Soil degradation assessment in mixed farming systems of southern Africa: use of nutrient balance studies for participatory degradation monitoring

2002 ◽  
Vol 168 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J Dougill ◽  
Chasca Twyman ◽  
David S G Thomas ◽  
Deborah Sporton
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Nutrient Balance ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
Degradation Monitoring

scholarly journals Mixing specialized farming systems in Flevoland (The Netherlands): agronomic, environmental and socio-economic effects

1999 ◽  
pp. 185-200
Author(s):  
J.F.F.P. Bos ◽  
G.W.J. Van De Ven
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Balance ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Nutrient Balances ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
Labour Income ◽  
Key Factor

Mixed farming systems have potential agronomic, environmental and socio-economic advantages over specialized farming systems. This paper attempts to quantify these advantages for the Dutch province Flevoland. A mixed farming system at regional level is characterized by intensive cooperation between two or more specialized farms, each producing crop or animal products. To test the hypothesis that such a mixed farming system might improve sustainability of agriculture in Flevoland, nutrient balances, labour requirements and labour income were quantified for a specialized arable farm, a specialized dairy farm and both combined into a mixed farming system, exchanging land, labour and machinery. Scope for reduced biocide use in the mixed farming system was assessed in a qualitative way. In the mixed farming system, labour income per ha was 25% higher. Seventy percent of this increase could be explained through higher yields per ha of the profitable crops ware potato (Solanum tuberosum) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). The remaining 30% resulted from lower costs, mainly through a better utilization of available labour. Differences between the combined nutrient balance of both specialized farms and that of the mixed farming system were small. Indications of reduced biocide use in the mixed farming system could not be found. It was concluded that in a mixed farming system, it is possible to realize a higher income without increasing environmental pollution. Key factor is the ratio between animal and arable production, determining the extent to which crop rotations can be widened and the relative amounts of slurry that can be applied to grassland.

scholarly journals Nutrient Flows and Balances in Mixed Farming Systems in Madagascar

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 984
Author(s):  
Marie Lucia Fanjaniaina ◽  
Fabien Stark ◽  
Noelly Phostin Ramarovahoaka ◽  
Jeanny Fiononana Rakotoharinaivo ◽  
Tovonarivo Rafolisy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Nutrient Recycling ◽  
Nutrient Balance ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Liquid Manure ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Nutrient Flows ◽  
Mixed Farming

Mixed farming systems are still prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. In these systems, the recycling of nutrients through crop-livestock integration (CLI) practices is crucial for the sustainability of soil fertility and crop production. The objective of this study was to analyze nutrient (N, P, K) flows and balances of mixed farming systems to assess CLI contribution to the performance of those systems. We hypothesized that more intensive farms had a better nutrient balance at the farm level, and that improved biomass management methods improved their nutrient balance. Nine farms in the Madagascar highlands were selected, some corresponding to poor traditional farms with only draft cattle; some small or medium-sized, more intensive farms with a dairy herd; and some of the latter with some improvement to management methods of livestock effluents (manure composting, liquid manure collection). The nutrient balance of the farming systems was determined, and performance indicators were calculated at both farming, livestock, and CLI levels. Results showed that nutrient recycling through CLI is significant in the functioning of the systems studied, contributing primarily to circulating nutrient flows (up to 76%) and leading to greater efficiency and productivity. Nutrient flows resulting from these practices mainly concerned animal feeding (higher than 60% of nutrient flows), even if manure management was central for crop fertilization and that manure remained a desired animal product of these types of farms (up to 100% of animal products). Large negative balances of N and K (up to 80% of inputs) were observed in traditional livestock systems with draft cattle. They were smaller (39–68%) in more intensive dairy farms. Composting of manure did not decrease negative balances, whereas their magnitude was significantly reduced by the collection of liquid manure (19% for N; 42% for K). Better management of biomass at the farm level, in particular the collection of liquid manure, seemed to substantially reduce nutrient losses in MFS.

scholarly journals Influence of Conservative and Conventional Soil Technologies on Physical, Chemical and Biolocical Properties of an Argic Chernozem Belong to Caracal Area

