governmental organizations, and universities. However, information on the correct vine length for planting to improve sweet potato root yield in Eswatini is scanty. Therefore, this study aimed at helping farmers with the correct vine length to be used for improved growth and yield of sweet potatoes. A field experiment was conducted at the Luyengo campus, crop production farm during the 2019/2020 crops season. It was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a factorial arrangement with three replicates. The treatments were vines planted with or without leaves and different vine lengths; 25 cm, 30 cm, and 35 cm. Kenya white variety was used. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters. Results showed that leaf removal yielded significantly (P<0.05) lower than non-leaf removal. This may be attributed to delayed photosynthetic activity in the former. The Vine length had no significant effect on yield. It is concluded that vines with leaves be used as planting material, and the length of vines to be used for planting should be 25 to 30 cm.
Groundnut is an important food and cash crop for smallholder farmers in Eswatini. However, its yield is very low partly due to poor soil fertility particularly calcium and phosphorus deficiencies associated with soil acidity. Thus, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different inorganic fertiliser types on growth and yield of groundnut. The treatments were: a control with no fertiliser, [2:3:2 (22) at 300 kg ha-1], single superphosphate (100 kg ha-1), calcium nitrate (120 kg ha-1) and a combination of calcium nitrate (120 kg ha-1) and single superphosphate (100 kg ha-1). A randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used. Results showed highly significant (p<0.01) differences among the fertiliser types on most of the growth parameters recorded. At 90% flowering, significantly highest number of leaves per plant (48.3), the tallest plant (42.17 cm), the highest canopy width (41.47 cm), the highest number of branches per plant (6.57) and plant dry biomass per plant (20.6 g) were recorded for treatments with calcium nitrate followed by the application of combination of calcium nitrate and single superphosphate. Similarly, most of the yield components and yield were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the fertiliser types. Significantly highest numbers of total pods per plant (28.8), mature pods per plant (26.9), dry pod yield (950.6 kg ha-1), hundred seed mass (82.8 g), shelling percentage (70.6) and seed yield (671.6 kg ha-1) were recorded from a combination of calcium nitrate and single superphosphate fertiliser. Thus, combined application of 120 kg ha-1 calcium nitrate and 100 kg ha-1 single superphosphate fertilisers can be used to increase the productivity of groundnut in the study area.
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