scholarly journals Options for Sustainable Intensification of Maize Production in Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Srivastava ◽  
Cho Mboh ◽  
Babacar Faye ◽  
Thomas Gaiser ◽  
Arnim Kuhn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residues ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Sustainable Intensification ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Maize Production

The agricultural intensification of farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa is a prerequisite to alleviate rural poverty and to improve livelihood. In this modelling exercise, we identified sustainable intensification scenarios for maize-based cropping systems in Ethiopia. We evaluated Conventional Intensification (CI) as continuous maize monocropping using higher Mineral Fertilizer (MF) rates with and without the incorporation of Crop Residues (CR) in the soil. We also evaluated the effect of groundnut in rotation with the maize-based cropping system with the current Farmer’s Practice + Rotation (FP + Rotation) and increased MF application rates (CI + Rotation) combined with CR incorporation. The results suggest that, under CI, there was a positive effect of MF and CR. The incorporation of only CR in the field increased the maize yield by 45.3% compared to the farmer’s yield under current MF rates. CR combined with higher MF (60 kg N ha−1 + 20 kg P ha−1) increased the yield by 134.6%. Incorporating CR and MF was also beneficial under rotation with groundnut. The maize yields increased up to 110.1% depending upon the scenarios tested. In the scenario where CR was not incorporated in the field, the maize yield declined by 21.9%. The Gross Economic Profit suggests that groundnut in rotation with maize is advantageous across Ethiopia in terms of the net return with a few exceptions.

Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping system in Meru South District, Kenya

2007 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monicah Mucheru-Muna ◽  
Daniel Mugendi ◽  
James Kung’u ◽  
Jayne Mugwe ◽  
Andre Bationo
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Soil Chemical Properties

scholarly journals Identifying maize yield and precipitation gaps in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence Epule Epule ◽  
Driss Dhiba ◽  
Daniel Etongo ◽  
Changhui Peng ◽  
Laurent Lepage
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Bank Group ◽  
Precipitation Data ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Yield Gaps ◽  
Maize Yields ◽  
Growing Season Precipitation

AbstractIn sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), precipitation is an important driver of agricultural production. In Uganda, maize production is essentially rain-fed. However, due to changes in climate, projected maize yield targets have not often been met as actual observed maize yields are often below simulated/projected yields. This outcome has often been attributed to parallel gaps in precipitation. This study aims at identifying maize yield and precipitation gaps in Uganda for the period 1998–2017. Time series historical actual observed maize yield data (hg/ha/year) for the period 1998–2017 were collected from FAOSTAT. Actual observed maize growing season precipitation data were also collected from the climate portal of World Bank Group for the period 1998–2017. The simulated or projected maize yield data and the simulated or projected growing season precipitation data were simulated using a simple linear regression approach. The actual maize yield and actual growing season precipitation data were now compared with the simulated maize yield data and simulated growing season precipitation to establish the yield gaps. The results show that three key periods of maize yield gaps were observed (period one: 1998, period two: 2004–2007 and period three: 2015–2017) with parallel precipitation gaps. However, in the entire series (1998–2017), the years 2008–2009 had no yield gaps yet, precipitation gaps were observed. This implies that precipitation is not the only driver of maize yields in Uganda. In fact, this is supported by a low correlation between precipitation gaps and maize yield gaps of about 6.3%. For a better understanding of cropping systems in SSA, other potential drivers of maize yield gaps in Uganda such as soils, farm inputs, crop pests and diseases, high yielding varieties, literacy, and poverty levels should be considered.

scholarly journals Maize Production and Soil Properties Change in Alley Cropping System at Different Nitrogen Levels

2010 ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Md Abiar Rahman ◽  
Md Giashuddin Miah ◽  
Hisashi Yahata
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Nitrogen Levels

