Agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa
CONTEXT Maize is Southern Africa’s staple food crop, while soybean, a multi-purpose legume, is the fastest expanding crop in area and production in the region. Despite their importance, yields remain low, highlighting the need for context-specific strategies to sustainably increase productivity. OBJ...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Formato: | Preprint |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Elsevier
2025
|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178721 |
| _version_ | 1855538857757376512 |
|---|---|
| author | Chiduwa, Mazvita Nyagumbo, Isaiah Omondi, John Okoth Mkuhlani, Siyabusa Masikati, Patricia Malunga, Innocent Mwila, Mulundu Simwaka, Pacsu Mapaure, Mateus Banda, Andson Hougni, Deo-Gratias Judrita Mawugnon Ndour, Adama Fantaye, Kindie Tesfaye Snapp, Sieglinde Silva, João Vasco |
| author_browse | Banda, Andson Chiduwa, Mazvita Fantaye, Kindie Tesfaye Hougni, Deo-Gratias Judrita Mawugnon Malunga, Innocent Mapaure, Mateus Masikati, Patricia Mkuhlani, Siyabusa Mwila, Mulundu Ndour, Adama Nyagumbo, Isaiah Omondi, John Okoth Silva, João Vasco Simwaka, Pacsu Snapp, Sieglinde |
| author_facet | Chiduwa, Mazvita Nyagumbo, Isaiah Omondi, John Okoth Mkuhlani, Siyabusa Masikati, Patricia Malunga, Innocent Mwila, Mulundu Simwaka, Pacsu Mapaure, Mateus Banda, Andson Hougni, Deo-Gratias Judrita Mawugnon Ndour, Adama Fantaye, Kindie Tesfaye Snapp, Sieglinde Silva, João Vasco |
| author_sort | Chiduwa, Mazvita |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | CONTEXT Maize is Southern Africa’s staple food crop, while soybean, a multi-purpose legume, is the fastest expanding crop in area and production in the region. Despite their importance, yields remain low, highlighting the need for context-specific strategies to sustainably increase productivity. OBJECTIVE This study characterized maize and soybean production systems across the Chinyanja Triangle, estimated yield gaps, and identified agronomic levers for yield improvement.METHODS Yields were measured using crop-cuts in farmers’ fields in Kasungu and Lilongwe (Malawi), Sinda and Katete (Zambia) and Angonia (Mozambique), alongside a diagnostic survey on crop management practices during the 2022-2023 season. A total of 485 maize and 509 soybean field observations were analyzed, supplemented with secondary climate and soil data, and water-limited yields simulated with the DSSAT crop model. A machine learning approach combining random forest and Shapley values was used to explain yield variability and identify yield constraints. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Actual maize yields across districts ranged between 2.2 and 2.6 t ha-1 on average and actual soybean yields between 0.4 and 1.6 t ha-1. Simulated water-limited yields were greater than 8.0 t ha-1 for maize and than 3.5 t ha-1 for soybean. Maize cropping systems were similar across districts, whereas an intensification pathway was found for soybean cropping systems in Malawi, an extensification pathway in Zambia and marginal production pathway in Mozambique. Yield constraints for maize included low plant population and fertilizer management and variety type, while soybean yield constraints hinged around soil fertility, sowing date and variety type. SIGNIFICANCE The agronomic levers identified can be used to target technology development and prioritization of interventions to increase productivity sustainable in the region. These insights support strategic planning for sustainable intensification and food security across Southern Africa. |
| format | Preprint |
| id | CGSpace178721 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1787212025-12-11T02:14:29Z Agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa Chiduwa, Mazvita Nyagumbo, Isaiah Omondi, John Okoth Mkuhlani, Siyabusa Masikati, Patricia Malunga, Innocent Mwila, Mulundu Simwaka, Pacsu Mapaure, Mateus Banda, Andson Hougni, Deo-Gratias Judrita Mawugnon Ndour, Adama Fantaye, Kindie Tesfaye Snapp, Sieglinde Silva, João Vasco crop management food security sustainable intensification yield gap CONTEXT Maize is Southern Africa’s staple food crop, while soybean, a multi-purpose legume, is the fastest expanding crop in area and production in the region. Despite their importance, yields remain low, highlighting the need for context-specific strategies to sustainably increase productivity. OBJECTIVE This study characterized maize and soybean production systems across the Chinyanja Triangle, estimated yield gaps, and identified agronomic levers for yield improvement.METHODS Yields were measured using crop-cuts in farmers’ fields in Kasungu and Lilongwe (Malawi), Sinda and Katete (Zambia) and Angonia (Mozambique), alongside a diagnostic survey on crop management practices during the 2022-2023 season. A total of 485 maize and 509 soybean field observations were analyzed, supplemented with secondary climate and soil data, and water-limited yields simulated with the DSSAT crop model. A machine learning approach combining random forest and Shapley values was used to explain yield variability and identify yield constraints. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Actual maize yields across districts ranged between 2.2 and 2.6 t ha-1 on average and actual soybean yields between 0.4 and 1.6 t ha-1. Simulated water-limited yields were greater than 8.0 t ha-1 for maize and than 3.5 t ha-1 for soybean. Maize cropping systems were similar across districts, whereas an intensification pathway was found for soybean cropping systems in Malawi, an extensification pathway in Zambia and marginal production pathway in Mozambique. Yield constraints for maize included low plant population and fertilizer management and variety type, while soybean yield constraints hinged around soil fertility, sowing date and variety type. SIGNIFICANCE The agronomic levers identified can be used to target technology development and prioritization of interventions to increase productivity sustainable in the region. These insights support strategic planning for sustainable intensification and food security across Southern Africa. 2025 2025-12-10T21:36:28Z 2025-12-10T21:36:28Z Preprint https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178721 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Chiduwa, M., Nyagumbo, I., Omondi J. O., Mkuhlani, S., Masikati, P., Malunga, I., Mwila, M., Simwaka, P., Mapaure, M., Banda, A., Hougni, D., Ndour, A., Kindie, T., Snapp, S., & Silva, J. V. (2025). Agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa. Social Science Research Network (SSRN). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5704423 |
| spellingShingle | crop management food security sustainable intensification yield gap Chiduwa, Mazvita Nyagumbo, Isaiah Omondi, John Okoth Mkuhlani, Siyabusa Masikati, Patricia Malunga, Innocent Mwila, Mulundu Simwaka, Pacsu Mapaure, Mateus Banda, Andson Hougni, Deo-Gratias Judrita Mawugnon Ndour, Adama Fantaye, Kindie Tesfaye Snapp, Sieglinde Silva, João Vasco Agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa |
| title | Agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa |
| title_full | Agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa |
| title_fullStr | Agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa |
| title_short | Agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa |
| title_sort | agronomic levers to increase maize and soybean productivity across the chinyanja triangle southern africa |
| topic | crop management food security sustainable intensification yield gap |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178721 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chiduwamazvita agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT nyagumboisaiah agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT omondijohnokoth agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT mkuhlanisiyabusa agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT masikatipatricia agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT malungainnocent agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT mwilamulundu agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT simwakapacsu agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT mapauremateus agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT bandaandson agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT hougnideogratiasjudritamawugnon agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT ndouradama agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT fantayekindietesfaye agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT snappsieglinde agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica AT silvajoaovasco agronomicleverstoincreasemaizeandsoybeanproductivityacrossthechinyanjatrianglesouthernafrica |