Abstract:
This study was conducted in Kadoma, Zimbabwe in the smallholder sector (SH) during 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons. The overall aim of the study was to understand the changes that occur to weed densities, species diversity and management under Minimum Tillage (MT) system of planting basins which is a component of Conservation Agriculture (CA) being promoted in the SH sector. A survey was carried out to determine the biophysical and socio-economic factors that affect the adoption of CA. The paired plot technique was used to compare weed densities and diversity in planting basins (PB) and Conventional Tillage (CONV) at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after crop emergence (WACE) in clay loam, loamy and sandy soils. Multivariate ordination techniques and a quadratic model were used to describe the relationship of soil properties, socio economic and management variables with weed densities. The effectiveness and economic benefits of chemical weed control were also evaluated.
