Maggie Munthali hopes the results of her research on fertilizer trees in Malawi will help to reduce soil fertility depletion and the impact of climate change, thereby ultimately improving the production of maize—the staple food in her country.
I am focusing on disseminating integrated soil fertility management technologies to local farmers—most of whom are women—so they can improve their maize production while reducing the problem of soil degradation,” she says. Known as “fertilizer trees” because they fix nitrogen and supply phosphorous and potassium into the soil, Tephrosia trees are also used for poles, firewood, vegetable garden hedges, and as an insecticide.
Field of Research
Use of integrated soil-fertility management to assess the interactions between Tephrosia fallow biomass and inorganic fertilizers on soil properties and maize yield.