Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 66 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-66).

Low maize yields in the midst of abundant arable land, favourable climatic conditions, input and financial support programs, plagues smallholder maize farming in Eastern Cape Province. These scenarios have led the province to be a net importer of maize. In essence, low production may signify a mis-match between maize varieties being promoted amongst smallholder farmers and their farming system. Thus, the main objective of the study was to investigate the productivity and profitability of different maize varieties and cropping system under smallholder agriculture in selected villages of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa as well as, the implications posed on the household food security. The study sought to assess: (i) the productivity of different maize varieties and cropping systems, (ii) the effect of GM maize adoption on food security among smallholder farmers, (iii) the profitability of GM, conventional hybrids and OPV maize varieties produced by farmers under different agro-ecological conditions and (iv) the impact of different maize varieties and cropping systems on food security in the smallholder agriculture. A cross sectional quantitative-based survey study was carried out to obtain information from a total of 650 small holder farmers. The study was conducted in three local municipalities in Oliver Reginald (OR) Tambo District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Descriptive statistics, partial factor productivity, gross margin analysis, household food insecurity access score (HFIAS), ordinal logistic and linear regression were the analytical techniques used in establishing correlations among variables. Results obtained from the survey indicated that under mono-cropping system, Genetically Modified (GM) maize variety was highly productive with an average yield of 1.9 t/ha whilst, improved OPV maize variety was productive (with an average yield of 1.6 t/ha) under mixed cropping system. Furthermore, GM maize (GM = -R418.10), and landrace (GM = -R1 140.29) maize varieties had negative gross margins whilst, conventional hybrids (GM = R5 181.21) and improved OPV (GM = R1 457.41) were profitable. There was a significant and negative correlation between use of GM maize variety and reduction of household food insecurity. GM maize varieties, improved OPV, white maize, white as well as yellow GM maize varieties had a significant impact in reducing household food insecurity; whilst using more than one variety of maize (landraces and GMO) positively influenced household food insecurity. In light of these research findings, it is recommended that, there is need to address household food security by growing improved OPVs under a mixed cropping system and GM maize under monocropping system.

The agriculture sector in Amhara National Regional State is characterised by producing cereal crops which occupy the largest percentage (84.3%) of the total crop area cultivated in the region. As a result, it is imperative to investigate which factors influence the yields of cereal crops particularly in relation to the five major types of cereals in the study region namely barley, maize, sorghum, teff and wheat. Therefore, in this thesis, using data collected by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia, various statistical methods such as multiple regression analysis were applied to investigate the factors which influence the mean yields of the major cereal crops. Moreover, a mixed model analysis was implemented to assess the effects associated with the sampling units (enumeration areas), and a cluster analysis to classify the region into similar groups of zones. The multiple regression results indicate that all the studied cereals mean yields are affected by zone, fertilizer type and crop damage effects. In addition to this, barley is affected by extension programme; maize crop by seed type, irrigation, and protection of soil erosion; sorghum and teff crops are additionally affected by crop prevention method, extension programme, protection of soil erosion, and gender of the household head; and wheat crop by crop prevention methods, extension programme and gender of the household head. The results from the mixed model analysis were entirely different from the regression results due to the observed dependencies of the cereals mean yields on the sampling unit. Based on the hierarchical cluster analysis, five groups of classes (clusters) were identified which seem to be in agreement with the geographical neighbouring positions of the locations and the similarity of the type of crops produced. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

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Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 T47 / Master of Science

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Soil organic carbon (SOC) is important not only for improving soil quality but also for contributing to climate change mitigation in agriculture. However, net greenhouse gas (GHG) balances, including methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), need to be considered, as practices that increase SOC might increase GHG emissions. Sustainable use of soil resources needs to be assessed over long time periods and across spatial scales; biogeochemical models are useful tools to estimate GHG emissions and corresponding mitigation potentials. A process-based, ecosystem model DayCent that simulates soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics from diverse agroecosystems, has been applied to observe SOC sequestration, GHG emissions and yield in a contrasting climatic region UK and Bangladesh agriculture. The study mainly focus on determination of GHG mitigation potentials under improved management practices in rice based cropland Bangladesh. We hypothesized that alternative management would increase SOC and reduce net GHG emissions. As crop yield is the most important variable for Bangladesh, it was includes in the simulations. Since site test simulations under different management using the DayCent model were satisfactory, the model was used to simulate GHG covering 64 districts of Bangladesh, considering climate, soil and SOC content for the period 1996-2015. An integrated management scenario consisting of irrigation, tillage with residue management, reduced mineral nitrogen fertilizer and manure application increased annual SOC stocks, and offset net GHG emissions while maintaining yield. The model outcome suggests that the “4 per mille” target is feasible for Bangladesh. It is also possible to contribute to the GHG reduction target by 2030 set by policy makers.

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