EVALUATING THE BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING SOY-MAIZE CROP ROTATIONS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Striga hermonthica, an obligate root parasite of grasses, Is one of the most severe constraints to cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa. In the recent past, prior to increased production pressure on land, S. hermonthica was controlled in African farming systems by prolonged crop rotations with bush fallow. Because of increasing need for food and concomitant changes in land management practices, however, these fallow rotations are no longer extensively used. Shorter crop rotations and fallow periods have also led to declines in soil fertility which present a very serious threat to African food production. A sustainable solution will be an integrated approach that simultaneously addresses both of these major problems. An integrated programme that replaces traditional bush fallow rotation with non-host nitrogen-fixing legume rotations, using cultivars selected for efficacy in germinating S. hermonthica seeds, is outlined. The programme includes use of S. hermonthlca-free planting material, biological control, cultural control to enhance biological suppressiveness, host-plant resistance, and host-seed treatments.

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Maize crop nutrient input requirements for food security in sub-Saharan Africa

Global Food Security ◽

10.1016/j.gfs.2019.02.001 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

pp. 9-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

H.F.M. ten Berge ◽

R. Hijbeek ◽

M.P. van Loon ◽

J. Rurinda ◽

K. Tesfaye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Nutrient Input ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Sub Saharan

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Soy-Maize Crop Rotations in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Literature Review

International Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.1155/2020/8833872 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Liana Acevedo-Siaca ◽

Peter D. Goldsmith

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Caloric Intake ◽

Cropping System ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Great Promise ◽

Agricultural System ◽

Continuous Cropping ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Sub Saharan

Empirical evidence shows complementarity between maize and soybean as a sustained agricultural system across North and South America as well as Eastern Europe. The potential application to sub-Saharan Africa motivates this literature review. Maize is one of the most important crops on the African subcontinent, accounting for over half of daily caloric intake in some regions. However, continuous cropping of maize has led to extensive degradation of soil and decrease in crop productivity and endangers household food and nutritional security. The cultivation of soybean holds great promise in improving agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Introducing soy into rotation with maize is a method to diversify diets, better nutritional status, reduce abiotic and biotic stresses, and improve soil fertility, while enhancing crop productivity and generating more income for farmers. However, limited access to extension services and other sources of technical support constrains adoption of the more complex rotation cropping system involving a new crop, soybean. Rotating soybean with maize too challenges farmers as there is not a specific prescription that can guide farmers operating across Africa’s diverse agroecological environments. Finally, soybean is an input-intensive crop requiring significant investment at planting, which may not allow small holders with limited resources and no access to credit.

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Simulation of Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) Damage Using the CERES-Maize Model

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10050710 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 710 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

William D. Batchelor ◽

L. M. Suresh ◽

Xiaoxing Zhen ◽

Yoseph Beyene ◽

Mwaura Wilson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Dead Leaf ◽

Streak Virus ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Crop Models ◽

Severity Scores ◽

Maize Grain ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The Impact

Maize lethal necrosis (MLN), maize streak virus (MSV), grey leaf spot (GLS) and turcicum leaf blight (TLB) are among the major diseases affecting maize grain yields in sub-Saharan Africa. Crop models allow researchers to estimate the impact of pest damage on yield under different management and environments. The CERES-Maize model distributed with DSSAT v4.7 has the capability to simulate the impact of major diseases on maize crop growth and yield. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a method to simulate the impact of MLN on maize growth and yield. A field experiment consisting of 17 maize hybrids with different levels of MLN tolerance was planted under MLN virus-inoculated and non-inoculated conditions in 2016 and 2018 at the MLN Screening Facility in Naivasha, Kenya. Time series disease progress scores were recorded and translated into daily damage, including leaf necrosis and death, as inputs in the crop model. The model genetic coefficients were calibrated for each hybrid using the 2016 non-inoculated treatment and evaluated using the 2016 and 2018 inoculated treatments. Overall, the model performed well in simulating the impact of MLN damage on maize grain yield. The model gave an R2 of 0.97 for simulated vs. observed yield for the calibration dataset and an R2 of 0.92 for the evaluation dataset. The simulation techniques developed in this study can be potentially used for other major diseases of maize. The key to simulating other diseases is to develop the appropriate relationship between disease severity scores, percent leaf chlorosis and dead leaf area.

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RTS,S/AS01, a vaccine targeting pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20170101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (6) ◽

pp. 533-537

Author(s):

Lorenz von Seidlein ◽

Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn ◽

Podjanee Jittmala ◽

Sasithon Pukrittayakamee

Keyword(s):

Protective Efficacy ◽

Age Groups ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Phase Iii ◽

European Medicines Agency ◽

Older Children ◽

Pivotal Phase ◽

Malaria Epidemiology ◽

Maximum Benefit ◽

Sub Saharan

RTS,S/AS01 is the most advanced vaccine to prevent malaria. It is safe and moderately effective. A large pivotal phase III trial in over 15 000 young children in sub-Saharan Africa completed in 2014 showed that the vaccine could protect around one-third of children (aged 5–17 months) and one-fourth of infants (aged 6–12 weeks) from uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The European Medicines Agency approved licensing and programmatic roll-out of the RTSS vaccine in malaria endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO is planning further studies in a large Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, in more than 400 000 young African children. With the changing malaria epidemiology in Africa resulting in older children at risk, alternative modes of employment are under evaluation, for example the use of RTS,S/AS01 in older children as part of seasonal malaria prophylaxis. Another strategy is combining mass drug administrations with mass vaccine campaigns for all age groups in regional malaria elimination campaigns. A phase II trial is ongoing to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the RTSS in combination with antimalarial drugs in Thailand. Such novel approaches aim to extract the maximum benefit from the well-documented, short-lasting protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01.

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Mortality and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa

Population Studies ◽

10.1080/0032472031000147416 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 555-556

Author(s):

Lado Ruzicka

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Sub-Saharan Africa

The Military Balance ◽

10.1080/04597228708459635 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

pp. 118-142

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Adolescent Suicidality as Seen in Rural Northeastern Uganda

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000059 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 43-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Eugene Kinyanda ◽

Ruth Kizza ◽

Jonathan Levin ◽

Sheila Ndyanabangi ◽

Catherine Abbo

Keyword(s):

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Psychosocial Risk ◽

Psychiatric Nurses ◽

Health Concern ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Low Socioeconomic ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Sub Saharan

Background: Suicidal behavior in adolescence is a public health concern and has serious consequences for adolescents and their families. There is, however, a paucity of data on this subject from sub-Saharan Africa, hence the need for this study. Aims: A cross-sectional multistage survey to investigate adolescent suicidality among other things was undertaken in rural northeastern Uganda. Methods: A structured protocol administered by trained psychiatric nurses collected information on sociodemographics, mental disorders (DSM-IV criteria), and psychological and psychosocial risk factors for children aged 3–19 years (N = 1492). For the purposes of this paper, an analysis of a subsample of adolescents (aged 10–19 years; n = 897) was undertaken. Results: Lifetime suicidality in this study was 6.1% (95% CI, 4.6%–7.9%). Conclusions: Factors significantly associated with suicidality included mental disorder, the ecological factor district of residence, factors suggestive of low socioeconomic status, and disadvantaged childhood experiences.

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