Your search found 16 records
1 Ogindo, H. O.; Walker, S. 2003. Quantification and evaluation of a maize and bean intercrop water use within the semi- arid region of southern Africa. In Beukes, D.; de Villiers, M.; Mkhize, S.; Sally, H.; van Rensburg, L. (Eds.). Proceedings of the Symposium and Workshop on Water Conservation Technologies for Sustainable Dryland Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (WCT), held at Bloem Spa Lodge and Conference Centre, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 8-11 April 2003. Pretoria, South Africa: ARC-Institute for Soil, Climate and Water. pp.118-126.
Maize ; Beans ; Intercropping ; Evapotranspiration ; Water use ; Precipitation ; Water balance / Southern Africa
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: IWMI 631.7.1 G100 BEU Record No: H034395)
2 Thattil, R. O. 2004. Stability parameters in intercropping. Sri Lankan Journal of Applied Statistics, 5:1-8.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: P 7511 Record No: H038497)
3 Ahmad, R. N.; Arshad, M.; Hanjra, M. A. 2013. Water conservation interventions in Pakistan agriculture for achieving food security: synthesis and new evidence. In Ali, H. (Ed.). Irrigation management, technologies and environmental impact. New York, NY, USA:Nova Science Publishers. pp.129-157.
Water management ; Water conservation ; Water saving ; Technology ; Water productivity ; Watercourses ; Water shortage ; Agricultural production ; Food security ; Irrigation water ; Irrigated sites ; Irrigation systems ; Surface irrigation ; Furrow irrigation ; Drip irrigation ; Land leveling ; Tillage ; Farming systems ; Cropping patterns ; Intercropping ; Policy / Pakistan
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046057)
(0.37 MB)
Conserving water, preserving land can make a sterling contribution towards achieving food security in Pakistan. Water competition among agriculture and other sectors is intensifying the need to conserve irrigation water through productivity enhancing interventions for boosting food production and supporting rural livelihoods. Water conservation interventions are everywhere, yet social and economic incentives are lacking for their adoption and up scaling for revitalizing irrigation, and to support socioeconomic transformation and uplift the standard of living across South Asian countries – where bulk of the world’s irrigation is concentrated and holds huge importance for food security and peace in the region. There is also a need to understand the impacts of these interventions and economic incentives in terms of enhancement in productivity, crop output, input use, economic returns, gender empowerment and social equity effects for various crop-mix, farm-size and social classes which condition and mediate the technology adoption decisions. Such comprehensive analysis of water conservation investments is yet to be done. This chapter presents a synthesis of water conservation interventions with emphasis on the Indus Basin where bulk of Pakistan agriculture is concentrated. The interventions include: watercourse improvement program; laser land leveling; bed and furrow irrigation/bed planting; raised bed technology; permanent raised beds; reduced or zero tillage; drip/irrigation; and sprinkler system. Synthesis and new evidence is drawn from a number of resource conservation projects and interventions implemented at farmer fields in a number of settings across the Basin. Data shows that these interventions conserve water and other inputs, boost crop yield and output, and improve food security and livelihoods of the farmers. In particular, new evidence shows that bed furrow planting system improves crop yield for wheat, rice, sugarcane and cotton and offers practical opportunities for producing “more crop per drop” and contributing towards achieving food security in Pakistan.
