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    The ability to fix N is not the only key to delivery of the benefits of BNF to farmers: experience of IITA in the savannas of Africa

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    Date
    2004
    Author
    Carsky, R.
    Sanginga, N.
    Schulz, S.
    Douthwaite, Boru
    Manyong, Victor M.
    Diels, J.
    Vanlauwe, B.
    Keatinge, J.D.H.
    Type
    Book Chapter
    Review Status
    Peer Review
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract/Description
    The IITA in its research for sustainable soil fertility management has passed through several stages during which legume-based systems were always at the forefront. Alley cropping has N yields of more than 200 kg ha-1 with 50% N2 fixation. In the case of Mucuna cover cropping, the ecological benefit was unequivocal, with more than 100 kg ha' of N2 fixed and consistently positive effects on crop yields. But adoption by farmers has been too low to bring the benefit of BNF to farm households. Based on these experiences, we have proposed increased emphasis on systems based on cowpea and soybean rotation because of their high adoptability although the benefits to the soil are small compared with Mucuna fallows and alley farming. Besides high protein grain production, cowpea and soybean rotation reduced densities of Striga hermonthica by 50% in farmer-managed trials and increased net benefits to farmers. Cover cropping and agroforestry systems can also be used for soil fertility management, but only if their adoptability increases by providing products needed by farmers.
    Permanent link to this item
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/6289
    IITA Subjects
    Soil Fertility; Plant Diseases; Plant Health; Disease Control; Cowpea; Soybean
    Agrovoc Terms
    Soil Fertility; Mucuna; Striga Hermonthica; Agroforestry; Cowpeas; Soybeans; Farmers; Biological Nitrogen Fixation
    Regions
    Africa; West Africa
    Countries
    Nigeria
    Collections
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