CAB129-37 — Page 146

Page 146

The rate of planting was 56 lbs. of seed per acre, giving 34 inch spacement in rows 28 inches apart and theoretically 45,000-50,000

Counts of

plants to the acre. ant population however showed an

average of about one-third of this figure.

(ii) Sunflowers

The planting of sunflower was carried out either with drills or with groundnut planters, where the availability of special seed plates allowed. The row spacements ranged from 7 inches to 28 inches, for experimental purposes the bulk being in 14 inches and 21 inches spacing between rows.

(d) Weeding

This was carried out either once or twice, as the state of the ground and weeds dictated. The implement used was a spring-tined 12 ft. weeder. This was effective when used at the proper time, i.e. within a few days of weed germination. Once weeds had obtained a good hold, the effectiveness of the implement was considerably reduced. (e) Cultivating

This operation caused most anxiety, as the mid-mounted cultivators in use were in no way equal to the job on the hard red soils on uneven land. Various other experimental types were tried with varying success.

This year an adaptation to a digger frame, using old and worn digger blades, gave the best results, throwing a 3 inch-4 inch ridge at the same time, thereby facilitating digging. These adaptations will be completed for use almost entirely on the groundnut crop next year.

Local Conditions

.

85. The important soils (more fully described in Appendix V) are (1) the Upland Red; (2) Upland Pallid (yellow to grey); and (3) the alluvial Valley or Mbuga or semi-Mbuga, which may range from red through chocolate to blackish. To the nearest 1,000 acres the proportionate distribution of these main soils is: (1) 44,000; (2) 18,000; (3) 13,000. Much research and sur- veying has been done regarding these with a view of improving conditions for agricultural operations.

86. The drying out and compaction of the red soils at Kongwa prevent the dry season ploughing of the whole acreage. Where the soils are suffi- ciently friable this operation is completed in the dry season. The ploughing or one-way disc tilling of the remainder has to await the onset of the rains in December. As the optimum planting period after the beginning of the rains is only seven to eight weeks, work has therefore to go on at very heavy pressure. Weeding and light harrowing follow the planting of the crop where necessary, and finally, one or two inter-row cultivations, designed to ridge up the soil round the growing plants. This period of cultivation is also intense. It is followed by a short break until harvest begins, in late April or early May. Ploughing follows immediately on the harvest in order that as much land as possible can be prepared before the soil hardens.

87. By introducing sunflower into the rotation it is possible to extend the planting season, while its tall growth and heavy leafage tend to smother weeds and reduce the number of post-planting operations, thus relieving the pressure on men and machines at peak periods. It is also possible to delay the harvesting of sunflower longer than that of groundnuts, again extending the season and enabling more economic use to be made of tractor power. Page 146 of 1097

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