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    Perennial grass ley rotations with annual crops in tropical Africa: a review

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    Journal Article (707.9Kb)
    Date
    2021
    Author
    Wortmann, C.S.
    Bilgo, A.
    Kaizzi, C.K.
    Liben, F.
    Garba, M.
    Maman, N.
    Serme, I.
    Stewart, Z.P.
    Type
    Journal Article
    Review Status
    Peer Review
    Target Audience
    Scientists
    Metadata
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    Abstract/Description
    Rotation of grass ley with periods of annual crop production can be a means to increased farming system productivity, sustainability, and profitability. This research review offers interpretations of rotation research results for future African agriculture. Some rotation studies were with naturally generated and severely over-grazed fallows consisting primarily of annual plant species but other studies were with planted and well-managed perennial grass ley. Generally, the rotations increased annual crop yields with soil improvement. System benefits were similar or greater for ley compared with fallow with generally higher fodder yields with ley. Surface crusting of sandy soil in the Sahel is a major concern that may be worsened by fallow due to the deposition of clay and silt particles. Ley and fallow were terminated in all studies with inversion plow tillage with more tillage for subsequent crops while the rotation benefits may be greater with less tillage. Most studies did not have fertilizer use but annual crop yield response to fertilizer was greatly increased following ley in one study and with no system by fertilizer interaction effect in three studies. The profitability of ley rotations will vary with fodder demand which is rapidly increasing, especially near urban areas. Strip cropping, for example, alternate ley with annual crop strips of 5–20 m width and rotation cycles of 6–10 yr, may often be optimal for erosion control and sediment trapping, protection from uncontrolled grazing, and nearby supply of vegetative planting material for ley re-establishment. Rotation management can be improved through experiential learning and experimentation.
    Acknowledgements
    Manuscript preparation was made possible with the support of the American People provided to the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Sustainable Intensification through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the U.S. Government. Program activities are funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement no. AID-OAA-L-14-00006.
    https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20634
    Multi standard citation
    Permanent link to this item
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/7777
    IITA Authors ORCID
    Garba Mamanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3377-3064
    Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
    https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20634
    IITA Subjects
    Agronomy; Crop Systems; Food Systems; Plant Breeding; Plant Production
    Agrovoc Terms
    Grasses; Perennials; Crops; Tropical Africa; Farming Systems
    Regions
    Africa; East Africa
    Countries
    Uganda
    Hubs
    Headquarters and Western Africa Hub
    Journals
    Agronomy Journal
    Collections
    • Journal and Journal Articles4835
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