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Dive into the research topics where Axel Schmidt is active.

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Featured researches published by Axel Schmidt.


The Journal of Agricultural Science | 2012

Identifying factors limiting legume biomass production in a heterogeneous on-farm environment

Sabine Douxchamps; Emmanuel Frossard; N. Uehlinger; Idupulapati M. Rao; R. Van Der Hoek; Martín Mena; Axel Schmidt; Astrid Oberson

Multipurpose legumes provide a wide range of benefits to smallholder production systems in the tropics. The degree of system improvement after legume introduction depends largely on legume biomass production, which in turn depends on the legumes’ adaptation to environmental conditions. For Canavalia brasiliensis (canavalia), an herbaceous legume that has been recently introduced in the Nicaraguan hillsides, different approaches were tested to define the biophysical factors limiting biomass production on-farm, by combining information from topsoil chemical and physical properties, topography and soil profiles. Canavalia was planted in rotation with maize during two successive years on 72 plots distributed over six farms and at contrasting landscape positions. Above-ground biomass production was similar for both years and varied from 448 to 5357 kg/ha, with an average of 2117 kg/ha. Topsoil properties, mainly mineral nitrogen (N; ranging 25–142 mg/kg), total N (Ntot; 415–2967 mg/kg), soil organic carbon (SOC; 3–38 g/kg) and pH (5·3–7·1), significantly affected canavalia biomass production but explained only 0·45 of the variation. Topography alone explained 0·32 of the variation in canavalia biomass production. According to soil profiles descriptions, the best production was obtained on profiles with a root aggregation index close to randomness, i.e. with no major obstacles for root growth. When information from topsoil properties, topography and soil profiles was combined through a stepwise multiple regression, the model explained 0·61 of the variation in canavalia biomass ( P 2 ) and stones (7–727 kg/m 2 ) in the whole profile, and SOC and N content in the topsoil. The linkages between topsoil properties, topography and soil profiles were further evaluated through a principal component analysis (PCA) to define the best landscape position for canavalia cultivation. The three data sets generated and used in the present study were found to be complementary. The profile description demonstrated that studies documenting heterogeneity in soil fertility should also consider deeper soil layers, especially for deep-rooted plants such as canavalia. The combination of chemical and physical soil properties with soil profile and topographic properties resulted in a holistic understanding of soil fertility heterogeneity and shows that a landscape perspective must be considered when assessing the expected benefits from multipurpose legumes in hillside environments.


Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems | 2010

Nitrogen balances in farmers fields under alternative uses of a cover crop legume: a case study from Nicaragua

Sabine Douxchamps; François-Lionel Humbert; Rein van der Hoek; Martín Mena; Stefano M. Bernasconi; Axel Schmidt; Idupulapati Rao; Emmanuel Frossard; Astrid Oberson


Plant and Soil | 2011

Nitrogen recoveries from organic amendments in crop and soil assessed by isotope techniques under tropical field conditions

Sabine Douxchamps; Emmanuel Frossard; Stefano M. Bernasconi; Rein van der Hoek; Axel Schmidt; Idupulapati M. Rao; Astrid Oberson


Pasturas Tropicales | 2005

Estrategias para minimizar la escasez de forrajes en zonas con sequías prolongadas en Honduras y Nicaragua.

Sam Fujisaka; Federico J. Holmann; Michael Peters; Axel Schmidt; Douglas White; Conrado Burgos; Jenny C. Ordoñez; Martin A. Mena Urbina; M.I. Posas; Heraldo Cruz; C. Davis; Belisario Hincapié Carvajal


Archive | 2011

Especies forrajeras multipropósito : opciones para productores del trópico Americano

Michael Peters; Luis Horacio Franco; Axel Schmidt; Belisario Hincapié


Archive | 2011

Canavalia brasiliensis Mart. ex Benth CIAT 17009 : forraje que restituye la salud del suelo y mejora la nutricion del ganado

Sabine Douxchamps; Martín Mena; Rein van der Hoek; Alexander Benavídez; Axel Schmidt


Archive | 2006

El ensilaje, alternativa para conservar forrajes

C. Reiber; Heraldo Cruz; Michael Peters; Luis Horacio Franco; Carlos E. Lascano; Patricia Avila Vargas; Axel Schmidt; Rainer Schultze-Kraft; Conrado Burgos; Martín Mena; Peter Lentes


Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems | 2010

Nitrogen balances in farmers fields under alternative uses of a cover crop legume: a case study from Nicaragua [Approved article]

Sabine Douxchamps; Francois Lionel Humbert; Rein van der Hoek; Martín Mena; Stefano M. Bernasconi; Axel Schmidt; Idupulapati Rao; Emmanuel Frossard; Astrid Oberson


Archive | 2008

Dry season feeding systems for smallholder dairy cattle in Central-America [poster] [on line]

Rein van der Hoek; Martín Mena; Alexander Benavídez; Axel Schmidt; H.D. Hess; Michael Peters


Archive | 2008

Realizing the benefits of cover crop legumes in smallholder crop-livestock farms of the hillsides of Central America

Sabine Douxchamps; Wim van der Hoek; Alexander Benavídez; F. Humbert; Martín Mena; Astrid Oberson; Idupulapati M. Rao; Axel Schmidt; Emmanuel Frossard

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Michael Peters

International Center for Tropical Agriculture

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Rein van der Hoek

International Center for Tropical Agriculture

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Luis Horacio Franco

International Center for Tropical Agriculture

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Carlos E. Lascano

International Center for Tropical Agriculture

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Idupulapati M. Rao

Institut national de la recherche agronomique

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Idupulapati Rao

International Center for Tropical Agriculture

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