MOSHI

 Seven experiments were
conducted during two years in
Moshi district, many with a
group of 12 participating
farmers. The area consists of
carefully managed maize/bean
farms in the intermediate zone
on Mt. Kilimanjaro. The FSR/E
team built upon and fine-tuned
work initiated by on-station
commodity researchers.
* Farmers in Moshi have tradi-
 tionally intercropped maize
 and beans, but the resultant
 bean yields were 50% lower
 than mono-cropped beans. The
 FSR/E team hypothesized that
 excessive shading from the
 maize was the primary factor
 contributing to the lower bean


 yields and conducted experi-
 ments to attempt to increase
 that yield.
 D In one promising experi-
 ment, two rows of maize and
 two rows of beans were
 planted in a paired row
 configuration, thereby
 allowing more light to reach
 the beans.
* A second experiment examined
 the relationship between differ-
 ent elements cropping
 density, fertilization level, and
 varieties in an effort to apply
 them to different groups of
 farmers. Typical on-station
 experiments had used higher
 density and fertilization levels
 than economically feasible for
 many farmers. The FSR/E team


 worked to establish specific
 recommendations for farmers
 of different economic levels and
 in different locations.
* On-station trials in Moshi and
 elsewhere examined Crotalaria,
 a nitrogen-fixing legume, to
 discover its effectiveness and
 viability as a green manure
 crop. After two years of experi-
 ments, a tentative assessment
 is that integrating it into
 existing systems will be
 difficult because of its competi-
 tion with beans and its
 sensitivity to many factors.

DODOMA

 In the harsh, drought-ridden
Dodoma environment, the FSR/E
team conducted eight experi-
ments during a one-year period,
but progress was hampered by
poor weather, manpower short-
age, and transportation problems.
The experiments concentrated
on developing risk-reducing
production strategies, including:
* Improved tillage methods such
 as tie ridges to trap rainfall.
* Varietal evaluations for
 sorghum and maize.
* Soil amendments such as
 Crotalaria, farm yard manure,
 and rock phosphate.










Mr. V. Akulumuka, member
of the FSR/E team, assesses
paired rows of maize/bean
intercropping, an experi-
ment designed to provide
more light to the bean crop.