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  Shifting focus from external to in situ organic resources – The redesign of four tropical long-term experiments 

  Laub, M.; Corbeels, M.; Ndungu, S.M.; Mucheru-Muna, M.W.; Mugendi, D.; Yegon, R.; Waswa, W.; Vanlauwe, B.; Six, J. (2024-04-30)

  Long-term experiments (LTEs) are critical for evaluating strategies that can maintain or increase crop yields, soil fertility and soil organic carbon (SOC), and help adapt to climate change. Yet, scientific knowledge is advancing and research questions are evolving. Therefore, it is important to review the objectives of LTEs over time. A change in their design may be necessary to keep the experimental treatments scientifically interesting, innovative, and relevant in the context of evolving ...
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  Impact of conservation farming practices on Aspergillus population density, peanut aflatoxin level, and exposure risk in Zambia 

  Akello, J.; Alamu, E.O.; Mwila, C.M.; Kachapulula, P.W.; Mukanga, M.; Njapau, H.; Chikoye, D.; Ortega-Beltran, A.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2024-01-30)

  Aflatoxin contamination in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) by aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus spp. is a serious problem worldwide affecting human health and restricting trade. Recently, conservation agriculture practices such as minimum tillage, crop rotation, soil surface cover, intercropping, and planting in basins alongside trees that enhance soil fertility, have been introduced in Zambia as tools to conserve soil moisture, increase peanut yield, and reduce the risk of aflatoxin contamination. ...
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  Diospyros barteri Hiern (Ebenaceae): new records for the vascular flora of Benin 

  Dassou, G.H.; Adomou, A.C.; Kpétikou, C.G.; Neuenschwander, P. (2024-05-22)

  Diospyros barteri was recorded for the first time from Dodja, a sacred forest in the Commune of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. We provide a detailed description, illustration, habitat, ecology, flowering period, and population size of this species. These occurrences fill a gap in the distribution of the species in the Dahomey-Gap territory. Our new records show the importance of botanical surveys in sacred forests which are hotspots of biodiversity in the country. However, sacred forests are unfortunately ...
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  Shade tree functional traits drive critical ecosystem services in cocoa agroforestry systems 

  Addo-Danso, S.D.; Asare, R.; Tettey, A.; Schmidt, J.E.; Sauvadet, M.; Coulis, M.; Belliard, N.; Isaac, M.E. (2024-09-15)

  The inclusion of shade trees into cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) systems can generate livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers. Yet, there is the need to examine the ecological context within which shade trees, and their functional traits, have a positive impact on ecosystem services in cocoa systems. Here, we used a network of farms of similar aged hybrid cocoa, in a nested design consisting of agroforestry or monoculture management, on three initial soil quality levels (poor, moderate ...
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  Assessing the effects of plant density and nitrogen on millet yield in Southern Niger using the CERES‑millet model 

  Garba, M.; Kamara, A.; Mohamed, F.S.; Tofa, A.; Mahamane, S.; Salissou, H.; Kapran, B.I.; Abdoulaye, T.; Garba, I.I. (2024-06-06)

  Background The dryland production environments in Niger Republic (Niger) generate variable crop production risks that reduce crop yields and increase regional food insecurity. Optimal combinations of crop varieties and management are needed to maximize crop water-limited yields in these environments. Methods In this study, we calibrated and validated the CERES-Millet model using data from field experiments. Seasonal analysis (1984–2020) was carried out in 18 selected sites across the three ...

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