4 Amarasingha, R. P. R. K.; Suriyagoda, L. D. B.; Marambe, B.; Rathnayake, W. M. U. K.; Gaydon, D. S.; Galagedara, L. W.; Punyawardena, R.; Silva, G. L. L. P.; Nidumolu, U.; Howden, M. 2017. Improving water productivity in moisture-limited rice-based cropping systems through incorporation of maize and mungbean: a modelling approach. Agricultural Water Management, 189:111-122. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2017.05.002]
Water productivity ; Cropping systems ; Intercropping ; Rice ; Maize ; Mung beans ; Water requirements ; Irrigation water ; Supplemental irrigation ; Simulation models ; Performance evaluation ; Crop yield ; Soil moisture ; Risk assessment ; Agroclimatic zones / Sri Lanka / Aralaganwila / Bathalagoda / Bombuwela / Maha-Illuppallama / Maradankalla / Vanathawilluwa / Weerawila
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048189)
(1.01 MB)
Crop and water productivities of rice-based cropping systems and cropping patterns in the irrigated lowlands of Sri Lanka have not been researched to the degree warranted given their significance as critical food sources. In order to reduce this knowledge gap, we simulated the water requirement for rice, maize, and mungbean under rice-based cropping systems in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka. We evaluated the best combinations of crops for minimum water usage while reaching higher crop and water productivities. We also assessed the risk of cultivating mungbean as the third season/sandwich crop (i.e. rice-mungbean-rice) in different regions in Sri Lanka. In the simulation modelling exercise, APSIM-Oryza (rice), APSIM-maize and APSIM-mungbean modules were parameterised and validated for varieties grown widely in Sri Lanka. Moreover, crop productivities and supplementary irrigation requirement were tested under two management scenarios i.e. Scenario 1: irrigate when plant available water content in soil fell below 25% of maximum, and Scenario 2: irrigate at 7-day intervals (current farmer practice). The parameterised, calibrated and validated model estimated the irrigation water requirement (number of pairs of observations (n) = 14, R2 > 0.9, RMSE = 66 mm season-1 ha-1), and grain yield of maize (n = 37, R2 > 0.95, RMSE = 353 kg ha-1) and mungbean (n = 26, R2 > 0.98, RMSE = 75 kg ha-1) with a strong fit in comparison with observed data, across years, cultivating seasons, regions, management conditions and varieties. Simulated water requirement during the cropping season reduced in the order of rice (1180–1520 mm) > maize and mungbean intercrop = maize sole crop (637–672 mm) > mungbean sole crop (345 mm). The water productivity of the system (crop yield per unit water) could be increased by over 65% when maize or mungbean extent was increased. The most efficient crop combinations to maximise net return were diversification of the land extent as (i) 50% to rice and 50% to mungbean sole crops, or (ii) 25%, 25% and 50% to rice, maize and mungbean sole crops, respectively. Under situations where water availability is inadequate for rice, land extent could be cultivated to 50% maize and 50% mungbean as sole crops to ensure the maximum net return per unit irrigation water (115 Sri Lankan Rupees ha-1 mm-1). Regions with high rainfall during the preceding rice cultivating season are expected to have minimum risk when incorporating a third season mungbean crop. Moisture loss through evapotranspiration from the third season mungbean crop was similar to that of a fallowed site with weeds.
5 Erkossa, Teklu; Williams, Timothy O.; Laekemariam, F. 2018. Integrated soil, water and agronomic management effects on crop productivity and selected soil properties in Western Ethiopia. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 6(4): 305-316. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.06.001]
Soil management ; Soil properties ; Soil moisture ; Soil sampling ; Water management ; Agronomic practices ; Crop production ; Productivity ; Land degradation ; Intercropping ; Crop yield ; Fertilizers ; Farming systems ; Farmers ; Soil chemical properties / Ethiopia / Oromia Region / Jeldu / Diga
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048870)
https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/52FCA3E143E488624EE6ACB459F4566E1812A259009A2E4B5EA574F5AEAC285CD0B1DAF4D7C9C1143C0A1B82924EE6FC
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048870.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048870.pdf
Land degradation is a major challenge limiting crop production in Ethiopia. Integrated soil and water conservation is widely applied as a means to reverse the trend and increase productivity. This study investigated the effects of such integrated approaches at two sites, Jeldu and Diga, in Western Ethiopia. A split plot design with physical soil and water conservation in the main plots and agronomic practices in the sub plots was employed. Maize (Zea mays L.) followed by groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at Diga, and wheat (Triticum aestivum) followed by faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were the test crops. Surface soils were sampled before sowing and after the crop harvest, and analyzed for selected parameters. Soil moisture content during the growing period was also monitored. The use of soil bund increased soil moisture content, and significantly (P < 0.05) increased days to flowering and maturity, kernel weight and harvest index, grain yield of the test crops, with the exception of maize. The improved agronomic practices (intercropping, fertilization and row planting) significantly (P < 0.05) increased grain yield of all the test crops. The effect of the treatments on soil parameters may require longer time to be evident. Although the increase in crop yield due to soil bund and the improved agronomic practices is eminent, economic analysis is necessary before recommending the widespread use of the improved options.
