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Planting date and yield benefits from conservation agriculture practices across Southern Africa

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  • Nyagumbo, Isaiah
  • Mkuhlani, Siyabusa
  • Mupangwa, Walter
  • Rodriguez, Daniel

Abstract

Managing production risks under high rainfall variability remains a research priority in Southern Africa. In this region, conservation agriculture (CA) has been promoted as useful set of principles that could improve farmers' resilience to climate variability and change. However, matching practices to agro-ecological and farmers' socio-economic conditions remain contentious. Here we combine empirical data and results from a cropping system model to quantify benefits and trade-offs, in terms of sowing opportunity, yield, and yield variability, from adopting CA practices. We hypothesized that CA practices would require less labour, allow farmers to plant earlier, at times closer to optimum planting times and consequently result in higher maize yields.

Suggested Citation

  • Nyagumbo, Isaiah & Mkuhlani, Siyabusa & Mupangwa, Walter & Rodriguez, Daniel, 2017. "Planting date and yield benefits from conservation agriculture practices across Southern Africa," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 21-33.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:150:y:2017:i:c:p:21-33
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2016.09.016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Milgroom, J. & Giller, K.E., 2013. "Courting the rain: Rethinking seasonality and adaptation to recurrent drought in semi-arid southern Africa," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 91-104.
    2. Roxburgh, Caspar W. & Rodriguez, Daniel, 2016. "Ex-ante analysis of opportunities for the sustainable intensification of maize production in Mozambique," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 9-22.
    3. Mazvimavi, Kizito & Twomlow, Steve, 2009. "Socioeconomic and institutional factors influencing adoption of conservation farming by vulnerable households in Zimbabwe," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 101(1-2), pages 20-29, June.
    4. N. Fauchereau & S. Trzaska & M. Rouault & Y. Richard, 2003. "Rainfall Variability and Changes in Southern Africa during the 20th Century in the Global Warming Context," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 29(2), pages 139-154, June.
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    1. Saliou Niassy & Mawufe Komi Agbodzavu & Bester Tawona Mudereri & Donwell Kamalongo & Ivy Ligowe & Girma Hailu & Emily Kimathi & Zwide Jere & Nathan Ochatum & Jimmy Pittchar & Menale Kassie & Zeyaur Kh, 2022. "Performance of Push–Pull Technology in Low-Fertility Soils under Conventional and Conservation Agriculture Farming Systems in Malawi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Raymond Mugandani & Paramu Mafongoya, 2021. "The 5As: assessing access to animal-drawn conservation agriculture planting equipment by smallholder farmers," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 4881-4898, April.
    3. Pouria Ataei & Hassan Sadighi & Mohammad Chizari & Enayat Abbasi, 2020. "In-depth content analysis of conservation agriculture training programs in Iran based on sustainability dimensions," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 7215-7237, December.
    4. Raymond Mugandani & Liboster Mwadzingeni & Paramu Mafongoya, 2021. "Contribution of Conservation Agriculture to Soil Security," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-11, September.
    5. Komarek, Adam M. & Kwon, Hoyoung & Haile, Beliyou & Thierfelder, Christian & Mutenje, Munyaradzi J. & Azzarri, Carlo, 2019. "From plot to scale: ex-ante assessment of conservation agriculture in Zambia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 504-518.

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