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No-till alley cropping using leguminous trees biomass: a farmer- and eco-friendly sustainable alternative to shifting cultivation in the Amazonian periphery?

Author

Listed:
  • Emanoel G. Moura

    (Agroecology Program, State University of Maranhão)

  • Sacha J. Mooney

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Lorena S. Campos

    (Agroecology Program, State University of Maranhão)

  • Keila D. O. Bastos

    (Agroecology Program, State University of Maranhão)

  • Alana C. F. Aguiar

    (Federal University of Maranhão)

  • Sarah Jewitt

    (University of Nottingham, University Park)

Abstract

Agricultural growth is essential for both alleviating poverty and feeding the population of the Brazilian Amazonian periphery, where slash-and-burn agriculture continues to support the livelihoods of between 3.5 and 4 million people. We developed a new integrated-crop-livestock-system named “​no-till in alley cropping using leguminous tree mulch​” in partnership with local communities, to replace shifting cultivation in the region. Although such technologies have proven their agronomic efficiency, they must also meet farmers’ needs. Therefore, this study aimed to capture farmers’ perceptions about how the new technology compares with conventional agricultural systems with a view to identifying barriers to the adoption of the new system. Our results indicated low levels of resistance by farmers to the new integrated-crop-livestock-system although we identified a lack of knowledge about sustainable soil management approaches like no-till systems. From an adoption point of view, this might indicate that farmers found the new technology rather complex compared to slash-and-burn and did not fully understand that it contributed to sustainable soil management. In addition, the cost of deploying the new technology was found to be a critical barrier, mainly because agricultural activity is closely linked to family-based food consumption, rather than quality improvement and value-added for sale. We concluded that there is an opportunity to replace shifting cultivation by sustainable agricultural intensification in the humid tropics. This new approach may help to overcome weaknesses which have prevented farmers from taking advantage of available ecosystem services in regions dominated by shifting cultivation such as the Brazilian Amazonian periphery.

Suggested Citation

  • Emanoel G. Moura & Sacha J. Mooney & Lorena S. Campos & Keila D. O. Bastos & Alana C. F. Aguiar & Sarah Jewitt, 2022. "No-till alley cropping using leguminous trees biomass: a farmer- and eco-friendly sustainable alternative to shifting cultivation in the Amazonian periphery?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 7195-7212, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:24:y:2022:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-021-01744-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-021-01744-y
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