Designing cropping systems adapted to smallholder farmers. The case of Conservation Agriculture in the state of Parana (Brazil)

AbstractContinuous conventional tillage coupled with unsystematic cereal/legume rotations has promoted low crop productivity on smallholder farms. A multi-locational study was established in three agro-ecoregions (AEs) of Zimbabwe. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of four tillage systems (conventional plowing, planting basins, rip-line and animal traction direct seeding systems) on maize (Zea mays L.), cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] yields, and evaluate the economic performance of the conservation agriculture (CA) systems relative to conventional plowing. Each farmer was a replicate of the trial over the three cropping seasons. In the high (750–1000 mm per annum) and low (450–650 mm) rainfall AEs, conventional practice and CA systems gave similar maize grain yield. Under medium rainfall conditions (500–800 mm) planting basins, rip-line and direct seeding systems gave 547, 548 and 1690 kg ha−1 more maize yield than the conventional practice. In the high and low rainfall AEs, conventional practice and planting basins had the lowest maize production risk. Cowpea yield was 35 and 45% higher in the rip-line and direct seeding than conventional practice. Soybean yield was higher in rip-line (36%) and direct seeding (51%) systems than conventional practice. Direct seeding system gave the highest net benefits in all AEs. A combination of long-term biophysical and socio-economic assessments of the different cropping systems tested in our study is critical in order to fully understand their performance under different AEs of Zimbabwe.

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Technology Package for Sustainable Productivity and Resiliency to Climate Variability: The Proof from SIMLESA Studies in Tanzania

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2019036168 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 168

Author(s):

John Sariah ◽

Daniel Rodriguez

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Sector ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

National Policy ◽

Policy Decision ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Cost Ratio ◽

Conventional Agriculture ◽

Cropping Season ◽

Normal Duration

The agricultural sector in Tanzania is mainly dryland and dominated by smallholder farmers. Unreliable rainfall, short than normal duration of cropping season and fluctuations of onset and end of cropping season are main challenges facing farmers. The increased frequency and intensity of droughts, unpredictability of weather, shorter than normal duration of cropping seasons have significant impact on farmers’ productivity, profitability and resilience. This paper report study on Conservation agriculture for Sustainable Intensification (CASI) technology package tested on farm for productive, resilient and sustainable smallholder maize-legume cropping systems across five districts in Tanzania. Three practices namely Conservation practice (CA), Current applied recommended practice (CONV. or sometimes referred to as IMPROV) and primitive farmers practice (FP) were compared in experimental plots on farmers’ fields. Improved (DT maize and Pigeonpeas) was intercropped in all practices. Only CA and CONV practices were statistically compared, whereas FP was for farmer’s visual observations and comparisons. Data recorded were, soil carbon, moisture, yields and economic analysis. Results showed that, the average maize yields for four seasons in CA and CONV doubled and for tripled. An average of 30.5% hours of labour were saved in CASI relative to non CASI practice. The benefit cost ratio of maize-pigeonpea intercrops under CASI was 2.1 as compared to 1.4 in conventional agriculture investments. The institutionalization of CASI at local and national policy decision levels will be required for the scaling of CASI technologies across Tanzania.

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Maize (Zea mays) Response to Anthill Soil (Termitaria), Manure and NPK Fertilization Rate under Conventional and Reduced Tillage Cropping Systems

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12030928 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 928 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kafula Chisanga ◽

Ernest Mbega ◽

Patrick Alois Ndakidemi

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Fertilization Rate ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Soil Fertility Management ◽

Maize Varieties

Soil fertility management has been described by many scholars as fundamental and a major hindrance to food production amongst smallholder farmers in the developing world. To counteract this challenge, some farmers have been reported to use anthill soil as analternative fertilizer to improve soil fertility for supporting crop growth. Against this background, a study was undertaken with the aim of ascertaining the effect of anthill soil application alone, cattle manure, and/or their combination with commercially available NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield parameters of three maize varieties under field conditions involving conventional (CONV) and conservation agriculture (CA) tillage systems. Results revealed that anthill soil alone (5000 kg/ha) or in combination with either manure (10,000 kg/ha) or half rate of commercially available fertilizer (NPKS: 10% N, 20% P2O5, 10% K2O, 6% S at 100 kg/ha) competed favourably in terms of response to growth parameters. Furthermore, pH and P levels changed significantly (p < 0.05) at harvest. We conclude that resource-constrained smallholder farmers in less developed countries utilizing anthill soil for fertility improvement purposes should judiciously apply it in CA planting basin structures compared with conventional methods, which appeared to be less effective and leads to sub-optimal yields.

