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Department
of Agricultural Research
Division of
Arable Crops Research
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Introduction
The division has a mandate
of conducting research on crops of importance to the farming system of
1.0
Soil,
Water Management And Engineering Programme
The programme has 4
components namely, Farm Machinery, Soil fertility, Weed Research and Irrigation
1.1 Farm Machinery Research
The
following research activities have been undertaken.
1. the development of a Cowpea Harvester
2. the design and development of a Cowpea Thresher
3. the development of the Modified Sebele Planter
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Eliminate
wastage of seed by drilling seed at the recommended distances for maize,
sorghum and cowpea. Thus it requires only 10kg of seed per hectare compared
to the original model that requires 30 –40kg per hectare. |
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Sebele Planter |
4. testing
of new farm machinery
As some of the agricultural equipment imported to Botswana has
been found to be of inferior quality and not performing to the standard claimed
by the manufacturers, the Farm Machinery Development Unit (FMDU) tests and
evaluates machines according to International Standards, to ascertain their
performance and durability for the benefit of the farmers and other
stakeholders.
An example is the FUTURA
160 Multi-Crop thresher from
1.2
Soil fertility research
Investigation of the plant-micro-organism association (legume-rhizobia symbiosis) of major importance to agriculture is being undertaken. This process, also known as the nitrogen fixation is the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture as the process replenishes soil nitrogen, resulting in minimal use of fertilizer. Optimal use of this process requires, however, inoculation of suitable effective rhizobia onto the seed of individual legumes at planting or promotion of their multiplication in the soil.
1.3.Weed Research
Trials
are conducted on the control of weeds in crops and interactions between weeds
and crops, and implemented on station as well as at farmer’s fields to
facilitate information exchange. Surveys of selected arable areas are conducted
to document prevailing weed problems. Some of the research work on weeds is
highlighted below.
It
has been shown that Cynodon dactylon in sunflower can be controlled by
post-emergence herbicides; Gallant Super and Fusilade Super were effective. A
combination of ploughing and glyphosate application gave high control levels
than using either of them alone. However, double ploughing was also shown to
provide satisfactory grass control.
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Other trials are focusing on the control of Striga
asiatica host specificity of Striga gesneroides and control of
problem weeds in Pandamatenga |
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Striga
asiatica |
1.4
Irrigation Research
Irrigation research is
conducted in Maun. Its mandate is to develop and test appropriate irrigation systems
for Botswana and develop water schedules for the different crops to ensure the
most efficient water use. To date, drip irrigation has been shown to be the
most appropriate irrigation system where water is limiting and irrigation
schedules and optimum water use efficiencies have been determined for several
vegetable crops using this system.
2.0 Oilseeds Improvement Programme
Research under this program covers several
crops such as groundnuts, soybeans, sunflower, mungbeans, watermelons, etc. Major
activities are germplasm evaluations and breeding for adaptation, earliness,
maturity, drought tolerance, keeping quality and agronomic studies on plant
populations, fertilizers requirements, date of planting etc. The program has officially released three groundnut varieties, Tsosabana,
Peolwane and Nakwana, and one mungbean variety, Mmelegi
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Tsosabana |
Nakwana |
Peolwane |
3.0 Grain
Legume Improvement Programme
3.1 agronomy/Physiology
The goal of the cowpea improvement
programme is to increase productivity by identifying suitable cultivars and
crop management practices. This is achieved through selection of the local and
introduced plant material for high yield potential, yield stability, drought
tolerance, earliness and other desirable characteristics. Research is done
under rain-fed conditions across the country at all the arable research testing
sites.
Three cultivars of better
performance than those currently grown have been identified and are currently
being multiplied.
Collaborative studies
with the farmers (on-farm) are under way to promote the use of improved crop
management practices. This component is important in educating farmers that a
high yielding variety alone is not enough, but it’s the whole package that
makes the difference. Other research activities are geared at developing labour
saving technologies a critical component in cowpea production. Research in
bambarra groundnut has been initiated. The major activity will be to evaluate
the local germplasm for adaptation, maturity, drought tolerance and agronomic
characteristics.
3.2
Plant Pathology
Research
activities are focused on the identification and recommendation of appropriate
disease control and management strategies. Currently the emphasis is on
screening local and exotic cowpea cultivars for resistance to Cowpea Aphid
Borne Mosaic Virus, a serious problem in some years. Three exotic cultivars
have consistently shown moderate tolerance to the disease whereas the local
ones are all susceptible. These will be used for improving some of the adapted
local cultivars. Efforts to eliminate seed-borne infection of Cowpea Aphid
Borne Mosaic Virus from SMU seed are continuing.
4.0 Horticultural Improvement Programme
Conducts
research on selection of improved varieties and management of several vegetable
species including cabbage, tomato, carrot, sweet potato and fruit trees (peach,
grape and citrus). Agronomic studies cover pesticide use for the different
vegetable diseases and pests. Recently released a list of recommended varieties
of cabbage, tomato and sweet potato.
5.0
Production Systems Programme
The programme conducts on
farm verification studies of technologies already proven good on station and
also promotes them at the farmers’ level. The programme also facilitates
exchange of information between researchers and farmers. Their recent major
contribution was the impact assessment and adoption status of the sorghum
varieties released by the Department of Research in 1995. The study showed
differences in farmers’ preferences according to the regions. This information
is useful in targeting research accordingly.
6.0
Cereal Improvement Research Programme
Sorghum,
maize and millets are the major traditional cereals crops on which Batswana
depend in low resource agriculture. These cereals are best adapted to low
rainfall, low fertility, and numerous pests and disease as often experienced in
Botswana. The objective of the program
is to improve cereal production through the use of appropriate technology.
6.1
Breeding
In the past ten years, breeding efforts
have resulted in the release of 1-sorghum hybrid, 3-sorghum varieties and
2-pearl millet varieties.
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BSH1 |
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Botswana Sorghum Hybrid 1 (BSH 1) |
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Sorghum variety: Phofu – a food
type |
Sorghum
variety: Mahube suitable for brewing |
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Serere 6A |
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Pearl milley variety Serere 6A |
6.2
Agronomy
The focus is on the identification and development of management
practices that promote efficient production. In a profit oriented farming, it
is important to have the correct management practices especially those that
optimise use of moisture and other resources. Such include the choice of the
correct plant population, fertiliser requirement and other management practices
relevant for dry conditions as often experienced in this country. Recent agronomic studies have shown that plant
populations of 13 000 – 22 000 plants ha-1 were optimum and
therefore recommended
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