6 Mapedza, Everisto; Tsegai, D.; Bruntrup, M.; McLeman, R. (Eds.) 2019. Drought challenges: policy options for developing countries. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. 363p. (Current Directions in Water Scarcity Research Volume 2)
Drought tolerance ; Policies ; Developing countries ; Climate change mitigation ; Adaptation ; Weather hazards ; Early warning systems ; Disaster preparedness ; Resilience ; Monitoring ; Satellite observation ; Remote sensing ; Forecasting ; Food security ; Energy ; Water scarcity ; Nexus ; Intercropping ; Maize ; Legumes ; Crop insurance ; Livestock management ; Forage ; Sustainable land management ; Rainwater harvesting ; Strategies ; Impact assessment ; Gender ; Small scale farming ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Migration ; Conflicts ; Indigenous knowledge ; Semiarid zones ; Drylands ; SADC countries ; Living standards ; Households ; Social protection ; Rural areas ; Pastoralists ; Communities / Africa South of Sahara / Southern Africa / East Africa / Latin America / South Asia / USA / Brazil / Mexico / Colombia / United Republic of Tanzania / Uganda / Ethiopia / Kenya / Mali / India / Yucatan / Xuilub / Andhra Pradesh / Laikipia / Lincoln / Colorado
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H049366)
(1.39 MB)
7 Campanhola, C.; Pandey, S. (Eds.) 2019. Sustainable food and agriculture: an integrated approach. London, UK: Academic Press; Rome, Italy: FAO: 585p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/C2016-0-01212-3]
Sustainable agriculture ; Food security ; Food production ; Agricultural production ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Agroecosystems ; Food supply ; Agroecology ; Agroforestry ; Intercropping ; Agricultural landscape ; Agrifood systems ; Climate-smart agriculture ; Conservation agriculture ; Climate change ; Forecasting ; Soil management ; Nitrogen ; Land use ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem services ; Sustainable forest management ; Urbanization ; Nutrition ; Economic growth ; Investments ; Innovation ; Water use ; Water scarcity ; Technology ; Plant genetic resources ; System of Rice Intensification ; Carbon sequestration ; Greenhouse gas emissions ; Natural resources ; Risk management ; Water governance ; Institutions ; Policies ; Pest management ; Livestock ; Aquaculture ; Stakeholders ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Living standards ; Rural poverty ; Social capital ; Socioeconomic environment / Africa South of Sahara / Asia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 338.19 G000 CAM, e-copy SF Record No: H049449)
(0.30 MB)
8 Mogaka, B. O.; Bett, H. K.; Ng’ang’a, S. K. 2021. Socioeconomic factors influencing the choice of climate-smart soil practices among farmers in western Kenya. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 5:100168. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2021.100168]
Soil management ; Agricultural practices ; Climate-smart agriculture ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Farmers ; Climate change mitigation ; Agricultural productivity ; Agroforestry ; Inorganic fertilizers ; Intercropping ; Soil fertility ; Liming ; Crops ; Households / Kenya / Kakamega / Bungoma / Siaya
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050422)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154321000703/pdfft?md5=810b9e22b2183935482b8bec402e62aa&pid=1-s2.0-S2666154321000703-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050422.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050422.pdf
(1.34 MB) (1.34 MB)
The effects of climate change and variability cause a shift in climatic patterns and increasing shocks. These changes and shocks are affecting soil that is the backbone of many, particularly the farming communities. Climate-Smart soil (CSS) practices among farmers are known to rehabilitate and protect it. These practices will improve soil fertility, increase crop productivity and mitigate climate change as soil act as carbon sinks. The CSS practices uptake is low and varied among the farmers due to differences in farmer attributes, resource endowment, farm characteristics, CSS practice requirements, and climate change perceptions. This study examines the socio-economic factors that influence the adoption choice of CSS practices among farmers in three Counties: Kakamega, Bungoma, and Siaya, in western Kenya. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, the data was collected through structured interviews with the aid of a close-ended questionnaire. A multinomial logit model was used to analyze the socio-economic factors influencing the choice of CSS practice among farmers. The findings indicate that the household head age, education level, gender, farming experience, duration of the practice, farm size, plot size, number of plots in the farm, form of land ownership influenced the adoption of CSS practices. Therefore, development practitioners should consider these factors that inform the CSS practices adoption when rolling out programs that aim to increase the uptake. Policies, which improve agricultural education levels, climate change sensitization and financing, access to resources, and gender mainstreaming to address inequalities should be put in place to increase and bridge the gap of varied uptake of CSS practices among farmers.
9 Fenta, H. M; Hussein, M. A.; Tilahun, S. A.; Nakawuka, Prossie; Steenhuis, T. S.; Barron, Jennie; Adie, A.; Blummel, M.; Schmitter, Petra. 2022. Berken plow and intercropping with pigeon pea ameliorate degraded soils with a hardpan in the Ethiopian highlands. Geoderma, 407:115523. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115523]
Agricultural production ; Intercropping ; Maize ; Pigeon peas ; Soil penetration resistance ; Soil degradation ; Soil analysis ; Hardpans ; Soil moisture ; Tillage ; Rainfed farming ; Runoff ; Water storage ; Highlands ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Economic analysis ; Crop yield ; Soil chemicophysical properties ; Infiltration ; Sediment ; Watersheds / Ethiopia / Amhara / Robit Bata Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050790)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706121006030/pdfft?md5=1a75bfbda044c2e453917450c6e20dab&pid=1-s2.0-S0016706121006030-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050790.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050790.pdf
(8.62 MB) (8.62 MB)
Closing the yield gap and enhancing efficiency in rainfed maize production systems in Ethiopia requires urgent action in increasing the productivity of degraded agricultural land. The degradation of land through continuous compaction and decline in the organic matter has resulted in a wide-spread formation of a hardpan that restricts deep percolation, prevents plant root development, and, ultimately can lead to increased erosion. Studies exploring practical low-cost solutions to break the hardpan are limited in Ethiopia. The main objective was to evaluate soil mechanical (i.e. modified plow or Berken plow) or biological intervention (i.e. intercropping with pigeon pea) effectiveness to enhance soil water management and crop yield of rainfed maize systems whilst reducing soil erosion and runoff. Five farm fields, each including four plots with different tillage treatments, were monitored during two rainy seasons in 2016 and 2017. The treatments were: (i) farmers practice under conventional (CT) tillage; plots tilled three times using an oxen driven local plow Maresha, (ii) no-till (NT), (iii) Berken tillage (BT), plots tilled three times using an oxen pulled Berken plow, and (iv) biological (CT + Bio), taprooted pigeon pea intercropped with maize on plots conventionally tilled. Results showed that mean tillage depth was significantly deeper in the BT (28 cm) treatment compared to CT and CT + Bio (18 cm) treatments. Measured soil penetration resistance significantly decreased up to 40 cm depth under BT and maize roots reached 1.5 times deeper compared to roots measured in the CT treatment. Under BT, the estimated water storage in the root zone was estimated at 556 mm, 1.86 times higher compared to CT, 3.11 times higher compared to NT and 0.89 times higher compared to CT + Bio. The positive effects on increased water storage and root development resulted in an average increase in maize grain (i.e. 15%, 0.95 t ha- 1 ) and residual above ground biomass (0.3%, 6.4 t ha- 1 ) leading to a positive net benefit of 138 USD ha- 1 for the BT treatment compared to the CT treatment. The negative net benefit obtained under CT and CT+Bio was mainly related to the high labor cost related to plowing, weeding, planting, and fertilizer application whilst in the NT this was related to the significantly lower maize yields. The positive effects in the BT treatment, and to some extent the CT+Bio treatment show great potential for smallholder rainfed maize systems where degraded soils with hardpans and high variability in rainfall prevail.
