Case Studies: Lilongwe University (LUANAR)15

Cowpea Confined Field Trial – University Scale

Size: 1565.18 hectares (fenced area is 2 ha)

Soil type: deep red Ferruginous soils/sandy clay loam & sandy clay

Altitude: 1200 m above sea level

Topography: arable land surrounded by Brachystegia (miombo), Dambo (wetlands) & Mopane woodlands

Flora & Fauna: grass species including Hyparrhenia filipendula, Themeda triandra, Andropogon schirensis, Bewsia biflora and Andropogon amplectens. The grass is subjected to early control burning to reduce damage to vegetation in the mopane woodland and the areas

Climate: 1000 to1200mm of rainfall per year/December to April wind direction is variable, with an average speed of 7 kph. Cowpea is not wind-pollinated and its pollen is not subject to dispersal by wind.

Previous History of Trial Site: Cultivation of maize, soybean, cotton, and cowpea.

Distance from nearest human settlements: 3-5 km/1.5-3 km from Bunda College

Distance from nearest surface water: dambo catchment acts as a hydrological store about 600m from the site holding water and releasing it as base flow to its headwater stream during the dry season. Surface water: 1 km away

Distance from nearest environmental protected area: 2.5-4 km from the Bunda Forest Reserve