Conservation agriculture in Zambia and Malawi; the opportunities and constraints to adoption
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Transcript of Conservation agriculture in Zambia and Malawi; the opportunities and constraints to adoption
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Jens B. Aune Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Conservation agriculture in Zambia and Malawi - the opportunities and constraints to adoption
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2
Noragric research on conservation agriculture (CA)
• Malawi (Chidedze Research Station)
• Zambia (Conservaton Farming Unit, GART, University of Zambia)
• Ethiopia (Hawassa University)
Results presented today are based on our experiences in Zambia and Malawi
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Planting basins (CFU method in Zambia)
• Planting basins 30 cm long , 15 cm wide and 15 cm deep • Chaka hoe
Photo: B.B. Umar
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Planting basins
Advantages
• Increased yields (more than 100%)
• Good economic return
• Works well under dry conditions.
• More efficient utilisation of inputs
Disadvantages
• High labour demand- comparable to general hoe tillage
• Women find it hard to use the chaka hoe
• Waterlogging under flooding conditions
• Basins alone do not improve soil organic matter
Source: Umar et al. 2012
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Ripping
Photo: B.B. Umar
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Ripping
Advantage
• Low labour demand
• Lower traction demand than ploughing
• Expanding faster in Zambia than planting basins
• Farmers that plough turn to ripping
Disadvantage
• No yield benefit compared to ploughing
• Farmers unwilling to use animals in the dry season
Source: Aune et al. 2012, Umar et al. 2012
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Use of the planting stick (dibble stick) in Malawi -Low drudgery -Fast -Shallow tillage -Timely sowing -Mulching -Increased organic matter -N input needed
Photo: Amos Ngwira
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Aune and Bationo 2008
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Traditional tillage
Planting basins
Ripping
CA with mulch and trees
Pro
du
ctiv
ity
Level of CA
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Traditional tillage
Planting basins
Ripping
CA with mulch and trees
Pro
du
ctiv
ity
Level of CA
In 2009/2010 season in Zambia the area under CA was 26% of the total cultivated area . Land area under CA for adopters in Malawi was 30% (Ngwira et al. 2014)
Partial adoption
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Why partial adoption of CA
- It takes time to change traditions - Reduce risk. CA may work in dry years, traditional
tillage in humid years - Spread of labour. CA reduces time for land
preparation, but increases time for weeding. Opposite effect in traditional tillage
- Capital requirements. CA is more capital demanding. Fertiliser and herbicides more in use in CA. New equipement is needed.
- Tactical reasons in order to achieve continued support from CA projects
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Traditional tillage
Planting basins
Ripping
CA with mulch and trees
Pro
du
ctiv
ity
Level of CA
Increased yields and labour saving
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Labour and yield benefits of CA adoption
Tillage Yield kg/ha (GART experiment)
Yield Kg/ha (survey)
Hand hoe 4.0a 1.8a
Basins 6.3b 5.2b
Ripping 5.3b 2.3a
Ploughing 5.5b 3.8B
Source: Umar, B:B. Aune, J.B., Johnsen, F.H. and Lungu, O. 2011
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Land preparation time
Tillage Person days/ha
Basins 24
Hand hoeing 21
Ripping 0.8
Ploughing 3.8
Source: Umar, BB, Aune, JB, Johnsen FH, Lungu IO 2012
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Traditional tillage
Planting basins
Ripping
CA with mulch and trees
Pro
du
ctiv
ity
Level of CA
Ecological benfits are connected to recycling of organic matter
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Ecological benefits of recycling of organic matter in CA
• 31% more organic matter in CA plots as compared to convention plots in Zambia (Thierfelder et al. 2013)
• 41% more water infiltrated in CA plots with mulch in Malawi (Ngwira et al. 2012)
• 10 times more earthworms per m2 in Malawi (Ngwira et al. 2012)
• 50% reduction weed infestion with mulch in Malawi (4 tons/ha) (Ngwira et al. 2014 in press)
• Less yield variability in CA as compared to traditional tillage (Ngwira et al. 2014 in press)
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How to reap the ecological and economic benefits of CA
• Increase production and produce more mulch- CA without fertilisers in not sustainable.
• Recycle mulch and integrate trees
• Integrate livestock in CA programs
• - fodder production
• - improved feeding
• - grazing management
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Conclusions
• Partial adoption observed
• There can be good reasons for partial adoption
• The ecological benefits of CA are connected to the recylcing of organic matter
• CA should not be promoted under the low-input label as CA without fertiliser is not beneficial.