10 Thierfelder, C.; Mhlanga, B. 2022. Short-term yield gains or long-term sustainability? – a synthesis of conservation agriculture long-term experiments in southern Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 326:107812. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107812]
Conservation agriculture ; Long-term experiments ; Sustainable intensification ; Climate-smart agriculture ; Cropping systems ; Intercropping ; Diversification ; Productivity ; Trends ; Soil fertility ; Maize ; Cowpeas ; Zero tillage ; Crop yield ; Smallholders ; Rain / Southern Africa / Malawi / Mozambique / Zambia / Zimbabwe
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050779)
(4.95 MB)
Southern Africa is likely to be heavily affected by a changing climate and the brunt will have to be shouldered by smallholder farmers in rural areas. Long-term experiments on climate-smart sustainable intensification practices offer the opportunity to evaluate and assess the potential impact of a more variable climate on crop productivity. Here, we used meta-analytic and meta-regression approaches to assess the response of different Conservation Agriculture (CA) systems across experiments as compared to conventional practices (CP) of varying experimental duration, established in trial locations of Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe under an increasingly variable climate. We assessed how different agro-environmental yield response moderators such as type of crop diversification and amount of rainfall affect maize yield responses. Smallholder farmers, often living below the poverty line, are primarily concerned about short-term gains from agriculture systems accepting loss in longer-term sustainability. We therefore aim to identify cropping systems that may provide both short-term gains and longer-term sustainability. Results show that: a) long-term trends in yield performance are a result of many factors; b) the greatest yield gains between the best performing CA and least performing treatments at each location ranged between + 34% and + 117%; c) the greatest yields were found in direct seeded rotation systems; d) type of crop diversification and type of crop used in the diversification strategy affect yield response, with rotations involving legumes being more responsive than any practice without diversification; e) CA systems gains increase with time of practice as compared to CP and these responses are more pronounced under low to moderate rainfall, and in well drained soils. We therefore conclude that crop yield response under CA is determined by many yield defining agro-environmental factors and benefits of CA become more apparent with time.
11 Diro, S.; Tesfaye, A.; Erko, B. 2022. Determinants of adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies and practices in the coffee-based farming system of Ethiopia. Agriculture and Food Security, 11:42. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-022-00385-2]
Climate-smart agriculture ; Technology ; Agricultural practices ; Farming systems ; Coffee ; Intercropping ; Minimum tillage ; Water management ; Water conservation ; Crop production ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Forage ; Households ; Multivariate analysis ; Econometrics ; Models / Ethiopia / Oromia / Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) / Gedeo / Sidama / Kafa / Sheka / Ilubabor / Jimma / West Wollega / Kellem Wollega
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051226)
https://agricultureandfoodsecurity.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40066-022-00385-2.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051226.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051226.pdf
(1.62 MB) (1.62 MB)
Objectives: This study explored the adoption status of different Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices and factors that influence their adoption for sustainable soil resource utilization in the changing climate.
