Aims: The present
study investigated the sustainable climate-smart cropping combinations for the
integrated production of crops and livestock.
Background: To
improve the productivity of both crops and livestock on smallholder farms,
there is a need for the development of integrated farming systems that promote
the sustainable use of locally available resources. This can address
impediments associated with increasing land degradation and poor productivity
of livestock and rural farming enterprises as a result of climate change
vulnerabilities.
Study Design: The
mother-baby trial design was used, the mother trial being an on-station
experiment and the on-farm being a baby trial. The experiment was arranged as a
split-plot design. The main plots were 3 types of soil amendments; cattle
manure, fertilizer and a control. The subplots were eight (8) crop
combinations, arising from velvet bean, cowpea, Rhodes grass and ryegrass.
Place and Duration of
Study: The on-station field experiment was located at the Liempe farm of
the University of Zambia, in Chongwe district. The on-farm experiments were
laid in the Mazabuka and Chibombo districts of Zambia for two consecutive
seasons, 2016/17 and 2017/18 cropping seasons.
Methodology: The
maize test crop's variable performance served as the basis for measuring the
cropping combination responses. Analysis of variance was used to assess the
performance of the "crop combination" and soil amendment type. Means
were separated using Fisher-protected Least Significant Difference (LSD) at α =
0.05. Principal component analysis (PCA), was also undertaken to further
understand responses among crop combinations. Farmers' reactions arising from
experimental implementation were qualitatively analysed using content analysis.
Results:
Significant differences (P< 0.05) across cropping combinations on measured
variables (for maize test crop) were exhibited among soil amendment types at an
on-station trial during the 2017/ 18 season. Fertilizer soil amendment type was
the best performer followed by manure and the control. Significant differences
(P< 0.05) were also obtained among crop combinations across soil amendment
types in all experimental sites. Crop combinations with velvet beans performed
better than others. Qualitative grass inspection showed that Rhodes grass was a
better performer than ryegrass. The observation of fewer maize being attacked
by termites in crop combinations with velvet may imply that soils in velvet
bean plots were relatively wetter. The visual appearance of soils in velvet bean
plots compared to other plots confirmed that they were indeed wet.
Conclusion: Maize
grown in combination with legumes particularly velvet beans and Rhodes grass is
a viable option as a smallholder farming practice in a changing climate. As a
policy guide in sub-Saharan Africa, it’s advisable to recommend and promote the
intercropping package of maize, velvet bean and Rhodes grass. This can cushion
against or minimize maize yield losses in case of adverse weather conditions,
in addition to providing animal feed from Rhodes grass and velvet bean.
Author(s)details:-
Langa Tembo
Department of Plant Science, University of Zambia, P.O. Box-32379, Lusaka,
Zambia.
Lydia M. Chabala
Department of Soil Science, University of Zambia, P.O. Box-32379, Lusaka,
Zambia.
Pharaoh C. Sianagama
Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Natural Resource
Management, Palabana University, P. O. Box-50199, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia.
Please See the book
here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/racas/v9/256
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