Welfare impacts of climate-smart agriculture in Ghana: Does row planting and drought-tolerant maize varieties matter?

AbstractConservation agriculture (CA) based on minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop rotations is considered as a soil and crop management system that could potentially increase soil quality and mitigate the negative effects of climate variability. When CA is combined with drought-tolerant (DT) maize varieties, farmers can reap the benefits of both—genetic improvement and sustainable land management. New initiatives were started in 2007 in Mozambique to test the two climate-smart agriculture technologies on farmers' fields. Long-term trends showed that direct seeded manual CA treatments outyielded conventional tillage treatments in up to 89% of cases on maize and in 90% of cases on legume in direct yield comparisons. Improved DT maize varieties outyielded the traditional control variety by 26–46% (695–1422 kg ha−1) on different tillage treatment, across sites and season. However a direct interaction between tillage treatment and variety performance could not be established. Maize and legume grain yields on CA plots in this long-term dataset did not increase with increased years of practice due to on-site variability between farmer replicates. It was evident from the farmers' choice that, beside taste and good milling quality, farmers in drought-prone environments considered the potential of a variety to mature faster more important than larger potential yields of long season varieties. Population growth, labor shortage to clear new land areas and limited land resources in future will force farmers to change toward more permanent and sustainable cropping systems and CA is a viable option to improve their food security and livelihoods.

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Impact of adoption of drought-tolerant maize varieties on total maize production in south Eastern Zimbabwe

Climate and Development ◽

10.1080/17565529.2017.1372269 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 35-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Rodney Witman Lunduka ◽

Kumbirai Ivyne Mateva ◽

Cosmos Magorokosho ◽

Pepukai Manjeru

Keyword(s):

Maize Production ◽

South Eastern ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Maize Varieties

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Drought-Tolerant Crops in Kirinyaga County, Kenya: Climate-Smart Agriculture Adaptation Strategies

Handbook of Climate Change Resilience ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-71025-9_80-1 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Peterson N. M. Njeru ◽

Jayne Mugwe ◽

Monicah Mucheru-Muna ◽

Immaculate Maina ◽

Stephen K. Kimani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Smart Agriculture

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PENGEMBANGAN USAHA BENIH JAGUNG TAHAN KERING

Buletin Udayana Mengabdi ◽

10.24843/bum.2018.v17.i01.p12 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 70

Author(s):

S.M. Sarwadana ◽

B.R.T. Putri ◽

K.K. Dinata

Keyword(s):

Raw Materials ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Raw Material ◽

Maize Seed ◽

Seed Corn ◽

Entrepreneurial Spirit ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Production Processes ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

Made In

Activities of science and technology for innovation and creativity campus aims are: (1) thecommercialization of science and technology campus creativity as a source of financing for the developmentof institutions; (2) stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit among beings campus, and (3) help people get seeds ofdrought-tolerant maize varieties. Methods of execution include the business aspects of the planned businessactivities consist of: provision of raw materials, production processes, management, marketing, humanresources, facilities, and financial. The raw material is obtained from units of science and technology fornovation and creativity campus and through partnerships with farmers' seed corn. The production processstarted from seed, sorting, and packaging. Marketing is done directly, partnerships with local governmentsand konsiniasi with kiosk / farm shop. Results show that the activities of science and technology unit forinnovation and creativity campus drought-tolerant maize seed has gone well characterized by supportinfrastructure adequate maize seed production; IbIKK unit operates under the management of PSAgroecotechnology Faculty of Agriculture, University of Udayana; Of investment made in 2014 amountingto Rp. 39,550,000; Result of sales corn seeds turnover in 2014 amounted to 400 kg (Rp. 12 million); and netcash flow amounted to 17,672,400.

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Evaluation of saline-alkali and drought tolerance in maize varieties

Bangladesh Journal of Botany ◽

10.3329/bjb.v48i4.49053 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 1047-1063

Author(s):

Huili Zhang ◽

Chuang Yuan ◽

Guillian Mao ◽

Xue Gao ◽

Liu Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cluster Analysis ◽

Drought Stress ◽

Drought Tolerance ◽

Growth And Development ◽

Stress Condition ◽

Stress Factors ◽

Alkali Stress ◽

Yield Attributes ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Maize Varieties

Saline-alkali and drought stresses are one of the abiotic stress factors that limit the normal growth and development of plants. In this work, various agronomic indexes including growth physiology and yield attributes were studied under saline-alkali and drought stress treatments. It was found that the limit of plant growth and development caused by drought stress is much higher than that of saline-alkali stress (p < 0.01). Based on the comprehensive evaluation value (D value), under saline-alkali stress condition, 36 maize varieties could be divided into four groups by cluster analysis (CA): High saline-alkali tolerance (3 varieties), medium saline-alkali tolerant(10 varieties), saline-alkali sensitive (19 varieties), high saline-alkali sensitive (4 varieties). In drought stress condition, 36 maize varieties could be divided into five groups by cluster analysis (CA): High drought-tolerance (2 varieties), medium drought-tolerant (14 varieties), low drought-tolerant (15 varieties), drought-sensitive (4 varieties), high drought-sensitive (1 variety). Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive screening of maize varieties under saline-alkali and drought stresses.

