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Mucuna

Introduction¶

The mucuna module was developed Michael Robertson. The reader is referred to the science document for the plant module for a comprehensive description of the processes simulated by APSIM-Mucuna. The paper by Robertson et al. (2004) outlines the science content of the module, and some testing in Malawi. This document outlines some mucuna-specific issues that are not covered by the plant science document.

Notable features of APSIM-MUCUNA¶

• The module simulates the main variety grown in southern Africa - Kalagonda
• The module does not simulate production from second and further flushes of flowers and pods.
• APSIM-Mucuna is not phosphorus-responsive, this is currently under development.
• Crop growth is not sensitive to waterlogging.
  
  

  Cultivars and crop classes¶

  There is one crop class.
  
  There is one cultivar able to be simulated: mucuna_gen. This cultivar is typical of that found growing under smallholder conditions in southern Africa.
  
  

  Validation¶

  APSIM-Mucuna has received testing in Malawi only, with factors such as sowing date and soil types. Table 1 summarises module performance reported by Robertson et al (2004).
  
  Table 1: Observed (O) and simulated (S) biomass at flowering and maturity and grain yield for velvet bean crops used for model testing. All variables are in kg/ha.
  
  

  Location	Season	DASa	Grain yield		Biomass N at maturity		Grain N at maturity		Biomass at flowering			Biomass at maturity
  			O	S	O	S	O	S	O	S	O		S
  Chitalab	1998-9	72							848	1623
  Chitedze	1998-9	202	2126	2382	256	221	96	102	2374	1791	6848		8609
  Chitedze	1997-8	202	2820	2752	314	270	NMc	NM	7640	4747	10420		9189
  Lisasadzi	1998-9	182	2187	1851	163	211	98	83	2401	2628	5418		6268
  Makoka	1998-9	181	1343	2352	117	NM	60	105	2610	923	5925		8364
  N'gabu	1998-9	173	1852	1643	257	277	83	85	2135	1017	8651		5893

  
  
  
  a=days after sowing of maturity harvest
  
  b=crop at Chitala suffered late leaf diseases, therefore only sampling at flowering is recorded
  
  c NM=not measured
  
  

  IN Which environments THIS MODULE should be used with confidence?¶

  APSIM-Mucuna can be used with most confidence in southern Africa. No testing has been done elsewhere.
  
  

  References¶

  MJ Robertson, Sakala W, Benson T, Shamudzarira Z (2004) Simulating response of maize to previous velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) crop and nitrogen fertiliser in Malawi. Field Crops Research (in press).