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2 items
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Cereal yield response to conservation agriculture practices in drylands of West Africa: A quantitative synthesis
To address the decline in crop productivity in the drylands of West Africa, many initiatives have focused on combating soil degradation. Various practices including (1) parkland trees associated with crops, coppicing trees, green manure, mulching, crop rotation and intercropping, and traditional soil/water conservation have been tested. The present study attempts to provide a comprehensive, quantitative synthesis of existing reports on the effect of conservation agriculture (CA) practices on crop yield response in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal. Out of a total of 155 reports found, 63 fulfilled all the appropriate criteria to be included in the meta-analysis of the effect of various conservation agriculture practices on the yield response of maize, millet and sorghum. The study revealed significant variability in cereal yield response (and hence risk) with all the practices examined. Despite the variability, the mean effects of the six CA practices on crop yield were more positive than negative except with parkland trees.
However, for this last practice, species like Faidherbia albida exerts more positive impact on crop yield. Yield increases relative to the control were higher with green manure and mulching than with coppicing trees and parklands. Increases in yield in the six CA practices were higher on low to medium productivity sites for maize, millet and sorghum. Coppicing trees and rotations improved yields when the rainfall is >800 mm whereas the opposite happens with parkland and soilewater conservation measures. Mulching performed better when the rainfall is <600 mm. The variability (and hence yield risks) calls for more understanding of the processes and application of appropriate tree management to reduce crop yield losses while still providing products (fruits, leaves, wood, etc.) and services (soil carbon building up) for long-term sustainability of the production systems in drylands of West Africa. -
État des lieux sur l’expérience de l’Agriculture de Conservation au Niger
Le Niger est situé dans la région Sahélienne qui traverse la bande du désert du Sahara. Le pays fait partie des pays les plus pauvres du monde et possède une population de 14 millions d’habitants dont la majorité (85%) pratique l’agriculture de subsistance (République du Niger. 2008) En Afrique sud saharienne, la sécurité alimentaire demeure une préoccupation majeure. Le développement de la production agricole observé ces dix dernières années est loin d’atteindre les besoins d’une population sans cesse croissante, 239 millions sur 863 millions de personnes sont mal nourris en 2010 (FAO, 2011). Les rendements des cultures restent parmi les plus faibles du monde ; l’extension des superficies de la production céréalière durant ces 50 dernières années a atteint 60% alors que les rendements ne sont que de 40% (Challinor et al., 2007).