AREX RESEARCH STATIONS
Lowveld Research Stations
SAVE VALLEY EXPERIMENT
Chisumbanji Experiment Station
BACKGROUND
Save Valley Experiment forms part of the Lowveld Research Stations complex in the division of Agricultural Research and Extension Services (AREX). The station is strategically located in NR V in Middle Sabi Area of Chipinge district. Surrounding the station are commercial, small scale and smallholder farmers .The station reports to the Director of AREX through the Deputy Director of Crops and Research Services. Our research Activities are funded by the government of Zimbabwe through normal appropriation.
Due to inadequate government funding the station also undertakes some commercial activities under Agricultural revolving Fund (ARF) to supplement government
MISSION
To research ,develop and disseminate appropriate information and technology on crop production systems in the semi- regions of natural region 1v and v
VISION
Our vision is to be the hub of appropriate and relevant agricultural information and technology for rain fed and irrigated agriculture to our clients in NR 1V and V
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT THRUST
Our mission will be achieved by conducting relevant farmer-driven on-station and on-farm research ,and farmer training .Research activities include irrigation agronomy, soil fertility management ,crop variety evaluations(wheat,maize,sorghum,sweet potatoes, cassava and pearl millet), evaluation of cropping systems and crop diversifications .Our dissemination strategy involves on-farm activities ,field days ,farmer training, visits by farmers and provision of advisory services .The station hosts a number of collaborative trials from other AREX Institutes (e.g. Crop Breeding Institute ,Cotton Research Institute (Kadoma), Agronomy Institute and the Sorghum and Millets Research Unit (Matopos ) and other partner organizations in research. The station also contributes towards capacity building through attachment and supervision of students from Agricultural colleges and universities (University of Zimbabwe ,Midlands State University & National University of Science & Technology).
CURRENT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES (TRIALS AND OBJECTIVES)
SUMMER TRIALS
Project: MAIZE SOWING PERIOD X NITROGEN TRIAL
OBJECTIVES
- To determine if late sowing period of maize in the alluvial soils of Save Valley yields better than early sowing in October- November.
- To determine the optimum nitrogen requirement for maize under irrigation in Save Valley alluvial soils.
Project: MAIZE ALL YEAR VARIETY ASSESSMENT
OBJECTIVES
To determine the suitability of current maize varieties for both grain yield and green mealies consumption when grown throughout the year in the alluvial soils of Save Valley
Project:HERBICIDE USE ON THE CONTROL OF COMMON WEEDS IN COTTON AND MAIZE ON THE ALLUVIAL SOILS OF SAVE VALLEY FARMING AREA
OBJECTIVE
To tell the effectiveness of selected herbicides on control of weeds in both cotton and maize at Save Valley
Project:SOLID FERTILISER AND LIQUID FERTILISER APPLICATION TRIAL
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the yield benefit from solid and liquid foliar fertilizer applications on cotton and maize and to compare the use of two forms of fertilizers.
Project: .EFFECT OF THREE TILLAGE SYSTEMS ON SOIL PROPERTIES.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of three tillage systems on soil physical and chemical properties.
Project: MAIZE VARIETY X TILLAGE SYSTEM TRIAL.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the response of five maize varieties to four tillage systems
Project: BEAN OR MAIZE RELAY INTERCROPPING IN NR 1
OBJECTIVE
To assess yield and benefit of intercropping
Project: DEMONSTRATION OF THE BENEFIT OF TIED FURROWS AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON MAIZE ,SORGHUM AND COTTON IN LOW RAINFALL AREAS OF NATURAL REGION FIVE(5).
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the benefit of tied furrows and fertilizer use on maize, sorghum and cotton under rain fed condition in Natural region five(5)
B.WINTER TRIALS
1.Project:SVES 2005 WHEAT SELECTION OF EFFECTIVE HERBICIDES FOR THE CONTROL OF WEEDS IN THE ALLUVIAL SOILS OF SAVE VALLEY AND VERTISOILS OF CHISUMBANJE
OBJECTIVES
To select the best herbicide for the control of weeds in wheat in both alluvial soils of Save Valley and the vertisoils of Chisumbanje.
Project:SVES 2005 WHEAT SOWING PERIOD AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER DEMONSTRATION IN THE ALLUVIAL SOILS OF SAVE VALLEY
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the best sowing period and the optimum Nitrogen requirements for wheat to A2 farmers in the Save Valley area of Chipinge with the control trial at Save Valley Experiment Station.
Project:WHEAT :IRRIGATION FREQUENCY X NITROGEN TRIAL
OBJECTIVE
To determine the best irrigation frequency and the optimum nitrogen requirements for wheat and the effect of reduced irrigation water .
Project:SVES/2005 WHEAT: INVESTIGATIONS ON THE OPTIMUM SEEDRATES FOR BOTH DRILLED AND BROADCAST WHEAT SEED ON EARLY AND LATE PLANTED WHEAT.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate optimum seed rates for early and late sown wheat when drilled or broadcast.
Project:SVES 2005 BEANS SOWING PERIOD X NITROGEN FERTILISER DEMONSTRATION TRIAL
OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate the best sowing period and the optimum nitrogen requirements of Natal sugar beans in the South East lowveld of Zimbabwe.
Project:SVES 2005 WHEAT VARIETY DEMONSTRATIONS
OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate current wheat varieties to wheat farmers for them to observe and choose the varieties they like.
Project:WHEAT :SEEEDRATE X SEED INCOOPERATION METHOD
OBJECTIVE
To determine the best wheat seed incorporation method after broadcast when seed rates of 90kg/ha – 210kg/ha are used.
PROGRESS REPORT :JANUARY - MAY 2005
RESEARCH TRIALS
By January 2005, all summer 2004/05 trials had been well established .The objective of the trials is to solve problems faced by both irrigated and rainfed cropping farmers in Save Valley area. Trials included fertilizer trials, maize commercial var assessment trial and weed control trial the three being the major problem faced by farmers in this region.
Similar trials on wheat fertility trials, commercial wheat varieties assessment trials and herbicide trials as well as comparison of seed rate and drilling and broadcasting continued in winter with all early trials established in May while the other late sowing period trials will be planted in June.
DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
Early in January 2005, a cotton pest-training workshop was conducted at our station in collaboration with our extension partners. Eighteen farmers were successfully trained.
A field day was held at Chibuwe small farmer irrigation scheme on 24/02/05 to show farmers the benefit of Nitrogen fertilizer application .The major field day attended by about 500 farmers was held at the station on 02/03/05 .The field day was on Maize all year commercial variety assessment trial under irrigation.
Twelve current commercial maize irrigated varieties are being assessed from Nov 2004 - September 2005.Farmers were able to pick the best varieties for themselves and the best variety picked was a seed coop var sc 513.Pioneer varieties which performed fairly well in summer dismally failed towards winter because of streak. The last field day was a maize fertility and maize herbicide field day in Middle Save A2 Settler farmers’ fields. Farmers were delighted with the differences observed on both effectiveness of herbicides and maize responses to Nitrogen fertilizer rates. Farmers asked for more demonstrations in their fields.
OTHER STATION DEVELOPMENTS
Two tractors received from government have eased tractor land preparation on station farm, The only problems left are shortage of vehicles for transport and some farm tillage and irrigation equipments. We have established our station orchard plantations that include mango trees, orange trees and bananas. Very soon we will be selling fruits from our orchard plantation
On ARF monthly income and expenditure returns indicate that we are operating better than any of the other two stations of Lowveld Research Stations.