Effect of soil fertility management strategies and resource-endowment on spatial soil fertility gradients, plant nutrient uptake and maize growth at two smallholder areas, north-western Zimbabwe

Abstract We investigate the effects of smallholder farmer resource—endowment and soil nutrient management strategies on plant nutrient uptake and growth across soil fertility gradients under semi-arid conditions. Soil fertility gradients as influenced by farmers’ resource availability may affect the response of crops to fertilizer addition and therefore productivity. The study was conducted in Njelele and Nemangwe smallholder areas (450-800 mm per annum, unimodal) in north-western Zimbabwe. Soil and maize cobleaf samples were collected from fields of farmers (varying resource endowment) located near to (homefields) and far away (outfields) from the farmers’ homesteads during the 2005–6 season. The samples were analysed for selected soil fertility indicators and soil samples were further used to test maize growth response to various nutrient applications under greenhouse conditions. Soil fertility (organic C, total N and available P) significantly (P<0.05) decreased from resource-endowed to resource-constr...