Productivity of maize and soil properties change under alley cropping system consisting of four woody species (Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Cajanus cajan and Senna siamea) at different nitrogen levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended rate) were studied in the floodplain ecosystem of Bangladesh. Comparative growth performance of four woody species after pruning showed that L. leucocephala attained the highest height, while C. cajan produced the maximum number of branches. Higher and almost similar amount of pruned materials (PM) were obtained from S. siamea, G. sepium and C. cajan species. In general, maize yield increased with the increase in N level irrespective of added PM. However, 100% N plus PM, 75% N plus PM and 100% N without PM (control) produced similar yields. The grain yield of maize obtained from G. sepium alley was 2.82, 4.13 and 5.81% higher over those of L. leucocephala, C. cajan and S. siamea, respectively. Across the alley, only one row of maize in the vicinity of the woody species was affected significantly. There was an increasing trend in soil properties in terms of organic C, total N and CEC in alley cropping treatments especially in G. sepium and L. leucocephala alleys compared to the initial and control soils. Therefore, one fourth chemical N fertilizer can be saved without significant yield loss in maize production in alley cropping system.

scholarly journals Identification of Economically Viable Cropping Systems for Vertisols of Northern Telangana Zone

2020 ◽  
pp. 98-106
Author(s):  
Firdoz Shahana ◽  
M. Goverdhan ◽  
S. Sridevi ◽  
B. Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Bt Cotton ◽  
Black Gram ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Lower Productivity ◽  
Randomized Block Design

A field experiment was conducted during 2016-17 at AICRP on Integrated Farming Systems, Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur to diversify existing rice-rice cropping system with less water requiring crops under irrigated dry conditions for vertisols of Northern Telangana Zone. The experiment was laid out with twelve cropping systems as treatments in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The twelve combinations of cropping systems tested during kharif and rabi seasons were rice – rice (check), maize + soybean (2:4) – tomato, maize + soybean (2:4) - rice, maize - sunflower + chickpea (2:4), maize - chickpea, Bt cotton + soybean (1:2) on broadbed – sesame + groundnut (2:4), Bt cotton - sesame + blackgram (2:4), soybean – wheat, soybean – sunflower + chickpea (2:4), turmeric – sesame, turmeric + soybean (1:2) on flat bed – bajra and turmeric + soybean (1:2) on broadbed – sesame + blackgram (2:4). On system basis, significantly higher productivity in terms of rice equivalent yield (REY) of 23830 kg ha-1 was recorded with turmeric+soybean (1:2) BBF– sesame+blackgram (2:4) turmeric – sesame cropping sequence. However it was on par with turmeric – sesame and turmeric + soybean (1:2) on flat bed – bajra crop sequence with productivity of 23332 kg ha-1 and 21389 kg ha-1 respectively. Lower productivity was recorded with rice-rice cropping system (10725 kg ha-1). Significantly higher system net returns were recorded with Bt. cotton – sesame + black gram (2:4) on BBF (Rs222838 ha-1) closely followed by Bt Cotton + Soybean (1:2) (BBF) - Sesamum + Groundnut (2:4) (Rs221160 ha-1) and Maize+soybean (2:4)–tomato (Rs212909 ha-1). Lower system net returns were recorded in conventional rice-rice system (Rs88179 ha-1). Bt. cotton – sesame + black gram (2:4) and Bt Cotton + Soybean (1:2) (BBF)- Sesamum + Groundnut ((2:4) and Maize+soybean (2:4)–tomato were economically superior with REE of 152.71%, 150.81% and 141.45%. Rice- Rice cropping adopted by majority of farmers is less productive and economically inferior indicating wider scope of diversifying existing rice- rice cropping system with high productive, economically viable cropping systems in vertisols of Northern Telangana Zone.

Using active fractions of soil organic matter as indicators of the sustainability of Ferrosol farming systems

Soil Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Bell ◽  
P. W. Moody ◽  
S. A. Yo ◽  
R. D. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Critical Concentrations ◽  
Aggregate Breakdown ◽  
Eastern Australia

