The effect of cultural practices on wheat yields in the Buberuka highlands of Rwanda
1991
Barasebwa, L. (ISAR, Rubona, Butare (Rwanda). Rwerere Res. Station)
An on-farm trial was carried out with 43 farmers over 4 season (1989B to 1991A) to study the impact of cultural practices on wheat yields. These practices include seedbed preparation, seeding methods, hand weeding and manuring. The study addressed the following factors: in 1989B and 1990A, row planting or broadcasting or row planting, and hand weeding application of manure, and in 1990B and 1991A one or two plowings, broadcasting or row planting, and hand weeding. The results (of the 1989B and 1990A) trials showed a significant yield increase of between 36 and 49 percent due to the use of manure. Weeding alone increased yields by over 10 percent. When associated with row-seeding, weeding increased yield by 19 percent. Economic analyses showed that weeding gave a marginal rate of return of 271 percent. The marginal rate of return increased by 93 percent when weeding was associated with a good seedbed. The application of manure further increased marginal rate of return by 35 percent. The 1990B and 1991A data corroborate the positive effect of weeding, but also underline the positive influence of a good seedbed on yield (19 to 65 percent), and on other yield components such as the number of tillers and the number of heads/m2. The number of heads/m2 was significantly correlated with weeding treatments. During the 1990B and 1991A seasons, marginal rates of return of 201 percent and 236 percent had been obtained, for the practice of weeding and weeding with seedbed preparation, respectively
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