Verification of Hand Weeding Recommendation for Maize Under Farmers' Conditions in Bako
1993
Gemechu Gedeno | legese Dadi (IAR, Addis Abeba (Ethiopia))
Weeds are one of the factors reducing maize production in the Bako area. The present study compares the station recommendation on twice hand weedings (at 25-30 and 55-60 days after planting) with weeding as currently practiced by farmers, for grain yield and labor saving advantages. The experiment was planted at six sites in 1985 and 1986. Results showed that the average labor requirement for recommended hand weeding was less than for the farmers' practice (425 vs. 554 hrs ha-1). There was no significant difference in grain yield between recommended hand weeding (2.7 t ha-1) and the farmers' practice (2.4 t ha-1). However, the second weeding under the recommended practice coincided with add time when labor is in high demand for other farm operations. During that period the labor requirement for the recommended hand weeding was 226 hrs ha-1 but only 15 ox hrs plus 127 labor hrs ha-1 for farmers' practice. This is why the farmers prefer their current practice rather than the recommended one. The results suggest that the second weeding under the recommended weeding practice should be replaced by interrow cultivation with oxen, to make the recommendation more appropriate for farmers.
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