Methodology: We used quantitative and qualitative primary data collected from smallholder farmers and other stakeholders from major coffee-growing regions of Ethiopia: Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP). We used the multivariate probit (MVP) model to study factors that influence the adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies, namely, manure application, minimum tillage, intercropping, use of improved forage, and physical soil and water management practices.
Results: The study result shows that 35% of farmers apply manure on their farm plots. Minimum tillage is also applied to 36% of farms. Intercropping improved forages and physical soil and water management structures are adopted by 45, 19, and 47% of farmers, respectively. The finding of the study indicates the positive and significant effect of education, extension (access to extension services and participation on field days), and ownership of communication devices specifically radio on the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.
Recommendations: Concerning bodies must pay due attention to problems affecting effective farmers-extension linkage. The positive effect of radio ownership on technology adoption also suggests the need for increased accessibility of FM radio channels to farmers to be aware of climate change and innovative agricultural technologies, practices, and information that mitigate the problem.
Methodology: We used quantitative and qualitative primary data collected from smallholder farmers and other stakeholders from major coffee-growing regions of Ethiopia: Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP). We used the multivariate probit (MVP) model to study factors that influence the adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies, namely, manure application, minimum tillage, intercropping, use of improved forage, and physical soil and water management practices.
Results: The study result shows that 35% of farmers apply manure on their farm plots. Minimum tillage is also applied to 36% of farms. Intercropping improved forages and physical soil and water management structures are adopted by 45, 19, and 47% of farmers, respectively. The finding of the study indicates the positive and significant effect of education, extension (access to extension services and participation on field days), and ownership of communication devices specifically radio on the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.
Recommendations: Concerning bodies must pay due attention to problems affecting effective farmers-extension linkage. The positive effect of radio ownership on technology adoption also suggests the need for increased accessibility of FM radio channels to farmers to be aware of climate change and innovative agricultural technologies, practices, and information that mitigate the problem.
12 Fuentes-Ponce, M. H.; Gutierrez-Diaz, J.; Flores-Macias, A.; Gonzalez-Ortega, E.; Mendoza, A. P.; Sanchez, L. M. R.; Novotny, I.; Espindola, I. P. M. 2022. Direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions under conventional, organic, and conservation agriculture. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 340:108148. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2022.108148]
Greenhouse gas emissions ; Conventional tillage ; Organic matter ; Conservation agriculture ; Reduced tillage ; Intercropping ; Carbon dioxide ; Methane ; Nitrous oxide ; Agroecosystems ; Biomass ; Fertilizers / Mexico / Cocotitlan
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051403)
(3.08 MB)
Farm activities contribute to approximately one-third of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Most of the GHG in the atmosphere comes from carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). The main objective of this research is to investigate direct and indirect GHG emission in five different agroecosystems, contrasted by tillage agricultural, farm practices (oat and maize-fava and vetch).CO2, N2O y CH4 concentrations were measured using two closed static chambers. Total biomass and production costs were determined. Indirect emissions were calculated from fuel used in producing and packing of synthetic fertilizers and herbicide, and sheep manure mineralization. The results showed that CO2 was the gas that most contributes to GHG emissions followed by the CH4 and NO2. The agrosystem with reduce tillage and synthetic inputs had the highest emissions (979 CO2 eq kg ha-1). Agrosystems using synthetic inputs (conventional and reduce tillage) showed higher indirect emissions (958 and 856 CO2 eq kg ha-1 respectively). Maize in monoculture produced more than the systems with rotation or intercropping. Reduced tillage with intercropping and organic inputs was the most expensive to produce but had the least gas emission per dollar invested and per kilogram of biomass produced while conventional tillage agrosystems with organic or synthetic inputs stored little carbon in the soil, produced less biomass per unit area and presented higher CO2 eq emissions per unit of biomass.
