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- W2935885386 abstract "In the semi-arid Rift Valley regions of Ethiopia, rainfed farming systems are challenged by climate variability and associated risks. Although the region has an inherent vulnerability, it holds potentials and opportunities to enhance productivity and resilience. Currently, farmers low resource capacity and largely risk-aversion attitude means these opportunities are missed and huge productivity and resilience gaps exist. In this thesis, we argued that the gap could be narrowed, and food security achieved by utilizing available resources along with resilient cropping systems and strategies. Firstly, we combined participatory action research methods with modelling information from an Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model to (i) describe farmers’ current farming systems, constraints, gaps and opportunities for improvement; and (ii) quantify the likely implications of changes in yields, risks, and trade-offs from alternative interventions. Results showed that season-to-season and within season climate variability was the major constraint to crop production. Other production constraints include low use of fertilizers, animal feed shortages during the dry season, and intensive tillage for weed control. Improving simple agronomic practices (e.g. timely sowing and weeding) were the best options for poorer farmers. For relatively better farmers, cultivar choice and adequate fertilizer use increased productivity and profitability. Another modelling scenario explored with farmers include the use of multi-purpose forage legumes (e.g. cowpea and lablab) during short-rain (250 mm), as an alternative to intensive tillage. The practice also could provide an additional biomass (1.5-3.5 t ha-1) for livestock feed and soil amelioration.Secondly, an in-depth analysis of climate data showed that the region receives normal or wet cropping seasons in two-thirds of the season and dry or risky in one third (n>30). The major source of risk was a high probability of dry spell >10 days (>68%) during Belg and tends to become minimum (<10%) in long-rains (Kiremt). Early onset or sowing opportunities could happen as early as March, however, the mean onset date is between mid-April and mid-May. The average length of growing period extends from 106-149 days for Belg sowing opportunities and 74-92 days for Kiremt sowing windows. Subsequent simulation and risk analysis with APSIM showed that Belg maize sowings were possible in 58% of seasons, with a 21-46% yield advantage over Kiremt sowings (n=34).Thirdly, we tested the hypothesis that cropping systems strategies such as using mixture of different maize cultivar types and sowing windows are likely to lead to significant gains in productivity and resilience. Accordingly, early sowing of both short and long maturing cultivar mixtures gave a yield advantage of 10-26% over sowing single cultivars. The downside risk, which is the likelihood of not producing enough maize for home consumption (e.g. 2t ha-1) was lowered by 15% when using cultivar mixtures than early maturing cultivars in all seasons. Investment in N fertilizers can further reduce this risk of food insecurity as nitrogen stress was more often limiting than moisture stress in the Rift Valley region.Finally, further analysis of trade-offs and benefits from using alternative cropping systems strategies showed that opportunity sowing of cowpea-maize (CpMz) double cropping systems during Belg (short-rains) had higher yields and water productivity than Kiremt sown continuous maize monocropping. The mean yield of CpMz was 17-23% higher than continuous short maturing maize monocropping. CpMz produced 22-36% more biomass than all systems. Belg opportunity sowing of legumes (e.g. cowpea) produced additional 2-4 t ha-1 dry matter. However, in drier years, seasonal yields in the rotation system were lower than maize monocropping. Despite this, overall productivity across multiple seasons was higher in the double cropping system. Besides, integrating legumes could be an alternative and cheap source for nitrogen, soil green cover, and soil organic matter build-up of soils of the study region. Generally, combining farmers’ information with modeling platform helps to better understand production and efficiency gaps while suggesting alternative cropping strategies for enhancing productivity and resilience of the smallholder maize-based cropping systems sustainably." @default.
- W2935885386 created "2019-04-25" @default.
- W2935885386 creator A5066094086 @default.
- W2935885386 date "2019-03-14" @default.
- W2935885386 modified "2023-09-27" @default.
- W2935885386 title "Risks and opportunities from more productive and resilient cropping system strategies in the Central and Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia" @default.
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- W2935885386 doi "https://doi.org/10.14264/uql.2019.152" @default.
- W2935885386 hasPublicationYear "2019" @default.
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