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Venera Mihaela STROE ◽  
Irina CALCIU ◽  
Monica STANCIU BURILEANU ◽  
Lavinia PARVAN
Keyword(s):  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Degradation Processes ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Conventional Technology ◽  
Tillage System

Continuous use of traditional tillage system (conventional) resulted in a gradual harvest increase, but gave rise to some worrying negative phenomenon regarding the most important supply of the agricultural production - soil, by its chemical and physical degradation.This paper aims to assess soil degradation processes, based on pedo-transfer rules and is based on of expeditionary studies regarding assessment and characterization of soil fertility, under the practice of various farming systems: conventional tillage and minimum tillage. The study carried out the effects of moderat conservative tillage on physical and chemical soil properties comparative with conventional soil technology on an argic chernozem, belongs to the agricultural Caracal area. Agricultural area is affected by a relatively high variability of the limiting factors and soil degradation processes, which require adaptation of technology systems to protection of soil and plants. Because of all limiting factors, natural and antropic, in this expeditionary study we compare the moderat conservative tillage effects, with conventional technology effects and impact of those both soil technology, on physical, chemical and biological properties. Results of study show the potential depth of aeration conditions are moderately favorable, being determined particularly by intense state of compactness of the soil as a natural consequence of it. Macroporosity decrease in depth, has negative consequences not only on the normal performance of the processes of aeration, and water penetration and infiltration, but for the accumulation of water available for plants. Content of structural microagregates water-stable or soil dispersion is high, which shows that the formation of structural macroagregates occurred more mechanical factors such as compaction or natural processes. The numerical values of the degree of compaction of 15-20 cm in depth up to the 15-18% v / v in both phases of observation. Deep compaction is undoubtedly due to the technological system applied to the greatest extent, and only a small part pedogenetical natural factors.

Economic performance of small ruminants in mixed-farming systems of Southern Ethiopia

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 1531-1539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Getahun Legesse ◽  
Marianna Siegmund-Schultze ◽  
Girma Abebe ◽  
Anne Valle Zárate
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Mixed Farming

scholarly journals ASSESSING LIVESTOCK WATER PRODUCTIVITY IN MIXED FARMING SYSTEMS OF GUMARA WATERSHED, ETHIOPIA

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 684-698
Author(s):  
MENGISTU ALEMAYEHU ◽  
TILAHUN AMEDE ◽  
DON PEDEN ◽  
TESFAYE KUMSA ◽  
MICHAEL H. BÖHME ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Lower Altitude ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
Natural Pasture ◽  
Gumara Watershed

SUMMARYA monitoring study was carried out in Gumara watershed, upper Blue Nile basin, with the objective of evaluating livestock water productivity (LWP) using a life cycle assessment method. Sixty two smallholder farmers were selected for the study implemented between November 2006 and February 2008. Data on crop and livestock production were collected to allow assessment of livestock water productivity. Study sites were situated in three different rainfed mixed crop/livestock farming systems; barley/potato based system (BPS), tef/finger-millet based system (TMS), and rice/noug based system (RNS). LWP was found to be significantly lower (p < 0.01) in RNS (0.057 USD m−3 water) than in TMS (0.066 USD m−3 water) or in BPS (0.066 USD m−3 water). Notably, water requirement per kg live weight of cattle increased towards the lower altitude area (in RNS) mainly because of increased evapo-transpiration. As a result, 20% more water was required per kg live weight of cattle in the low ground RNS compared to BPS situated in the upstream parts of the study area. Cattle herd management that involved early offtake increased LWP by 28% over the practice of late offtake. Crop water productivity expressed in monetary units (0.39 USD m−3 water) was higher than LWP (0.063 USD m−3 water) across the mixed farming systems of Gumara watershed. Strategies for improving LWP, from its present low level, could include keeping only the more productive animals, increasing pasture productivity and linking production to marketing. These strategies would also ease the imbalance between the existing high livestock population and the declining carrying capacity of natural pasture.

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