Abstract Maize (Zea mays L.) is a key food security crop in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). Maize yield gaps are large in the smallholder farming systems of ESA but can be closed by a combination of improved crop varieties and sustainable cropping systems. On-farm trials were conducted in five countries of ESA over a seven-year period to assess the effects of different cropping systems on maize productivity. Cropping systems tested were conventional practice (Conv_sole) compared with variants of conservation agriculture (CA) such as sole maize (CA_sole), intercropping (CA_intercropping) and rotation (CA_rotation). Maize yield varied with cropping system and agro-ecological conditions. In highlands, CA_intercropping (3709 kg ha−1) outperformed Conv_sole (3456 kg ha−1), CA_sole (3596 kg ha−1) and CA_rotation (3545 kg ha−1) with similar legumes in the cropping system. The CA_rotation (3050 kg ha−1) out-yielded the other treatments (2645−2864 kg ha−1) in lowlands where similar legumes were grown in the cropping system. Without rotation practices, CA_sole (3596 kg ha−1) outperformed the conventional and CA_intercropping treatments (2954−3036 kg ha−1) in highlands with similar legumes in the cropping system. In lowlands, CA_intercropping (2802 kg ha−1) out yielded the other treatments (2485−2658 kg ha−1). The highest maize yield was from CA systems with groundnut (3609 kg ha−1) and common bean (3307−3576 kg ha−1) under rotation and intercropping practices, respectively. Maize-pigeon pea intercropping (35 %) and maize-groundnut rotation (31–43 %) under CA had the highest maize yield advantages over the conventional practices. The most stable maize yields were from the maize-common bean systems under CA. There is scope for promoting CA cropping systems integrated with grain and forage legumes to address maize productivity challenges on smallholder farms of ESA.

中文翻译：

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保护性农业下不同豆类轮作和间作系统的玉米产量对比农业生态

摘要 玉米（Zea mays L.）是东部和南部非洲（ESA）的重要粮食安全作物。欧空局的小农农业系统中的玉米产量差距很大，但可以通过改进作物品种和可持续种植系统的组合来弥补。七年期间在五个欧空局国家进行了农场试验，以评估不同种植系统对玉米生产力的影响。测试的种植系统是传统做法 (Conv_sole) 与保护性农业 (CA) 的变体，如单一玉米 (CA_sole)、间作 (CA_intercropping) 和轮作 (CA_rotation)。玉米产量因种植制度和农业生态条件而异。在高地，CA_intercropping (3709 kg ha-1) 优于 Conv_sole (3456 kg ha-1)，CA_sole (3596 kg ha-1) 和 CA_rotation (3545 kg ha-1) 在种植系统中使用类似的豆类。CA_rotation (3050 kg ha-1) 在低地的产量高于其他处理 (2645-2864 kg ha-1)，在那里种植系统中种植了类似的豆类。在没有轮作的情况下，CA_sole (3596 kg ha-1) 在种植系统中豆类相似的高地优于传统和 CA_intercropping 处理 (2954-3036 kg ha-1)。在低地，CA_intercropping (2802 kg ha-1) 产出了其他处理 (2485-2658 kg ha-1)。最高的玉米产量来自分别采用轮作和间作做法的花生 (3609 kg ha-1) 和普通豆 (3307-3576 kg ha-1) 的 CA 系统。玉米-鸽子豌豆间作（35%）和玉米-花生轮作（31-43%）与传统做法相比具有最高的玉米产量优势。最稳定的玉米产量来自 CA 下的玉米-普通豆类系统。推广与谷物和牧草豆类相结合的 CA 种植系统，以解决欧空局小农农场面临的玉米生产力挑战。