Improve food security and agroecosystem sustainability in tropical-subtropical regions of China and Africa through increased productivity of common bean and soybean on low phosphorus soils.
Specific Objectives
- Identify and develop legume genotypes with superior yield in low P soils of South China and Mozambique/Malawi/Tanzania. Output- several new soybean and common bean genotypes released through regional and local seed systems that have at least 25% greater yield in low P soils than existing cultivars.
- Determine effects of P-efficient legumes on productivity andsustainability of agroecosystems. Output- a) completion of multi-year nutrient cycling/erosion studies in China and Mozambique, b) completion of multi-year intercropping studies of maize/soybean (China) and maize/common bean (Mozambique).
- Characterize socioeconomic constraints to and impacts of nutrient efficient germplasm on local communities in target regions. Output- completion of ex-ante and ex-post analyses of constraints and opportunities for P-efficient soybeans in South China and P-efficient common beans in Mozambique.
- Develop scientific capacity for enhanced legume production and utilization in Mozambique through short-term training, degree training, workshops, and extension education. Output- Ph.D. training of 4 IIAM scientists at PSU, short-term training of 6 Mozambican educators at SCAU, dozens of IIAM extensionists trained in workshops.
- Improve household income and nutrition in poor rural villages in South China through the introduction of new P-efficient soybean cultivars. Lay the foundation for such impact in Mozambique/Malawi/Tanzania through activities 1-4.
