Improved fallows by legume plants (trees, shrubs and grasses) in Eastern and Southern Africa. Impact of soil biota (SOM, roots, BNF microbes, mycorrhiza, and soil fauna) improvement on bean and maize yields, soil organics matter dynamics an

PROPOSAL: ICA4-2000-30011 ACRONYM IMPALA
AREA: FP5 - INCO2, 5/ unknown KeyAction Call number / date: -
PROJECT TYPE: Shared Cost EU CONTRIBUTION: 549,677
STARTING DATE: 2000-10-01 DURATION: 36 months

Coordinator: Dr. J.P. Muller, Institut de Recherche, Development, Departement Resources Vivantes, Rue La Fayette 213, FR -75480, Paris, France, Email: dg@paris.ird.fr

Project Description:
The impact of short-term improved fallows (IF) by legumes (trees, shrubs, grasses) on maize and beans yields and soil properties will be assessed to counteract declining staple food production in nutrient depleted soils in Eastern and Southern Africa. In a novel approach these agro forestry practices will be associated with no- or minimum tillage (NT) to enhance the beneficial effects. The project will increase understanding of the underlying biological (N2 fixation, mycorrhiza, soil fauna) and physical (aggregation, infiltration, erosion) soil processes in IF/NT systems and evaluate how the positive effects can be maximised. Wider environmental benefits (C sequestration, erosion reduction) of adoption of IF/NT will be assessed using modelling approaches. The socio-economic environment required for the widespread adoption of IF/NT will be evaluated. The project will be carried out in Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Project URL: not known

Consortium:
Co-ordinator: Contact Person: Muller, Jean-Pierre (Dr) Department: Departement Resources Vivantes Organisation: Institut de Recherche pour le Developement Rue La Fayette 213 75480 PARIS FRANCE Tel: +33-14-8037701 Fax: +33-140-362524 dg@paris.ird.fr Participants Contact Person: OOSTERLINCK, Andre (Professor) Department: LABORATORY OF SOIL BIOLOGY AND SOIL FERTILITY DEPARTMENT OF LAND MANAGEMENT Organisation: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven 92 Kardinal Mercierlaan 92 3001 Heverlee BELGIUM Contact Person: MAPANI, William David (Mr) Department: SOIL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Organisation: University of Zimbabwe Mount Pleasant MP 167 30 HARARE ZIMBABWE Contact Person: OGAO, Shem Arthur (Mr) Department: BIOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY FARM FORESTRY PROGRAMME Organisation: Kenya Forestry Research Institute 2 NAIROBI KENYA Contact Person: QUIRKE, Terence (Mr) Department: DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Organisation: Wye College TN25 5AH ASHFORD UNITED KINGDOM


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