Chemical and physical degradation of Red Ferrosols in eastern Australia is a major issue necessitating the development of more sustainable cropping systems. This paper derives critical concentrations of the active (permanganate-oxidisable) fraction of soil organic matter (C1) which maximise soil water recharge and minimise the likelihood of surface runoff in these soils. Ferrosol soils were collected from commercial properties in both north and south Queensland, while additional data were made available from a similar collection of Tasmanian Ferrosols. Sites represented a range of management histories, from grazed and ungrazed grass pastures to continuously cropped soil under various tillage systems. The concentration of both total carbon (C) and C1 varied among regions and farming systems. C1 was the primary factor controlling aggregate breakdown, measured by the percentage of aggregates <0·125 mm (P125) in the surface crust after simulated rainfall. The rates of change in P125 per unit change in C1 were not significantly different (P < 0·05) for soils from the different localities. However, soils from the coastal Burnett (south-east Queensland) always produced lower P125 (i.e. less aggregate breakdown) than did soils from the inland Burnett and north Queensland locations given the same concentration of C1. This difference was not associated with a particular land use. The ‘critical’ concentrations of C1 for each region were taken as the C1 concentrations that would allow an infiltration rate greater than or equal to the intensity of a 1 in 1 or 1 in 10 year frequency rainfall event of 30 min duration. This analysis also provided an indication of the risk associated with the concentrations of C1 currently characterising each farming system in each rainfall environment. None of the conventionally tilled Queensland Ferrosols contained sufficient C1 to cope with rainfall events expected to occur with a 1 in 10 frequency, while in many situations the C1 concentration was sufficiently low that runoff events would be expected on an annual basis. Our data suggest that management practices designed both to maximise C inputs and to maintain a high proportion of active C should be seen as essential steps towards developing a more sustainable cropping system.

scholarly journals Tapping the Economic Potential of Chickpea in Sub-Saharan Africa

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1707
Author(s):  
Asnake Fikre ◽  
Haile Desmae ◽  
Seid Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Production Technologies ◽  
Environment And Development ◽  
Sub Saharan

Chickpea is a nutrition-rich, cropping-system friendly, climate-resilient, and low-cost production crop. It has large economic potential in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, where it currently accounts for only approximately half a million hectares of the approximately 12 million hectares of total chickpea production land worldwide. This review highlights the opportunities for promoting chickpea production and marketing to tap the vast economic potential in SSA. The region can potentially produce chickpea on approximately 10 million hectares, possibly doubling the global production, and the region could become one of the highest consumption geographies of this healthy crop. Chickpea could easily be integrated into existing cropping systems including rice-fallows and cereal monocropping systems. Successful cases studies of the crop in the region are highlighted. The region could tap into the potential at scale through intervention in the agricultural policy environment and development and promotion of improved chickpea production technologies supported by well-organized extension services and sustainable seed systems. These interventions could be complemented with value addition and product quality improvementsÍ for SSA chickpea to benefit from high-value markets.

Are conservation agriculture (CA) systems productive and profitable options for smallholder farmers in different agro-ecoregions of Zimbabwe?

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Mupangwa ◽  
M. Mutenje ◽  
C. Thierfelder ◽  
I. Nyagumbo
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Direct Seeding ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Production Risk ◽  
Conventional Practice

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.

scholarly journals Effect of the Push-Pull Cropping System on Maize Yield, Stem Borer Infestation and Farmers’ Perception

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 452
Author(s):  
Teshome Kumela ◽  
Esayas Mendesil ◽  
Bayu Enchalew ◽  
Menale Kassie ◽  
Tadele Tefera
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Stem Borer ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Maize Productivity ◽  
Livestock Feed

The productivity of maize in Ethiopia has remained lower than the world average because of several biotic and abiotic factors. Stemborers and poor soil fertility are among the main factors that contribute to this poor maize productivity. A novel cropping strategy, such as the use of push-pull technology, is one of the methods known to solve both challenges at once. A push-pull technology targeting the management of maize stemborers was implemented in the Hawassa district of Ethiopia with the ultimate goal of increased food security among smallholder farmers. This study evaluated farmers’ perception of push-pull technology based on their experiences and observations of the demonstration plots that were established on-farm in Dore Bafano, Jara Gelelcha and Lebu Koremo village of the Hawasa district in 2016 and 2017. This study examined farmers’ perception of the importance of push-pull technology in controlling stemborers and improving soil fertility and access to livestock feed. In both cropping seasons, except for Jara Gelelcha, the maize grain yields were significantly higher in the climate-adapted push-pull plots compared to the maize monocrop plots. The majority (89%) of push-pull technology-practising farmers rated the technology better than their maize production methods on attributes such as access to new livestock feed and the control of stemborer damage. As a result, approximately 96% of the interviewed farmers were interested in adopting the technology starting in the upcoming crop season. Awareness through training and effective dissemination strategies should be strengthened among stakeholders and policymakers for the sustainable use and scaling-up of push-pull technology.

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