Cette thèse est fondée sur le développement de nouvelles méthodes de criblage et d’analyse appliquées aux extraits naturels. Le premier axe de ce travail a consisté à isoler une molécule très minoritaire dans un mélange réactionnel de synthèse biomimétique en utilisant entre autre la chromatographie de partage centrifuge (CPC) en mode pH-zone refining. Nous avons pu isoler la nitrarine avec un rendement de 0,04% en permettant de valider le mécanisme proposé pour sa synthèse biomimétique.Le deuxième axe de ce projet est consacré à l’identification par fractionnement bioguidé, dans les graines de Mucuna pruriens (une plante de la pharmacopée traditionnelle indienne), des molécules responsables de la synergie thérapeutique antiparkinsonienne mise en évidence dans la littérature par des essais in vivo et cliniques. L’extrait hydro-alcoolique de graines de Mucuna pruriens a été fractionné par chromatographie sur colonne de gel de silice, puis les fractions obtenues ont été évaluée in vitro sur plusieurs cibles biologiques : enzymes de dégradation de la dopamine (MAO, COMT), et une enzyme de sa synthèse endogène (DDC). Nous avons développé une méthodes de détection d’une activité d’inhibition de ces enzymes par spectrométrie de masse. À partir des fractions identifiées comme étant actives, nous avons isolé et identifié une vingtaine de molécules, parmi lesquelles une dizaine sont nouvellement décrites. Il a été nécessaire de synthétiser certaines d'entre elles en raison de la quantité nécessaire aux essais biologiques. Certaines de ces molécules ont montré une activité inhibitrice intéressante sur la COMT / This thesis is based on the development of new methods of screening and analysis applied to natural extracts.The first axis of this work consisted in isolating a minoritary molecule in a reaction mixture of a biomimetic synthesis using different techniques including centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) in pH-zone refining mode. We were able to isolate the nitrarine with a yield of 0.04%, thus allowing to validate the proposed mechanism of its biomimetic synthesis.The second axis of this project is dedicated to the identification in the seeds of Mucuna pruriens (a plant of Indian traditional pharmacopoeia), by bioguided fractionation, the molecules responsible for the antiparkinsonian synergy demonstrated by in vivo studies and clinical trials. For this purpose, the hydroalcoholic extract of M. pruriens seeds was fractionated by chromatography on a silica gel column and the obtained fractions were evaluated in vitro on various biological targets: the dopamine-degrading enzymes (MAO, COMT) and an enzyme implicated in its endogenous synthesis (DDC). Moreover, we have developed a method to detect by mass spectrometry fractions or compounds having an inhibitory activity on these enzymes. From fractions identified as active, we isolated and identified about twenty molecules, from which a dozen are newly described. On the other hand, it was necessary to synthetize some of them due to the amount required by bioassays. Some of these molecules have shown an interesting inhibitory activity against the COMT enzyme

The competitive advantage of velvet beans as an economic agricultural commodity. In the past 40 years, although food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation persist, worldwide farmers have made considerable progress in increasing per capita food production whilst better understanding natural-resource management. Literature indicates that — in the decades to come — food demand will both grow and change for three reasons, namely increased numbers of people, increased income (people will have more purchasing power), and increased urbanisation (people will be more likely to adopt new diets containing animal protein and cereal). The world population is expected to increase to 8,9 billion by 2050, with 84% in the developing countries. Food insecurity and malnutrition are expected to persist despite progress on average per capita consumption of food. As a complex system, and despite challenges, agriculture must produce simultaneously unprecedented abundance of food and unparalleled social concerns. As a business, agriculture requires high capital investments in land, facilities and production inputs; most often producing commodities of generally low unit value with thin profit margins, thereby forcing producers to strive for efficiency in all aspects of production. