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Cropping Systems in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone: Implications on Soil Fertility Management over Varied Seasons

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Lessons learned from Long-term Soil Fertility Management Experiments in Africa

Abstract

One of the approaches for achieving integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) to increase food production within the Sudano-sahelian zone (SSZ) is the testing (at farm level) the different cropping systems. The most common cropping systems in this zone involve growing several crops in association as mixtures or intercrops. A synopsis of the various cropping systems practiced in the SSZ and their implications on soil fertility is given in this chapter. Cropping systems discussed include: Intercropping, relay, sequential and crop rotation. Intercropping and rotation cropping systems have proved superior in several studies, therefore, there is need to have these technologies tested on-farm with close involvement of farmers to increase adoption rates. Farmer trials are indispensable in the scaling up of technologies and can be a good pillar in strengthening ISFM approaches. Consideration of the economic benefits of the technologies will be a vital component for the success of these technologies. Thus markets are increasingly becoming part of the research process since farmers have to trade off cash crops and the excess of their food crop produce. Participatory farmer research involving produce prices, post harvest processing, storage and farmer cooperatives should be conducted and may become an important incentive for successful adoption of the already proven technologies in the SSZ.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Accra, Ghana

    A. Bationo

  2. Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE), Earth Sciences Building, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    J. Kimetu

  3. Tropical Soil Biology & Fertility Institute of International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT-TSBF), ICIPE Duduville Campus off Kasarani Road, 823-00621, Nairobi, Kenya

    J. Kihara & S. Koala

  4. SRA, Cinzana, Mali

    Z. Traore

  5. CRRA Niono, Niono, 73, Mali

    M. Bagayoko

  6. Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherche Agricolle (INERA), Programme GRN/SP-Ouest Station de Recherche Agronomique de Farakô-Ba, 910, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Washington

    V. Bado

  7. INERA, 03 BP 7192, Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso, Washington

    M. Lompo

  8. Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Accra, Ghana

    R. Tabo

Authors
  1. A. Bationo
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  2. J. Kimetu
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  3. J. Kihara
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  4. Z. Traore
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  5. M. Bagayoko
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  6. V. Bado
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  7. M. Lompo
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  8. R. Tabo
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  9. S. Koala
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Bationo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Soil Health Program, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Afric, Agostino Neto Road, Airport Res. Area 6, Accra, Ghana

    Andre Bationo

  2. , African Network for Soil Biology and Fer, Tropical Soil Biology & Fertility Inst., c/o ICRAF, Off UN Avenue, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya

    Boaz Waswa

  3. Inst. International Centre for Tropical, Agriculture (TSBF-CIAT), Tropical Soil Biology & Fertility, Nairobi, Kenya

    Job Kihara

  4. CIAT-TSBF, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya

    Ivan Adolwa

  5. CIAT-TSBF, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya

    Bernard Vanlauwe

  6. CIAT-TSBF, United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya

    Koala Saidou

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Bationo, A. et al. (2012). Cropping Systems in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone: Implications on Soil Fertility Management over Varied Seasons. In: Bationo, A., Waswa, B., Kihara, J., Adolwa, I., Vanlauwe, B., Saidou, K. (eds) Lessons learned from Long-term Soil Fertility Management Experiments in Africa. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2938-4_8

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