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Microbes are the primary agents responsible for the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, promoting plant development, and suppressing disease. However, not much is known about how chemical fertilizers affect the populations, distribution and survival of soil microorganisms which are essential for...

Global climate change, coupled with rapid population growth at a rate of 3.4%, is driving significant shifts in agricultural practices worldwide. Traditional crops are struggling to cope with the biotic and abiotic stresses imposed by climate change on plants. Recognizing the need for adaptive...

Comparatively, Zambian smallholder cassava productivity is low. Zambian farmers produce 6 ton ha-1 , compared to 20–25 ton ha-1 in Zambia. Therefore, understanding smallholder farmers' poor yields is necessary to develop cassava cropping systems for yield intensification. In this study, field...

Soils can serve as sources or sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) depending on how they are managed. As atmospheric CO2 concentrations continue to rise there is need to find ways of reducing CO2 emissions from soils. This study was conducted to assess the effects of applying agricultural...

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple food and a main source of income for several smallholder farmers. However, its yields are low at about 6 t/ha, lower than actual yields of 20–25 t/ha in Zambia. The main objective of the study was to assess sustainable management practices in cassava...

Rice is one of the staple food crops and is a profitable smallholder cash crop in Zambia. It has the potential to contribute to increased incomes and employment among rural producers. However, rice is the only staple crop for which domestic production does not meet domestic demand due to low...

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for majority smallholder farm households in Zambia, which constitutes more than 75% of the population. However, climate change continues to pose a serious threat to agricultural productivity due to its adverse effects that cause soil infertility and...

Since its reported presence in 2016, the Fall Armyworm (FAW) has caused major damage to a number of plant species including maize which is a staple food for most African countries. Their presence in Africa pauses a challenge to the food security in many countries contributing to the already...

Sedimentation is one of the problems that affects the storage capacity of most small reservoirs, and if not addressed on time, may lead to the dams being filled up with sediment and failing to meet the intended objective of providing agricultural water for food and economic security. The aim of...

Maize is one of the most important economic crops on the African continent. However, its production is constrained by both abiotic and biotic factors. Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major abiotic constraints in maize production. It was for this reason the study was undertaken whose...