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Lipid Peroxidation and Chlorophyll Fluorescence of Photosystem II Performance during Drought and Heat Stress is Associated with the Antioxidant Capacities of C3 Sunflower and C4 Maize Varieties

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21144846 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (14) ◽

pp. 4846

Author(s):

Dilek Killi ◽

Antonio Raschi ◽

Filippo Bussotti

Keyword(s):

Lipid Peroxidation ◽

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Heat Stress ◽

Chlorophyll Fluorescence ◽

Photosystem Ii ◽

Membrane Damage ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

Catalase Peroxidase ◽

Drought And Heat Stress

Agricultural production is predicted to be adversely affected by an increase in drought and heatwaves. Drought and heat damage cellular membranes, such as the thylakoid membranes where photosystem II occurs (PSII). We investigated the chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) of PSII, photosynthetic pigments, membrane damage, and the activity of protective antioxidants in drought-tolerant and -sensitive varieties of C3 sunflower and C4 maize grown at 20/25 and 30/35 °C. Drought-tolerant varieties retained PSII electron transport at lower levels of water availability at both temperatures. Drought and heat stress, in combination and isolation, had a more pronounced effect on the ChlF of the C3 species. For phenotyping, the maximum fluorescence was the most effective ChlF measure in characterizing varietal variation in the response of both species to drought and heat. The drought-tolerant sunflower and maize showed lower lipid peroxidation under drought and heat stress. The greater retention of PSII function in the drought-tolerant sunflower and maize at higher temperatures was associated with an increase in the activities of antioxidants (glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase), whereas antioxidant activity declined in the drought-sensitive varieties. Antioxidant activity should play a key role in the development of drought- and heat-tolerant crops for future food security.

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Physiological and Proteomic Analysis Revealed the Response Mechanisms of two Different Grought-resistant Maize Varieties

10.21203/rs.3.rs-630007/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hongjie Li ◽

Mei Yang ◽

Chengfeng Zhao ◽

Yifan Wang ◽

Renhe Zhang

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Drought Tolerance ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Molecular Chaperones ◽

Electron Flow ◽

Photochemical Efficiency ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Protective Mechanism ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Maize Varieties

Abstract Background: Drought stress seriously limits the seedling growth and yield of maize. Despite previous studies on drought resistance mechanisms by which maize cope with water deficient, the link between physiological and molecular variations are largely unknown. To reveal the complex regulatory mechanisms, comparative physiology and proteomic analyses were conducted to investigate the stress responses of two maize cultivars with contrasting tolerance to drought stress. Results: Physiological results showed that SD609 (drought-tolerant) maintains higher photochemical efficiency by enhancing CEF (cyclic electron flow) protective mechanism and antioxidative enzymes activities. Proteomics analysis revealed a total of 198 and 102 proteins were differentially expressed in SD609 and SD902, respectively. Further enrichment analysis indicated that drought-tolerant ‘SD609’ increased the expression of proteins related to photosynthesis, antioxidants/detoxifying enzymes, molecular chaperones and metabolic enzymes. The up-regulation proteins related to PSII repair and photoprotection mechanisms resulted in more efficient photochemical capacity in tolerant variety under moderate drought. However, the drought-sensitive ‘SD902’ only induced molecular chaperones and sucrose synthesis pathways, and failed to protect the impaired photosystem. Further analysis indicated that proteins related to the electron transport chain, redox homeostasis and heat shock proteins (HSPs) could be important in protecting plants from drought stress. Conclusions: Our experiments explored the mechanism of drought tolerance, and obtained detailed information about the interconnection of physiological research and protein research. In summary, our findings could provide new clues into further understanding of drought tolerance mechanisms in maize.

