Axel Schmidt
International Center for Tropical Agriculture
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Featured researches published by Axel Schmidt.
The Journal of Agricultural Science | 2012
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
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
Sabine Douxchamps; Emmanuel Frossard; Stefano M. Bernasconi; Rein van der Hoek; Axel Schmidt; Idupulapati M. Rao; Astrid Oberson
Pasturas Tropicales | 2005
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
Michael Peters; Luis Horacio Franco; Axel Schmidt; Belisario Hincapié
Archive | 2011
Sabine Douxchamps; Martín Mena; Rein van der Hoek; Alexander Benavídez; Axel Schmidt
Archive | 2006
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
Sabine Douxchamps; Francois Lionel Humbert; Rein van der Hoek; Martín Mena; Stefano M. Bernasconi; Axel Schmidt; Idupulapati Rao; Emmanuel Frossard; Astrid Oberson
Archive | 2008
Rein van der Hoek; Martín Mena; Alexander Benavídez; Axel Schmidt; H.D. Hess; Michael Peters
Archive | 2008
Sabine Douxchamps; Wim van der Hoek; Alexander Benavídez; F. Humbert; Martín Mena; Astrid Oberson; Idupulapati M. Rao; Axel Schmidt; Emmanuel Frossard