Abstract:

We investigated the current use of legumes in s;il fertility management and the feasibility of promoting use of
pigeonpea in smallholder farming systems of a Communal Area in Northeast of Zimbabwe. Participatory rural
appraisal methods were used to establish farmer management strategies and perceptions on major constraints to
crop productivity. Soil fertility parameters were evaluated through farmer participatory experiments. The study
revealed limited cultivation of legumes for both human nutrition and soil fertility management. Legumes were
generally regarded as women's crops, and therefore minor, because of men's domination over women in the
household decision-making process. Balancing gender interests in terms of allocation of inputs and distribution
of benefits at household level was identified as a major challenge to the implementation of legume technologies.
Poor extension thrusts with respect to legume production, and poor agronomic practices wereidentified as major
production constraints. over-emphasis on maize in the current extension packages led to the relegation of legumes
to the status of 'minor crops'. Participatory experiments suggested that pigeonpea can be successfully grown by
farmers under poor soil fertility conditions. The crop yielded about 3 to 9 t ha-' of shoot biomass in asingle cropping
season, and up to 23 t ha-' after two seasons of growth. High amounts leaf litter released by the crop in one season
(up to 3 t ha-') are considered a potentially viable source of nutrients for subsequent crops, as confirmed by a 22%
maize yield increase obtained from a field that was previous cultivated with pigeonnpea