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Determinants of Nutritious Drought Tolerant Maize Adoption and Mineral Fertilizer Application Under Smallholder Farm Conditions in Ghana

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v11n10p121 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 121

Author(s):

Stephen Yeboah ◽

Natson Eyram Amengor ◽

Patricia Oteng-Darko ◽

Priscilla Francisco Ribeiro

Keyword(s):

Social Science ◽

Grain Quality ◽

Science Study ◽

Early Maturity ◽

Local Variety ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Social Science Study ◽

Smallholder Farm ◽

The Social ◽

Maize Varieties

The study sought to examine adoption of nutritious drought tolerant (DT) maize using social science research methods and participatory demonstration trials. The social science study used mixed method approach which combined both qualitative and quantitative methods. A split-plot demonstration trial of three improved maize varieties and a local variety, and two levels of Nitrogen fertilizer were established. The two fertilizer levels were low N [LN] (30 kg N ha-1) and high N [HN] (90 kg N ha-1). The results of the social science study showed 85% of men consider early maturity, grain quality and storability in adopting DT maize. Results also revealed that beside earliness and higher yield, taste and easy to harvest influenced women farmer’s choice for DT maize varieties. Climatic endurance, increased yield and grain quality showed a positive and statistically significant relationship with adoption of DT maize. On average, HN fertilization increased DT maize grain yields by 41% compared to the LN fertilization. The improved DT maize varieties had yield advantages ranging from 25 to 43% over the local variety. From this, DT maize appears to have a potential for its use with N-fertilizer in the fight against food insecurity with improved adoption and utilization in Ghana.

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Evaluation of Drought Tolerant Maize Varieties under Drought and Rain-Fed Conditions: A Rainforest Location

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v8n7p153 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 153

Author(s):

Abimbola Oluwaranti ◽

Oluwatosin Temilade Ajani

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Agronomic Traits ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Cropping Season ◽

Strong Positive Relationship ◽

Maize Varieties ◽

Ear Height ◽

The Relationship ◽

Ear Number

Newly developed drought tolerant maize (Zea mays L.) varieties have been hypothesized to be of different genetic make-ups, hence this study was conducted to evaluate drought-tolerant maize varieties under drought and rain-fed conditions, identify the highest yielding varieties and determine the relationship between agronomic traits and varieties’ yield under these conditions in a rainforest location. Nine drought tolerant varieties of maize and a local check were evaluated during the early part of the early cropping season (March) (Drought) as well as the actual early cropping season (May-June) (Rain-fed) of 2015 at the Teaching and Research Farm (T&RF) of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (7°28'N, 4°33'E and 244 m above sea level). There were significant differences among the two environments for all the traits measured. The performance of the drought tolerant maize varieties is better under the rain-fed condition. The yield performance of all varieties are not significantly different from each other (1.36 tons/ha to 2.75 tons/ha) under drought except EVDT-W 2000 STR C0 (1.10 tons/ha). All the varieties evaluated under rain-fed condition produce higher grain yield (2-44 tons/ha-3.69 tons/ha) which are not significantly different each other. All the yield components except ear height and length had a strong positive relationship with grain yield under drought while only ear number and weight had relationship with yield under rain-fed condition. In conclusion, among the drought tolerant maize varieties, EVDT-W 2000 STR C0 need further improvements to drought. Furthermore, ear weight can be used to select parents for the development of drought tolerant maize varieties in this agro-ecology.

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Uptake of Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies and Practices: Actual and Potential Adoption Rates in the Climate-Smart Village Site of Mali

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11174710 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (17) ◽

pp. 4710 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mathieu Ouédraogo ◽

Prosper Houessionon ◽

Robert B. Zougmoré ◽

Samuel Tetteh Partey

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Information Service ◽

Organic Manure ◽

Average Treatment Effect ◽

Agricultural Technologies ◽

Crop Varieties ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Household Heads ◽

Smart Agriculture ◽

And Training

Understanding the level of adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices and its drivers is needed to spur large-scale uptake of CSA in West Africa. This paper used the Average Treatment Effect framework to derive consistent parametric estimators of the potential adoption rates of eight CSA technologies and practices in the Climate-Smart Village (CSV) site of Mali. A total of 300 household heads were randomly selected within the CSV site for data collection. Results showed significant differences in the observed and potential adoption rates of the CSA technologies and practices (drought tolerant crop varieties, micro-dosing, organic manure, intercropping, contour farming, farmer managed natural regeneration, agroforestry and climate information service). The most adopted technology was the organic manure (89%) while the least adopted was the intercropping (21%). The observed adoption rate varied from 39% to 77% according to the CSA options while the potential adoption rates of the technologies and practices ranged from 55% to 81%. This implies an adoption gap of 2% to 16% due to the incomplete diffusion (lack of awareness) of CSA technologies and practices which must be addressed by carrying out more actions to disseminate these technologies in the CSV. Results showed that education, number of workers in the household, access to subsidies, and training have a positive effect on the adoption of most of the CSA technologies and practices. The adoption of drought tolerant varieties and micro-dosing are positively correlated with access to subsidies and training. The study suggests that efforts should be focused concomitantly on the diffusion of CSA options as well as the lifting of their adoption barriers.

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