13 Jones, K.; Nowak, A.; Berglund, E.; Grinnell, W.; Temu, E.; Paul, B.; Renwick, L. L. R.; Steward, P.; Rosenstock, T. S.; Kimaro, A. A. 2023. Evidence supports the potential for climate-smart agriculture in Tanzania. Global Food Security, 36:100666. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2022.100666]
Climate-smart agriculture ; Mitigation ; Adaptation ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Resilience ; Food security ; Semiarid zones ; Agroecological zones ; Agroforestry ; Livestock ; Intercropping ; Crop management ; Water management ; Conservation agriculture ; Greenhouse gas emissions ; Gender ; Soil management ; Agricultural productivity / United Republic of Tanzania / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051613)
(1.21 MB)
National governments across Sub-Saharan Africa include climate-smart agriculture (CSA)—context-specific interventions that support resilience, productivity, and climate mitigation—in plans, policies, and strategies to jointly address climate change, agricultural production, and rural livelihood goals. This paper synthesizes the evidence on field-based CSA management practices generated through ten years of research led by the CGIAR in Tanzania. Results show consistent positive impacts of CSA on productivity, mixed impacts on resilience, short-term negative impacts on emissions intensity, and highly variable impacts on socioeconomic characteristics. Tanzania provides an example of how an agriculturally diverse country can use evidence of impacts, synergies, and tradeoffs to prioritize CSA activities for sustainable development.
14 Chimonyo, V. G. P.; Govender, L.; Nyathi, M.; Scheelbeek, P. F. D.; Choruma, D. J.; Mustafa, M.; Massawe, F.; Slotow, R.; Modi, A. T.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2023. Can cereal-legume intercrop systems contribute to household nutrition in semi-arid environments: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10:1060246. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1060246]
Intercropping ; Cereal crops ; Legumes ; Multiple cropping ; Water use efficiency ; Water productivity ; Nutrition ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 2 Zero hunger ; Goal 3 Good health and well-being ; Goal 12 Responsible production and consumption
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051672)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1060246/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051672.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051672.pdf
(1.35 MB) (1.35 MB)
Introduction: Intercropping cereals with legumes can intensify rainfed cereal monocropping for improved household food and nutritional security. However, there is scant literature confirming the associated nutritional benefits.
Methodology: A systematic review and meta-analysis of nutritional water productivity (NWP) and nutrient contribution (NC) of selected cereal-legume intercrop systems was conducted through literature searches in Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect databases. After the assessment, only nine articles written in English that were field experiments comprising grain cereal and legume intercrop systems were retained. Using the R statistical software (version 3.6.0), paired t-tests were used to determine if differences existed between the intercrop system and the corresponding cereal monocrop for yield (Y), water productivity (WP), NC, and NWP.
Results: The intercropped cereal or legume yield was 10 to 35% lower than that for the corresponding monocrop system. In most instances, intercropping cereals with legumes improved NY, NWP, and NC due to their added nutrients. Substantial improvements were observed for calcium (Ca), where NY, NWP, and NC improved by 658, 82, and 256%, respectively.
Discussion: Results showed that cereal-legume intercrop systems could improve nutrient yield in water-limited environments. Promoting cereal legume intercrops that feature nutrient-dense legume component crops could contribute toward addressing the SDGs of Zero Hunger (SDG 3), Good Health and Well-3 (SDG 2) and Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).
Methodology: A systematic review and meta-analysis of nutritional water productivity (NWP) and nutrient contribution (NC) of selected cereal-legume intercrop systems was conducted through literature searches in Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect databases. After the assessment, only nine articles written in English that were field experiments comprising grain cereal and legume intercrop systems were retained. Using the R statistical software (version 3.6.0), paired t-tests were used to determine if differences existed between the intercrop system and the corresponding cereal monocrop for yield (Y), water productivity (WP), NC, and NWP.
Results: The intercropped cereal or legume yield was 10 to 35% lower than that for the corresponding monocrop system. In most instances, intercropping cereals with legumes improved NY, NWP, and NC due to their added nutrients. Substantial improvements were observed for calcium (Ca), where NY, NWP, and NC improved by 658, 82, and 256%, respectively.