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that farmers should understand sustainable agriculture; where a more sustainable food-production system seeks to make the best use of nature’s goods and services whilst not being harmful to the environment. Sustainable agriculture should maximise the productivity of the land; should focus on locally adapted resource-conserving technologies which assist whole system redesign and large-scale adoption; and should aim to minimise the use of harmful non-renewable and fossil-fuel derived inputs. Fertilisers have not replaced the function of organic matter and other management practices; but soil erosion and toxic waste rather did increase disproportionately along with increased agricultural production. This has led to a progressive decline in crop and land productivity as a result of soil degradation, water contamination, increasing problems of weed infestation, pests and diseases. Often the apparent absence of sustainable productive agricultural systems within the scope of commercial farmers is not because of the lack in technology or low yield potential of traditional varieties, but rather on account of the limited knowledge or lack of awareness on the part of farmers about sustainable production practices which function in harmony with their farming environment. As one of the keys to success the velvet bean — which can grow almost everywhere — is an example of the introduction of a simple regenerative component into a farming system, as well as boosting the capacity of a farmer for local adaptation of the technology. Integrating the natural processes of nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation and introducing natural enemies of pests into food production processes can contribute to minimising environmental damage and/or health of the farmer and the consumer. Using the knowledge and skills of farmers helps to improve their self-reliance and to solve a common management problem, such as social- and human-capital management. The velvet bean is seen as an answer to the agricultural problem of low nutrient supply to the staple crop of maize. The bean creates ground cover, regenerates, fertilises the soil, controls weeds and adds organic matter and nutrients. In arid South Africa the crop is one of the strongest defences of the farmer against the harmful effects of El Niño — with the bean protecting the soil, holding water and fertilising the land with its leaves. With the velvet bean farmers can grow their own organic and inexpensive fertilisers. Commercial fertilisers are becoming more and more expensive and their benefit is decreasing because of a degrading soil resource base. Furthermore, the rise in production costs makes total reliance on inorganic fertilisers more uneconomical for most growers in the agricultural sector; making it imperative for researchers to come up with options which increase the efficient use of fertiliser, and also to identify other nutrient sources — such as legumes — that are not capital intensive. The velvet-bean technique is known to researchers and farmers worldwide for a considerable amount of time, but not in our country. As the technique becomes better known to South African farmers, it can be considered in a broader sense as a modern way to add nitrogen to the soil; benefitting, amongst others, the subsequent crop. The velvet-bean approach has a window of opportunity which can lead to higher yields in crop production, decline in labour costs, crop diversification, as well as agro-processing — all resulting in improved food security for South Africa. Adopting the velvet bean into a production system can benefit a farmer, by achieving maize yields of 3 t/ha–4 t/ha (similar to yields normally obtained with recommended levels of fertilisation at 130 kg N/ha) without applied nitrogen fertiliser or input for weeding. Velvet beans, as an intercrop, can provide more than 100 kg N/ha to the following crop. However, literature shows a declining trend over time for all systems, which suggests that additional external inputs (probably P and K fertiliser) are required to achieve full sustainability. The adoption of the velvet bean in the South African maize industry would result in import savings of about 158 million tons of urea or about R591 billion/year. Information presented in this mini-dissertation is considered to be the current state of knowledge on establishing, managing, and utilising the velvet bean as a legume in South Africa’s commodity market; with the belief that it will expand the use of the bean, and will enhance the benefits from its use. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The competitive advantage of velvet beans as an economic agricultural commodity. In the past 40 years, although food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation persist, worldwide farmers have made considerable progress in increasing per capita food production whilst better understanding natural-resource management. Literature indicates that — in the decades to come — food demand will both grow and change for three reasons, namely increased numbers of people, increased income (people will have more purchasing power), and increased urbanisation (people will be more likely to adopt new diets containing animal protein and cereal). The world population is expected to increase to 8,9 billion by 2050, with 84% in the developing countries. Food insecurity and malnutrition are expected to persist despite progress on average per capita consumption of food. As a complex system, and despite challenges, agriculture must produce simultaneously unprecedented abundance of food and unparalleled social concerns. As a business, agriculture requires high capital investments in land, facilities and production inputs; most often producing commodities of generally low unit value with thin profit margins, thereby forcing producers to strive for efficiency in all aspects of production. