Iris Publishers - World Journal of Agriculture and Soil Science (WJASS)
Yam-Based Cropping Systems Performances with Herbaceous Legumes and Chemical Fertilizers
Authorized by Raphiou Maliki PhD
In
West Africa, the traditional yam-based cropping systems (shifting cultivation
and slash-and-burn) contribute to the deforestation, land degradation and low
soil productivity. With the aim of designing more sustainable yam cropping
systems, the agronomic research organization in Benin implemented alternative
systems including herbaceous legumes (Aeschynomene histrix and Mucuna
pruriens var utilis) and chemical fertilizers.This study examines the
effect of rotations with herbaceous legumes and chemical fertilizers on yam
yields and soils, to see how consistent they are for the different farmers
within a site, and different sites. A perennial experiment was implemented for 4
years, with 2-year rotations, smallholder farmers’ traditional rotations
maize-yam or 1-year Andropogonon gayanus (natural fallow)–yam, with
rotations intercropped Aeschynomene histrix with maize-yam or
intercropped Mucuna pruriens with maize and chemical fertilizers. The
experiment was conducted with 32 farmers, eight in each site (Miniffi, Gomè,
Akpéro and Gbanlin). For each of them, we used a randomized block design with
four replicates and four crop rotation treatments. The same treatments didn’t
“work” for all 32 farmers from one year to another. The effects of treatments
on yam yields differed significantly for the different farmers within a site,
and different sites. Yam has a poor response to mineral fertilizer
applications. When natural fallow and maize as precedents were compared, yam
yield was higher after a (short) natural fallow, despite the chemical
fertilizers supply on maize. Indeed, the decrease in yam yields was slower year
after year after fertilized maize compared to natural fallow but yam yields
remained the lowest after maize.
To read more about this article: Agriculture and
Soil Science
For more Information: https://irispublishers.com/wjass/fulltext/yam-based-cropping-systems-performances-with-herbaceous-legumes.ID.000564.php
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