Browsing by Author "Tittonell, Pablo"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Comparative performance of conservation agriculture and current smallholder farming practices in semi-arid Zimbabwe
    Baudron, Frederic; Tittonell, Pablo; Corbeels, Marc; Letourmy, P.; Giller, Ken (Elsevier B.V., 2012)
    Conservation agriculture is promoted in sub-Saharan Africa as a means to improve water use efficiency in an region with variable or poorly distributed rainfall. However, other environmental and social factors may contribute to the success or failure of implementation and practice. The purpose of this study was to compare on-farm conservation agriculture trials of cotton and sorghum with production practices currently in place. Two experiments at multiple locations were executed. The first involved an unfertilized cotton-sorghum rotation (three consecutive seasons), while the second examined cotton production with fertilizer provided on credit (two consecutive seasons). Mulches were produced on site to further emulate conditions present for farmers of the Mid-Zambezi valley. Farmers' perceptions of the technologies involved were also studied. CA was found to have no effect on cotton yields during the first two seasons, which received average or above average rainfall, but was found to be detrimental to yields during a third season of decreased rainfall. Additionally, greater run-off was found in on-farm CA trials in coarser soils than fine-textured soils. Farmers perceived that plowing was necessary to avoid soil crusting and compaction in drier years while CA was beneficial during wetter seasons. The authors site poor mulch coverage as a factor in this result and recommend legume intercropping as part of the solution.
  • Conservation agriculture and smallholder farming in Africa: The heretics' view
    Giller, Ken; Witter, Ernst; Corbeels, Marc; Tittonell, Pablo (Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier B.V., 2009)
    This paper critically analyzes the claims of successful conservation agriculture adoption (CA). CA is said to increase yields, to reduce labor requirements, improve soil fertility and reduce erosion. Yet, according to the authors the empirical evidence is not clear and consistent on many of those points. In sub-Saharan Africa the available evidence suggests virtually no uptake of CA. The authors conclude with a need for critical assessment of the ecological and socio-economic conditions for which CA is best suited.
  • Tailoring conservation agriculture technologies to West Africa semi-arid zones: Building on traditional local practices for soil restoration.
    Lahmar, R.; Bationo, B. A.; Lamso, N. D.; Guéro, Y.; Tittonell, Pablo (Elsevier B.V., 2011)
    Many obstacles stand in the way of Conservation Agriculture (CA) adoption in the West African Sahel. These include low amounts of organic resources for building biomass as well as competition for crop residues from livestock. In this article, the authors argue that complementing CA practices with traditional farming practices, such as zaï and intercropping with native evergreen woody shrubs, is the most effective strategy for soil rehabilitation and the development of cropping systems suited to the Sahel.
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    Tailoring Conservation Agriculture to Local Contexts and Conditions of Smallholder Farmers in Africa
    Corbeels, Marc; Triomphe, B.; Tittonell, Pablo; Affholder, F.; Lahmar, R.; Scopel, E.; Alary, V.; Jourdain, D. (2010)
    This presentation provides an overview of the need for and challenges to adapting Conservation Agriculture practices to local conditions and social context in Sub-Saharan Africa. Major constraints addressed are start-up costs coupled with longer term yield increases, poor access to markets, and the need for capacity building prior to implementation.