Discussion: Results showed that cereal-legume intercrop systems could improve nutrient yield in water-limited environments. Promoting cereal legume intercrops that feature nutrient-dense legume component crops could contribute toward addressing the SDGs of Zero Hunger (SDG 3), Good Health and Well-3 (SDG 2) and Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).
15 Mndzebele, B.; Ncube, B.; Fessehazion, M.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Modi, A. T. 2023. Assessment of the effects of NPK fertilizer on edible yield and agro-biological parameters in a cowpea–amaranth intercrop. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7:1210984. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1210984]
NPK fertilizers ; Cowpeas ; Amaranthus ; Intercropping ; Crop yield ; Cropping systems ; Yield losses ; Parameters ; Food security ; Nutrition security ; Biomass ; Nitrogen fertilizers ; Phosphate fertilizers ; Potassium ; Land use / South Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052404)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1210984/pdf?isPublishedV2=False
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052404.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052404.pdf
(0.49 MB) (497 KB)
Introduction: Estimates indicate that food and nutritional demand in sub-Saharan African nutrient-poor soils will exceed the high population demand. Vegetables such as amaranth and cowpea are key in contributing to food and nutritional security. Fertilizers are used to mitigate low nutrient levels in soils. This study aimed to investigate the yield parameters of cowpea and amaranth vegetables.
Methods: The experiment was designed with a 2 × 4 factorial treatment structure in a completely randomized design, with intercropping and fertilizer level as treatment factors and with four replications.
Results and discussion: The biomass of amaranth and cowpea increased with increased fertilizer application up to the level of 100% nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizer. A measure of land utilization showed values greater than one. Crop comparison showed that cowpea was more aggressive, had higher actual yield loss, and was highly competitive compared to amaranth. More income could be obtained from intercropping. The research shows the benefits of fertilizer application in improving the biomass of amaranth and cowpea. Overall, the application of NPK fertilizer at levels up to 100%, based on the results of this study, resulted in higher biomass accumulation and improved intercropping indices.
Methods: The experiment was designed with a 2 × 4 factorial treatment structure in a completely randomized design, with intercropping and fertilizer level as treatment factors and with four replications.
Results and discussion: The biomass of amaranth and cowpea increased with increased fertilizer application up to the level of 100% nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizer. A measure of land utilization showed values greater than one. Crop comparison showed that cowpea was more aggressive, had higher actual yield loss, and was highly competitive compared to amaranth. More income could be obtained from intercropping. The research shows the benefits of fertilizer application in improving the biomass of amaranth and cowpea. Overall, the application of NPK fertilizer at levels up to 100%, based on the results of this study, resulted in higher biomass accumulation and improved intercropping indices.
16 Agathokleous, E.; Feng, Z.; Frei, M.; Jiao, S.; Burkey, K. O. 2024. Response and adaptation of agricultural ecosystems to global changes. [Editorial]. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 362:108844. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2023.108844]
Air pollution ; Climate change ; Agroecosystems ; Earth sciences ; Vegetation ; Policies ; Crop yield ; Precipitation ; Intercropping ; Fertilizers ; Mitigation ; Adaptation
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052435)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880923005030/pdfft?md5=5b6a2afe2a3bd4bf5976d2f1a6c18eed&pid=1-s2.0-S0167880923005030-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052435.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052435.pdf
(0.39 MB) (400 KB)
In recognition of the impacts of climate change and air pollution, a special issue was prepared to address the response and adaptation of agricultural ecosystems to global changes. A total of thirteen papers were published, delving into the mechanisms underlying the effects on crops and agroecosystems and adding important insights into the modeling and adaptation of agroecosystems to global change through optimized management practices. This collection of papers has a broad relevance to numerous areas in agriculture, ecology, and environmental and earth sciences.
Powered by DB/Text WebPublisher, from
