AREX RESEARCH STATIONS
MAKOHOLI RESEARCH STATION
Chisumbanji Experiment Station
Background, Location and Geographical Coverage
Makoholi Research Station is situated some 32km north of Masvingo town. It is the regional agricultural research centre for the sandveld soils in the medium rainfall areas of the Midlands and Masvingo provinces of Zimbabwe. Unreliability of rainfall (range 133-1000mm annually) both between and within season, coupled with the poorly fertile granite derived soils makes the area marginal for the growing of most crops. Where land holdings are of sufficient size, stability of the farm enterprise is attained through semi-extensive livestock production. However, most landholders in the area are subsistence farmers dependent on the yields of their annual crops.
From these circumstances stems the work of the station, whose function is to provide knowledge for the development of efficient farm production and land use. To achieve its objectives, the station has three sections, i.e., Livestock, Rangeland and pastures, and Crop Production Unit.
Vision
Excellence in agricultural research, development and services for a prosperous Zimbabwe.
Mission
To promote and sustain viable livestock and crop production in the semi-arid sandveld of Zimbabwe through the development and dissemination of appropriate technologies and sustainable utilization of resources.
Research and Development Thrust
The mandate of Makoholi Research Station is to develop and disseminate appropriate technologies for sustainable livestock and crop production in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe. The main thrust in the Livestock section is to maintain and develop technologies for improving the indigenous Mashona cattle. The station aims to preserve a pure nucleus herd of Mashona cattle. The section is also looking at possible methods of improving the productivity of small ruminants mainly goats. The main thrust here, is to improve kid survival, fertility and growth rate of the Small East African goat. Development and dissemination of appropriate dairy animals for use in the smallholder farming systems is also a major component of Livestock section.
The Rangeland and pastures section
One major constraint to livestock production in semi-arid regions is the inadequate feed during the seven-month dry season of the year. Nitrogen is the most limiting factor in both crop and livestock production in these areas. This therefore means the section looks into the headways that can possibly increase the yields out of crop and livestock production under these marginal conditions. The section successful screened herbaceous legumes that could increase both the carrying capacity as well as the output. Hybrid pennistums, siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum), Oxley fine-stem (Stylosanthes guianensis) archer (Macrotyloma axillare), velvet bean and cassia are some of the fodder and forage legumes recommended for this area. Currently, the section is mainly involved in the following trials:
-
Assessment of the effects of feeding browses and forage legumes as winter dietary supplement on productivity of livestock. This is aimed at developing an alternative source of cheap protein source for resource-poor farmers who cannot afford bought in protein supplements.
-
Development of cheap but quality dairy feed through ration formulation using farm produced ingredients as well as non-protein nitrogen source like urea treated maize stover. This is aimed at resuscitating submerging dairy enterprises because of feed cost by provide an alternative source of feed which is affordable to all farmers.
-
Cereal-legume intercrop for herbage quality improvement and silage making for high milk yield.
-
Screening of cactus ascensions for adaptability and high yield for feed availability improvement during the winter period.
LIVESTOCK SECTION
Small Ruminants Production
The main objective of the small ruminants research programme is to address problems leading to low kid survival, fertility and growth rates in goats in communal areas. Commercial small ruminant production is considered as an option in order to generate money for out reach research projects.
Beef Cattle Breeding
The beef cattle breeding programme is based on an indigenous breed, Mashona. Current research work on beef cattle breeding is on developing selection procedures combining both growth and fertility in Mashona cattle. Present strategies for increasing growth and reproduction are based on feeding supplements, which are expensive. Commercial beef production is another option, which is likely to give us more money for sustainability of the research activities.
Dairy Production
The section has Mashona Friesian crossbreeds, which was produced with the need to have a hard, disease resistant cow and drought tolerant cows since we are situated in the semi arid region of Zimbabwe. Feed is the most expensive input in dairy production. Cheaper homegrown feeds are being evaluated at Makoholi Experiment Station. The herbage available is of low quality and it is too little to meet the requirements of the animals. Development of an F1 crossbreed of Mashona with the following dairy breed ( Jersey, Guernsey and red dane) are in the pipeline. This is meant to produce a hard, disease resistant, and drought tolerant dairy cows for the resource poor farmers.
The Value of Trees in Low Input Agriculture
Systems in Zimbabwe
Abstract
The objectives of this study, done at the Makoholi Experiment Station,
Zimbabwe, were to evaluate the effects of organic inputs, applied at 5t
ha-1, in various combinations with inorganic fertiliser on
the growth and yield of maize over three seasons, beginning in 1990/91.
The inputs included manure, leaf litter from Brachystegia
spiciformis (miombo), senesced leaves of Lucaena leucocephala,
and Compound D fertiliser (8N-14P-7K). Inorganic fertiliser in
combination with miombo litter and/or manure gave a higher biomass and
yield of maize in the third season compared to organic litter alone. A
synergism seemed only to exist when inorganic fertiliser was included
in the inputs. The positive response of maize to the application of
litter suggests that trees contribute to crop production via the
transfer of litter. The loss of soil fertility and the subsequent
decline in crop yields supports these results and demonstrates the
value of trees in providing nutrients to crops. Smallholder farmers in
Masvingo collect woodland litter and termitaria soil in an effort to
reverse the decline in the fertility of sandy soils.
Department of Agriculture Research and Extension, P.O. Box CY 594,Causeway, Zimbabwe