A four-year study was conducted at Mponela in Dowa district, central Malawi, from 1997/98 to '00/01 season to evaluate the role of one year rotations of velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens) and groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) intercropping and tephrosia (Tephrosia vogelii) undersowing and fertilizer application (69:21:0+4S) on witchweed (Striga asiatica {L.} Kuntze) suppression and associated grain yield. Initial maize grain yields were low, averaging 0.19 t ha-1 for unfertilised and 1.28 t ha-1 for fertilized. There were no significant (P>0.05) treatment differences in Striga emergence in the first two seasons, averaging <4 plants m-2. In the third and fourth seasons, significant (P<0.05) differences in Striga emergence were observed. Striga peaked at less than 3 and 6 plants m-2, in maize after groundnuts or mucuna and continuously fertilized plots, compared to 19 and 32 plants m-2 in continuous unfertilized maize, respectively. In the fourth (final) season, yields for fertilized maize were 1.45 tha-1. Yields of maize after legume rotations were significantly higher than unfertilized maize only with mucuna rotation and in the second season only. Highest amounts of estimated dry matter yield of legume stover was 0.9 t ha-1 for groundnuts, 3.4 t for mucuna and 1.6 t for tephrosia. The suppressive effects of legume systems on Striga are therefore more pronounced with time, while in uncontrolled plots rapid build up occurs. Although positive effects of mucuna rotations on soil fertility enhancement and Striga suppression were evident, an integrated approach is suggested to complement these observed effects.