|
Year |
Researcher |
Study |
Main findings |
|
2004 |
E. Bhondayi |
An investigation of the determinants of fertilizer use by communal farmers in drought-prone areas of Zimbabwe. A study of Buhera District. |
Fertilizer use depends on various socio-economic characteristics: arable land size, household income, distance to input purchasing point, fertilizer price and transport cost. |
|
2004 |
P. Kanyoka |
A comparative socio-economic assessment of the factors affecting utilization and returns to the use of organic and inorganic fertilizer in the smallholder sector. A case study of Zimuto Communal Area. |
Socio-economic factors affect the intensity of soil-fertility management technologies application. Factors affecting adoption: age, education, income, access to extension services, cattle ownership, arable land, credit access, farmer group membership. |
|
2003 |
M.J. Madzara |
Will smallholders in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe invest in inorganic fertilizer? A case study of determinants of fertilizer use in Gwanda and Tsholotsho. |
Farmers with knowledge of soil-moisture conservation techniques used fertilizers more than those without such knowledge. Farmers favoured fertilizers supplied in smaller packages of 10 and 15 kg. |
|
2003 |
T.C. Mashavave |
Economics of fertilizer use for maize production by smallholder farmers in the drought-prone areas of Zimbabwe: The case of Shurugwi Ward 5- Mfiri. |
Fertilizer use is associated significantly with socio-economic factors such as income from crop sales, amount of arable land owned by a household, external remittances received by households. |
|
2003 |
F. Zinyama |
A comparative analysis of the use of pit-stored manure on vegetables and field crops. The case of Mangwende Communal Area in Murehwa District. |
Low levels of fertilizer use are attributed to fertilizer use being limited by risk, high cost of application and relative returns to investment. Application of fertilizer in 2000-03 declined as a result of the high rise in the cost of inputs. |
|
2002 |
T. Magara |
A comparative assessment of the determinants of household choice of soil fertility management practices. |
Access to credit enables farmers to buy inorganic fertilizer and to adopt more efficient technology. Results from the survey showed that the total rates applied by farmers in the 2000/01 season were below the recommended rates. |
|
2000 |
C.S.S. Ngulube |
Targeting soil fertility management advice to smallholder farmers in semi-arid Zimbabwe. |
The survey results showed that farmers in Tsholotsho applied fertilizer at a lower rate than recommended owing to a number of constraints but mostly because of limited resources. |
|
1998 |
K. Murwira |
Compilation and assessment of promoting technologies in smallholder agriculture. |
Smallholder communal farmers in Zimbabwe applied an average of 18 kg/ha of mineral fertilizer, which was below the recommended rate of 300 kg/ha. Socio-economic factors such as individual household goals and resource endowments have been recognized as affecting fertilizer use. |
|
1994 |
M. Jonga |
Optimizing inorganic fertilizer use in dryland and maize production in Chinyika Resettlement Area of Zimbabwe. |
No significant yield difference in applying basal fertilizer at planting compared with applying at two weeks after crop emergence. Under moisture stress, it is more desirable to dribble basal fertilizer along the plant row than to apply as a dollop (lump) because dribbling reduces contact between seed and fertilizer and minimizes fertilizer burning (which inhibits germination). Dribbling is less expensive than dolloping, which is labour-intensive. |