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Productivity and profitability of manual and mechanized conservation agriculture (CA) systems in Eastern Zambia

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170517000606 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 380-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

W. Mupangwa ◽

M. Mutenje ◽

C. Thierfelder ◽

M. Mwila ◽

H. Malumo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Direct Seeding ◽

Net Return ◽

Conventional Practice

AbstractClimate variability and declining soil fertility pose a major threat to sustainable agronomic and economic growth in Zambia. The objective of this study was to assess crop yield, land and labor productivity of conservation agriculture (CA) technologies in Eastern Zambia. On-farm trials were run from 2012–2015 and farmers were replicates of a randomized complete block design. The trials compared three CA systems against a conventional practice. Yield and net return ha−1 were determined for maize and legume yield (kg ha−1) produced by ridge and furrow tillage, CA dibble stick planting, CA animal traction ripping and direct seeding. The dibble stick, ripline and direct seeding CA systems had 6–18, 12–28 and 8–9% greater maize yield relative to the conventional tillage system, respectively. Rotation of maize with cowpea and soybean significantly increased maize yields in all CA systems. Intercropping maize with cowpea increased land productivity (e.g., the land equivalent ratio for four seasons was 2.01) compared with full rotations under CA. Maize/cowpea intercropping in dibble stick CA produced the greatest net returns (US$312-767 ha−1) compared with dibble stick maize-cowpea rotation (US$204-657), dibble stick maize monoculture (US$108-584) and the conventional practice (US$64-516). The net-return for the animal traction CA systems showed that maize-soybean rotations using the ripper were more profitable than the direct seeder or conventional ridge and furrow systems. Agronomic and economic benefits of CA-based cropping systems highlight the good potential for improved food security and agricultural productivity for smallholder farmers.

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NEMATODE MANAGEMENT IN RAIN-FED SMALLHOLDER MAIZE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS UNDER CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN ZIMBABWE

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479717000163 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 54 (3) ◽

pp. 452-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

SANDRA M. MADAMOMBE ◽

ISAIAH NYAGUMBO ◽

BRIGHTON M. MVUMI ◽

PHILLIP NYAMUGAFATA ◽

MENAS WUTA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Sandy Soils ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Nematode Management

SUMMARYNematode infestation in Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) cropping systems, worsened by poor crop rotations, is a major factor contributing to limited utilisation of applied nutrients and water, leading to low maize (Zea mays L.) yields particularly on sandy soils. The effects of nematode infestation on maize productivity were evaluated under conservation agriculture (CA) on granitic sandy soils in sub-humid smallholder farms of Goromonzi district of Zimbabwe. Four treatments were tested for three seasons on six smallholder farmers’ fields in a randomised complete block design, each farm being a replicate: fenamiphos 40EC (a commercial synthetic nematicide), lime + fenamiphos 40EC, lime and an untreated control. Results of the study showed that independent application of fenamiphos 40EC and lime significantly reduced plant parasitic nematode infestations in maize roots by more than 10 times those present in the untreated plots while maize yield also increased significantly. Yield increase from fenamiphos and lime applications amounted to 53 and 42% respectively, compared to the untreated controls. Maize yield was negatively correlated with density of Pratylenchus spp. nematodes. Nematode management strategies involving fenamiphos 40EC or lime could significantly reduce maize yield losses in maize-based smallholder farming systems of SSA under CA. It was more economical to use fenamiphos than lime to control nematodes.

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Diversifying conservation agriculture and conventional tillage cropping systems to improve the wellbeing of smallholder farmers in Malawi

Agricultural Systems ◽

10.1016/j.agsy.2019.01.004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 171 ◽

pp. 23-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dan TerAvest ◽

Philip R. Wandschneider ◽

Christian Thierfelder ◽

John P. Reganold

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Conventional Tillage

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Corrigendum to: Conservation agriculture effects on soil properties and crop productivity in a semiarid region of India

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr18145_co ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 200 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Somasundaram ◽

M. Salikram ◽

N. K. Sinha ◽

M. Mohanty ◽

R. S. Chaudhary ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Management Practices ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Semiarid Region ◽