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that farmers should understand sustainable agriculture; where a more sustainable food-production system seeks to make the best use of nature’s goods and services whilst not being harmful to the environment. Sustainable agriculture should maximise the productivity of the land; should focus on locally adapted resource-conserving technologies which assist whole system redesign and large-scale adoption; and should aim to minimise the use of harmful non-renewable and fossil-fuel derived inputs. Fertilisers have not replaced the function of organic matter and other management practices; but soil erosion and toxic waste rather did increase disproportionately along with increased agricultural production. This has led to a progressive decline in crop and land productivity as a result of soil degradation, water contamination, increasing problems of weed infestation, pests and diseases. Often the apparent absence of sustainable productive agricultural systems within the scope of commercial farmers is not because of the lack in technology or low yield potential of traditional varieties, but rather on account of the limited knowledge or lack of awareness on the part of farmers about sustainable production practices which function in harmony with their farming environment. As one of the keys to success the velvet bean — which can grow almost everywhere — is an example of the introduction of a simple regenerative component into a farming system, as well as boosting the capacity of a farmer for local adaptation of the technology. Integrating the natural processes of nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation and introducing natural enemies of pests into food production processes can contribute to minimising environmental damage and/or health of the farmer and the consumer. Using the knowledge and skills of farmers helps to improve their self-reliance and to solve a common management problem, such as social- and human-capital management. The velvet bean is seen as an answer to the agricultural problem of low nutrient supply to the staple crop of maize. The bean creates ground cover, regenerates, fertilises the soil, controls weeds and adds organic matter and nutrients. In arid South Africa the crop is one of the strongest defences of the farmer against the harmful effects of El Niño — with the bean protecting the soil, holding water and fertilising the land with its leaves. With the velvet bean farmers can grow their own organic and inexpensive fertilisers. Commercial fertilisers are becoming more and more expensive and their benefit is decreasing because of a degrading soil resource base. Furthermore, the rise in production costs makes total reliance on inorganic fertilisers more uneconomical for most growers in the agricultural sector; making it imperative for researchers to come up with options which increase the efficient use of fertiliser, and also to identify other nutrient sources — such as legumes — that are not capital intensive. The velvet-bean technique is known to researchers and farmers worldwide for a considerable amount of time, but not in our country. As the technique becomes better known to South African farmers, it can be considered in a broader sense as a modern way to add nitrogen to the soil; benefitting, amongst others, the subsequent crop. The velvet-bean approach has a window of opportunity which can lead to higher yields in crop production, decline in labour costs, crop diversification, as well as agro-processing — all resulting in improved food security for South Africa. Adopting the velvet bean into a production system can benefit a farmer, by achieving maize yields of 3 t/ha–4 t/ha (similar to yields normally obtained with recommended levels of fertilisation at 130 kg N/ha) without applied nitrogen fertiliser or input for weeding. Velvet beans, as an intercrop, can provide more than 100 kg N/ha to the following crop. However, literature shows a declining trend over time for all systems, which suggests that additional external inputs (probably P and K fertiliser) are required to achieve full sustainability. The adoption of the velvet bean in the South African maize industry would result in import savings of about 158 million tons of urea or about R591 billion/year. Information presented in this mini-dissertation is considered to be the current state of knowledge on establishing, managing, and utilising the velvet bean as a legume in South Africa’s commodity market; with the belief that it will expand the use of the bean, and will enhance the benefits from its use. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Submitted by Reginaldo Soares de Freitas (reginaldo.freitas@ufv.br) on 2016-05-03T11:07:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1388170 bytes, checksum: c2de0df33b43c771ed4bdeb1f19fdde6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-03T11:07:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1388170 bytes, checksum: c2de0df33b43c771ed4bdeb1f19fdde6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-24 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Os nematoides causam grandes prejuízos em culturas agrícolas em todo o mundo. O seu controle é realizado com o uso de produtos químicos de alta toxicidade para o homem, os animais e o meio ambiente. Por isso, tem-se buscado alternativas de controle, dentre estas o uso de plantas antagônicas. Uma das plantas antagônicas mais utilizadas pertence ao gênero Mucuna. Portanto, neste trabalho foi proposto um estudo dos metabólitos secundários presentes na parte aérea e nos exsudados das raízes de Mucuna pruriens var. utilis. A identificação destes compostos foi realizada pela primeira vez utilizando-se cromatografia líquida acoplada com espectrômetro de massas com ionização por electrospray (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Os compostos identificados foram adenosina, isoschaftosideo, isovitexina, rhoifolina e luteolina. Todos os compostos isolados foram caracterizados por espectroscopia no IV, espectrometria de massas, espectroscopia de RMN de 1H e de 13 C. Tanto os extratos como as substâncias isoladas e identificadas (glutinol, estigmasterol e triacilglicerol) foram submetidas a ensaios de atividade sobre o nematoide Meloidogyne javanica um dos mais agressivos para culturas de grande valor comercial como soja, arroz, e aveia entre outras, obtendo-se como resultado uma atividade moderada. A exceção das frações que apresentam entre seus constituintes ácidos graxos, e flavonoides provenientes do extrato metanólico da parte aérea e a fração em acetato de etila proveniente dos exsudados radiculares de Mucuna pruriens apresentaram porcentagens de controle acima de 90%. Este estudo proporciona informação sobre os fitoquímicos presentes em Mucuna pruriens e uma possível aplicação destes compostos no controle do nematoide das galhas, visto que estes apresentaram altas porcentagens de mortalidade para este gênero de nematoides. / The nematodes cause significant damage in economic cultures worldwide. Its control is performed by using chemicals with high toxicity for humans, animals, and the environment. Researchers have tried their control through antagonistic plants. One of the most used antagonistic plants belongs to the genus Mucuna. This work proposes a study of secondary metabolites exuded from the roots of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis, through hydroponic cultivation of the plant, the identification of compounds was performed for first time using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI-LC-MS/MS).The identified compounds have adenosine isoschaftoside, isovitexin, rhoifolin and luteoline; All isolated compounds were characterized by IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, H NMR and 13 C spectroscopy. Both isolated substances and extracts were identified and submitted for activity tests on the nematode Meloidogyne javanica that is one of the most aggressive for crops as soybeans and rice, obtaining as a result a moderate activity. However, except for fractions which have among their constituent fatty acids, and flavonoids from the aerial part of the methanol extract and the fraction in ethyl acetate from the root exudates of Mucuna which showed control percentages above 90%. This study provides information about phytochemicals present in Mucuna pruriens and a possible application of these compounds in the control of nematode cyst, given that they had high mortality percentages for this kind of nematodes.

Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2017-07-14T18:40:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.PDF: 1586098 bytes, checksum: af60433209d735ae2b5e600a6411b0bb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-14T18:40:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.PDF: 1586098 bytes, checksum: af60433209d735ae2b5e600a6411b0bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2001-08-14 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Entre os problemas fitossanitários da cultura da soja [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] no Brasil, o nematóide de cistos da soja (NCS) é responsável por grandes prejuízos econômicos. Devido à pouca disponibilidade de variedades de soja resistentes no País, o controle deste nematóide baseia-se principalmente na rotação de culturas com espécies não-hospedeiras tradicionalmente cultivadas ou utilizadas para adubação verde e cobertura do solo. Visando ampliar as informações sobre a utilização da espécie Mucuna pruriens no controle do NCS, foram conduzidos ensaios em casa de vegetação, para avaliar a penetração e o desenvolvimento de populações do nematóide identificadas como raças 2, 3, 4, 5 e 14 nas raízes das variedades pruriens (mucunas anã e rajada) e utilis (mucunas preta e cinza) e as alterações histológicas quando inoculadas com a raça 3 do nematóide. Observou-se a penetração dos juvenis de segundo estádio (J2) das diferentes raças do nematóide em todas as mucunas e o desenvolvimento destes até o terceiro (J3) e quarto estádios (J4). Todavia, estes dois últimos estádios de desenvolvimento foram encontrados em maior número nas raízes da soja ‘Doko RC’. As duas variedades de