A review of poultry production in Malawi: Constraints and possible solutions
1992
Safalaoh, Andrew C.
Production theory was applied to nitrogen response data for CCA, UCA, MH12 and PNR 353 maize varieties to establish normative demand models for both poor and good farm conditions in the Lilongwe Rural Development Project. Optimum nitrogen rates were determined, and yields and net revenues predicted, for the 1990/91 agricultural season. Optimum nitrogen rates for good farm conditions were greater than those for poor farm conditions. Optimum rates, resultant predicted yields and net revenues for the CCA composite were greater than those for UCA whereas those for the MH12 hybrid were greater than those for PNR 353. The recommended nitrogen rates for composites and hybrids were less than the optimum rates for both poor and good farm conditions. Good farms, therefore, should be encouraged to apply more nitrogen. Management staff in project areas should be encouraged to conduct economic analyses on fertilised response data to derive the normative demand models and the rates that should be recommended to farmers in their areas rather than adopting blanket fertiliser recommendations. These rates should be reviewed as prices of maize and fertilizer change.
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