Reduced Tillage ◽

Organic C ◽

Residue Retention

Conservation agriculture (CA) including reduced or no-tillage and crop residue retention, is known to be a self–sustainable system as well as an alternative to residue burning. The present study evaluated the effect of reduced tillage coupled with residue retention under different cropping systems on soil properties and crop yields in a Vertisol of a semiarid region of central India. Two tillage systems – conventional tillage (CT) with residue removed, and reduced tillage (RT) with residue retained – and six major cropping systems of this region were examined after 3 years of experimentation. Results demonstrated that soil moisture content, mean weight diameter, percent water stable aggregates (>0.25mm) for the 0–15cm soil layer were significantly (Pmoderately labile>less labile. At the 0–15cm depth, the contributions of moderately labile, less labile and non-labile C fractions to total organic C were 39.3%, 10.3% and 50.4% respectively in RT and corresponding values for CT were 38.9%, 11.7% and 49.4%. Significant differences in different C fractions were observed between RT and CT. Soil microbial biomass C concentration was significantly higher in RT than CT at 0–15cm depth. The maize–chickpea cropping system had significantly (P–1 followed by soybean+pigeon pea (2:1) intercropping (3.50 t ha–1) and soybean–wheat cropping systems (2.97 t ha–1). Thus, CA practices could be sustainable management practices for improving soil health and crop yields of rainfed Vertisols in these semiarid regions.

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The crucial role of mulch to enhance the stability and resilience of cropping systems in southern Africa

Agronomy for Sustainable Development ◽

10.1007/s13593-021-00687-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Blessing Mhlanga ◽

Laura Ercoli ◽

Elisa Pellegrino ◽

Andrea Onofri ◽

Christian Thierfelder

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Southern Africa ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Yield Stability ◽

No Tillage ◽

The Stability ◽

Stability And Resilience

AbstractConservation agriculture has been promoted to sustainably intensify food production in smallholder farming systems in southern Africa. However, farmers have rarely fully implemented all its components, resulting in different combinations of no-tillage, crop rotation, and permanent soil cover being practiced, thus resulting in variable yield responses depending on climatic and soil conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the effect of conservation agriculture components on yield stability. We hypothesized that the use of all three conservation agriculture components would perform the best, resulting in more stable production in all environments. We evaluated at, eight trial locations across southern Africa, how partial and full implementation of these components affected crop yield and yield stability compared with conventional tillage alone or combined with mulching and/or crop rotation. Grain yield and shoot biomass of maize and cowpea were recorded along with precipitation for 2 to 5 years. Across different environments, the addition of crop rotation and mulch to no-tillage increased maize grain by 6%, and the same practices added to conventional tillage led to 13% yield increase. Conversely, adding only mulch or crop rotation to no-tillage or conventional tillage led to lower or equal maize yield. Stability analyses based on Shukla’s index showed for the first time that the most stable systems are those in which mulch is added without crop rotation. Moreover, the highest yielding systems were the least stable. Finally, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis allowed clarifying that mulch added to no-tillage gives stable yields on sandy soil with high rainfall. Similarly, mulch added to conventional tillage gives stable yield on sandy soil, but under low rainfall. This is the first study that highlighted the crucial role of mulch to enhance the stability and resilience of cropping systems in southern Africa, supporting their adaptability to climate change.

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Earthworm Inoculation Improves Upland Rice Crop Yield and Other Agrosystem Services in Madagascar

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11010060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 60

Author(s):

Onja Ratsiatosika ◽

Malalatiana Razafindrakoto ◽

Tantely Razafimbelo ◽

Michel Rabenarivo ◽

Thierry Becquer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upland Rice ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Rice Grain ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Ecological Transition ◽

Earthworm Activity ◽

Endogeic Earthworms ◽

Plant Properties

The effects of earthworm inoculation and cropping systems on upland rice systems were examined over a four-year period in the Highlands of Madagascar. Each year, endogeic earthworms Pontoscolex corethrurus (Rhinodrilidae) were inoculated (EW+) at a density of 75 ind m−2 or were not inoculated (EW0). Inoculation was tested in three cropping systems: conservation agriculture (CA) and traditional tillage with or without residues restitution. Soil and plant properties were measured during the first three years while soil biological properties were assessed at the fourth year. At the end of the experiment, earthworm density was three-fold higher in EW+ than in EW0, demonstrating the success of the inoculation. Earthworm density was more important in CA than in tillage systems. Earthworm inoculation had higher significant effects on soil and plant properties than cropping systems. Earthworm inoculation had positive effects on soil macroaggregation (+43%), aboveground biomass (+27%), rice grain yield (+45%), and N grain amount (+43%). Intensifying earthworm activity in field conditions to meet the challenge of ecological transition is supported by our study.

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