M. pruriens se comportaram como não- hospedeiras do nematóide, pois apenas três fêmeas se formaram nas raízes das plantas de mucunas rajada, anã e cinza (uma fêmea em uma das plantas) quando se inoculou a raça 4 e apenas uma fêmea em uma das plantas de mucuna-cinza quando se inoculou a raça 2. As alterações histológicas ocorridas em tecidos da raiz de mucuna indicaram a penetração intracelular pelos J2 do NCS, com danos mecânicos nas células do córtex devido ao rompimento de paredes. A formação de síncitos foi evidenciada, ocorrendo hipertrofia de células do córtex, da endoderme, do periciclo e do cilindro central. Citoplasma denso, vacúolos, núcleos hipertrofiados e aglomerados e paredes celulares hipertrofiadas sem rompidas a foram formação observados de um nos síncito síncitos. funcional e Células células desorganizadas e necrosadas próximas à região cefálica do nematóide indicaram reações de resistência da planta que impediram o seu desenvolvimento. Síncitos em degeneração associados a J4 que se desenvolveram em machos e regiões necrosadas sendo recuperadas pelo desenvolvimento de células do raio parenquimático foram também observados. / Heterodera glycines is currently the cause to account for the most serious economic losses in Brazilian soybeans. SCN-resistant soybean cultivars are hardly available in this country, thus the accepted means to achieve nematode control has been rotation in which widely cultivated non-host crops, or those used as green manure or cover crops, are used. Mucuna pruriens is a good prospect against the SCN, thus assays were carried out with this leguminous plant, under greenhouse conditions, to provide data on plant penetration by the races 2, 3, 4, 5 and 14 , how they develop inside roots of the pruriens and utilis varieties of M. pruriens, and on the anatomic root changes brought about by the race 3 of the nematode. Second stage juveniles (J2) penetrated the roots of both varieties, in which they developed into the third (J3) and fourth (J4) stages; nevertheless, the numbers of J3 and J4 individuals were much lower here than in ‘Doko-RC` soybean roots, used as the susceptible control. The M. pruriens varieties were ranked as non-host plants since only three female specimens, of the race 4, and one, of the race 2, were found in all examined roots. The anatomic changes found in root tissues indicate the intracelular penetration by J2 juveniles, because it shows a damaged cortex due to disruption of cell walls. Syncytial feeding sites were formed by hypertrophied cells in the cortex, endodermis, pericycle and the vascular cylinder. Dense cytoplasm, vacuolation, hypertrophied and clustered nuclei, in addition to disrupted cell walls, were also observed. The nematode failure to fully develop in the mucuna root tissues, the occurrence of hypertrophied root cells with no syncytium formation and disorganized and necrotic root cells near the nematode cephalic region are indications that mucuna root tissues are somewhat resistant to H. glycines race 3. Degenerated syncytia associated with the J4 bound to develop into males and necrotic regions being regenerated by parenchymatous ray cells were also found. / Tese importada do Alexandria

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T14:58:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007 - Ilzo Artur Moreira Risso.pdf: 896818 bytes, checksum: 56fd3f7023096dc481dfe565208e7ae7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-17 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The study was conducted in the Experimental Field of Embrapa Agrobiologia in Serop?dica, state of Rio de Janeiro, with the objectives: (a) evaluate different spatial arrangements of corn in monoculture or syndication with legumes, as the production of grains and nutrient intake of green incorporated biomass accumulated in the soil; (b) assess the residual effect of biomass built on the agronomic performance of sweet potato grown in succession. The treatments for the pre-cultivation were: corn sown in rows of individual spaced 1.0 m between them and double spaced rows of 1.5 m, with 0.5 m between each component; monoculture of corn with or without additional organic fertilizer of coverage (50 kg ha-1 total N in the form of "bed" of chicken), in consortium with corn Crotalaria juncea submitted to cut single or two cuts over the cycle, and corn in consortium with Mucuna pruriens. The crops were conducted in the body system, adopting to block randomized experimental design, involving the 10 treatments arranged in split plots, with four repetitions. Computaram is the biomass of the shoots of each species, as well as the productivity of corn grain in dry and sweet potato tubers of a commercial pattern. The management of Crotalaria juncea through cutting provided only increase the production of corn, compared to the monoculture without fertilization of coverage. Already the cuts parcelados of Crotalaria juncea undermined the productive performance of corn, but resulted in higher intake of biomass to the system. The sowing of Mucuna pruriens, 40 days after planting corn, did not affect the performance of the cereal. The productivity