Chitedze

This team carries out research work on the common bean, soyabean and pigeonpea. The team is coordinated from Chitedze. Work on the common bean is also being complemented with research conducted at Bunda College of Agriculture, of the University of Malawi.

Areas of research

(i)Plant nutrition, biological nitrogen fixation, and on-farm evaluation of common bean, pigeonpea and soyabean genotyes, and

(ii) Screening of common bean, pigeonpea and soyabean genotypes for yield, multiple constraint tolerance/resistance, adaptation to low soil fertility (low soil pH and aluminium toxicity).

Achievements
Released varieties

Common bean
Nasaka, Bwenzilawana, Kamtsilo, Sapelekedwa, Kanzama, Namajengo, Napilira,
Maluwa, Nagaga, Sapatsika, Mkhalira and Kambidzi.

Soybeans
Bossiar, Davis, Kudu, Impala, Geduld, Duocrop, Santarosa, Ocepar-4, 427/5/7, 501/6/12, and 491/6/7.

Pigeonpeas
ICEAP 9145, ICEAP 00040

Cultural practices for the production of pulses including plant spacing, inoculation with rhizobium, crop management and agro-processing.

Pest and disease management strategies.