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Conservation Agriculture (CA) in Southern Africa: Longer term trends in soil quality and crop productivity By Christian Thierfelder and Isaiah Nyagumbo In collaboration with: Amos Ngwira, Ivy Ligowe, Sebastiao Famba, Ivan Cuvaca, Mwangala Sitali, Tobias Charakupa, Herbert Chipara and Sign Phiri
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IntroductionIntroduction Unreliable climatic conditions (drought) Challenging soils Increased physical, chemical and biological soil degradation Reliance on maize as staple food crop Environmental situation in southern Africa: A possible solution: Sustainable crop intensification through Conservation Agriculture (CA) ……. …. BUT widespread promotion of CA in southern Africa without scientific base has also provoked a lot of critique!
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Trial Locations in Southern Africa: Henderson Research Station, Zimbabwe (since 2004/05), 884 mm average rainfall Farmers Training Center, Monze, Zambia (since 2005/06), 748 mm average rainfall Sussundenga Research Station, Chimoio, Mozambique (since 2006/07), 1155 mm average rainfall Chitedze Research Station, Lilongwe, Malawi (since 2007/08), 920 mm average rainfall
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Treatments to focus on:
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Magoye ripper Basin planting Fitarelli jab- planter AT Direct seeder Dibble stick
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Results from the LT trials Three phases of a crop rotation (Maize- Cotton-Sunnhemp) in Monze, Zambia
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Sussundenga Monze Chitedze InfiltrationInfiltration Henderson
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Cumulative soil erosion from 2005-2011
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Soil moisture in 0-60cm, Henderson, Zimbabwe, 2009/2010
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Soil moisture in 0-60cm, Monze, Zambia, 2009/2010
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Effect of treatments on soil organic carbon in the CA LT trial in Monze FTC. 0-30 cm, Zambia, October 2005 and 2008.
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Aggregate stability (%) at Monze FTC, 2009
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Summary of maize grain yield at Henderson, Zimbabwe, 2005-2011
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Summary of maize grain yield at Monze FTC, Zambia, 2006-2011
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Summary of maize grain yield at Sussundenga, Mozambique, 2007-2011
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Summary of maize grain yield at Chitedze, Malawi, 2007-2011
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ConclusionsConclusions CA offers many opportunities for farmers in southern Africa Results from LT trials show: higher infiltration, lower soil erosion, higher soil moisture, Increased carbon and aggregate stability Higher crop performance in the longer term Benefits of CA emerge over time Rotations play a significant role in CA cropping systems
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ConclusionsConclusions More socio-economic and biophysical studies are needed to understand and overcome those challenges The CA trials are the only source of scientific longer term data in southern Africa….. …..they need to be supported (financially) and used effectively (by science)…...! Promoting CA in southern Africa has challenges: Residue retention Rotations Weed control Mindset
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Thank you very much for your attention! CA long-term trial at the Monze Farmer Training Centre, Zambia
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