of corn was not influenced by the spatial arrangements evaluated. The performance of the sweet potato has no influence of any of the treatments related to pre-cultivation, production reaching above state and national averages disclosed. The inclusion of legumes green manure, via consortium with corn, is considered a viable option for its ability to provide significant input of organic matter, produced in situ, containing significant amounts of nutrients, especially nitrogen, with the potential to bring benefits in the medium deadline for subsequent commercial crops. / O estudo foi realizado no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Agrobiologia, em Serop?dica, estado do Rio de Janeiro, tendo por objetivos: (a) avaliar diferentes arranjos espaciais de milho, em monocultivo ou consorciado com leguminosas, quanto ? produ??o de gr?os e aporte de nutrientes acumulados na biomassa verde incorporada ao solo; e (b) avaliar o efeito residual dessa biomassa incorporada sobre o desempenho agron?mico da batata-doce cultivada em sucess?o. Os tratamentos relativos ao pr?-cultivo foram: milho semeado em fileiras individuais espa?adas de 1,0 m entre si e em fileiras duplas espa?adas de 1,5 m, com 0,5m entre cada componente; monocultivo do milho com ou sem aduba??o org?nica suplementar de cobertura (50 kg ha-1 de N total, na forma de cama de frango), milho em cons?rcio com Crotalaria juncea (crotal?ria) submetida a corte ?nico ou a dois cortes durante o ciclo, e milho em cons?rcio com Mucuna pruriens (mucuna cinza). As culturas foram conduzidas no sistema org?nico, adotando-se delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, envolvendo os 10 tratamentos dispostos em parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repeti??es. Computaram-se as biomassas da parte a?rea de cada esp?cie, assim como a produtividade do milho em gr?os secos e da batata-doce em tub?rculos de padr?o comercial. O manejo da crotal?ria por meio de corte ?nico proporcionou aumento na produ??o do milho, em compara??o ao monocultivo sem aduba??o de cobertura. J? os cortes parcelados da crotal?ria prejudicaram o desempenho produtivo do milho, por?m resultaram em aporte superior de biomassa ao sistema. A semeadura da mucuna cinza, 40 dias ap?s o plantio do milho, n?o afetou o desempenho do cereal. A produtividade do milho tamb?m n?o foi influenciada pelos arranjos espaciais avaliados. O desempenho da batata-doce n?o sofreu influ?ncia de qualquer dos tratamentos relacionados ao pre-cultivo, alcan?ando produ??o acima das m?dias estadual e nacional divulgadas. A inclus?o das leguminosas para aduba??o verde, via cons?rcio com o milho, ? considerada uma op??o vi?vel por sua capacidade em prover expressivo aporte de mat?ria org?nica, produzida in situ, contendo significante quantidade de nutrientes, especialmente nitrog?nio, com potencial de trazer benef?cios no m?dio prazo para subsequentes culturas comerciais.

Thesis (PhD(Agric) (Agronomy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Continuous cropping without replenishing the nutrient component of soils will eventually lead to the depletion of soil nutrients. Small scale farmers in Zimbabwe often do not have the financial means to buy fertilizer and this problem is exacerbated by scarcity of commodities such as fertilizers. The use of herbaceous legumes such as mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) can assist to recapitalize soil fertility depletion and improve subsequent maize productivity in sandy loam soils in the small holder farming sector of Zimbabwe. In this study the effect of phosphorus (P) application to a mucuna crop, the effect of mucuna management options and the application of nitrogen (N) to the subsequent maize crop was investigated. The experiment was carried out during the 2007 to 2009 seasons at the Grasslands Research Station in Marondera in Zimbabwe. The soils are classified as humic ferrolsols and are predominantly of the kaolinitic order with sandy loams of low fertility and are slightly acid (pH CaCl = 5.2). A randomized complete block design was used for the effect of P on mucuna productivity and the effect of P and mucuna management options on the soil properties. The treatments were two P rates (P0 and P40 = 0 kg P ha-1 and 40 kg P ha-1 respectively) applied to a preceding mucuna crop, four mucuna management options [1) fallow (F) (no mucuna planted = control), 2) mucuna ploughed-in at flowering (MF), 3) all mucuna above ground biomass removed at maturity and only roots were ploughed-in (MAR) and 4) mucuna pods removed and the residues ploughed-in (MPR)]. A split-plot design was used to study the effect of P application to mucuna, mucuna management options and N rates on the growth and yield of the subsequent maize crop. The four N treatments [N0 = 0 kg N ha-1, N40 = 40 kg N ha-1, N80 = 80 kg N ha-1 and iv N120 = 120 kg N ha-1] were applied to a subsequent maize crop. Growth and development parameters such as biomass production, leaf area index, nutrient content of the foliage and grain yield were determined in the mucuna and maize crops. Soil parameters investigated included nutrient content, pH, bulk density and porosity. Phosphorus application in these particular soil conditions positively influenced mucuna biomass production and therefore enhanced the role of mucuna as a rotational crop by increased positive effects on the subsequent maize crop. The incorporation of above-ground biomass of mucuna had positive effects on all soil properties investigated. The MF and MPR management options increased the soil organic matter (OM) and reduced bulk density which leads to an improvement in porosity (f) of the soil. Mucuna incorporated at flowering (MF) and P40 treatment combination resulted in the highest mineral N, P, potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels. A significant three-way interaction (P<0.05) between mucuna management options, nitrogen rates and time was observed in terms of biomass production and all nutrients in the leaves of the subsequent maize crop. The main findings were that the MF management option had the highest biomass and foliar nutrient accumulation through-out all the treatment combinations. In general the MF management option gave the highest maize yield across all the treatment combinations. Incorporation of mucuna biomass into the soil prior to planting a maize crop therefore improve soil physical and chemical qualities resulting in improved soil conditions for a subsequent maize crop which in turn lead to higher maize yields. Including a mucuna rotational crop have a similar effect on maize yield than application of 80 kg ha-1 of fertilizer N. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aanhoudende verbouing van gewasse op dieselfde grond sonder om voedingstowwe aan te vul lei uiteindelik tot die agteruitgang van die grond se vrugbaarheid. Kleinboere in Zimbabwe het meestal nie die finansiële vermoëns om bemestingstowwe te koop nie en die probleem word vererger deur die onbekombaarheid van kommoditeite soos bemestingstowwe. Die gebruik van kruidagtige peulplant gewasse soos mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) kan bydra om grondverarming teen te werk en om die produksie van ‗n daaropvolgende mielie aanplanting in sandleemgronde in ‗n kleinboerstelsel in Zimbabwe te verhoog. In hierdie studie is die invloed van fosfor (P) toediening aan ‗n mucuna aanplanting, die invloed van bestuursopsies van die mucuna en die toediening van stikstof (N) aan die daaropvolgende mielie aanplanting ondersoek. Die eksperiment is tydens die 2007 tot 2009 reënseisoen by die Grasslands Research Station in Marondera in Zimbabwe uitgevoer. Die grond word geklassifiseer as humiese ferrolsols en is hoofsaaklik sanderige leemgrond van die kaolinitiese orde met lae vrugbaarheid en is effens suur (pH CaCl = 5.2). ‘n Volledig ewekansige blokontwerp is gebruik om die invloed van P op die produktiwiteit van mucuna te bepaal asook die invloed van P toediening en mucuna bestuursopsies op grondeienskappe. Die behandelings was twee P vlakke (P0 = 0 kg P ha-1 en P40 = 40 kg P ha-1) wat aan ‗n voorafgaande mucuna aanplanting toegedien is, vier mucuna bestuursopsies [1) braak (F) (geen mucuna geplant = kontrole), 2) mucuna ingeploeg met blomtyd (MF), 3) alle bogrondse mucuna biomassa verwyder by rypwording en slegs wortels ingewerk (MAR) en 4) mucuna peule verwyde en die res van die bogrondse material ingeploeg (MPR)] en vier N behandelings [N0 = 0 kg N ha-1, N40 = 40 kg N ha-1, N80 = 80 kg N ha-1 en N120 = 120 kg N ha-1] toegedien aan ‗n daaropvolgende mielie aanplanting. Groei en ontwikkeling parameters soos biomassa produksie, blaaroppervlakindeks, nutriëntinhoud van die blare en graanopbrengs is in die mucuna en mielie aanplantings ondersoek. Grondeienskappe soos nutriëntinhoud, pH, bulkdigtheid en porositeit is gemeet. Fosfaat toediening aan hierdie spesifieke grondtipe het mucuna produksie positief beïnvloed en dus die rol van mucuna as rotasiegewas verbeter deur positiewe reaksies in die daaropvolgende mielie aanplanting. Die inwerk van bogrondse mucuna biomassa het al die fisiese grondeienskappe wat ondersoek is positief beïnvloed. Die MF en MPR bestuursopsies het organiese materiaal inhoud van die grond verhoog en bulkdigtheid verlaag wat lei tot verbeterde grondporeusheid (f). Mucuna wat tydens blomvorming ingewerk is (MF) lei tot die hoogste minerale N, P, kalium (K), kalsium (Ca) en magnesium (Mg) vlakke. ‗n Betekenisvolle drie-rigting interaksie (P < 0.05) tussen mucuna bestuursopsies, N vlakke en tyd is waargeneem in terme van biomassa produksie en in terme van al die nutriëntvlakke in die mielieblare wat ondersoek is. Die hoofbevindinge was dat die MF bestuursopsie die hoogste biomassa produksie en blaarnutriënt akkumulasie oor alle behandelingskombinasies tot gevolg gehad het. In die algemeen het die MF bestuursopsie die hoogste mielie-opbrengs oor alle behandelingskombinasies tot gevolg gehad. Die inwerk van mucuna materiaal in die grond voordat mielies geplant word verbeter dus fisiese en chemiese toestande in die grond wat grondtoestande verbeter vir die daaropvolgende miegewas en uiteindelik lei tot hoër mielie-oeste. Die insluiting van mucuna as ‘n rotasiegewas het diesefde effek op mielie-opbrengs as die toediening van 80 kg ha-1 N bemesting.