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Agronomic and economic performance of legume-legume and cereal-legume intercropping systems in Northern Tanzania

dc.contributor.authorKinyua, M.
dc.contributor.authorKihara, J.
dc.contributor.authorBekunda, M.
dc.contributor.authorBolo, P.
dc.contributor.authorMairura, F.S.
dc.contributor.authorFischer, G.
dc.contributor.authorMucheru-Muna, M.
dc.date.accessioned2023-04-25T08:22:46Z
dc.date.available2023-04-25T08:22:46Z
dc.date.issued2023-02
dc.identifier.citationKinyua, M., Kihara, J., Bekunda, M., Bolo, P., Mairura, F.S., Fischer, G. & Mucheru-Muna, M. (2023). Agronomic and economic performance of legume-legume and cereal-legume intercropping systems in Northern Tanzania. Agricultural Systems, 205: 103589, 1-13.
dc.identifier.issn0308-521X
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/8150
dc.description.abstractCONTEXT Cereal-legume intercropping, a common practice among farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), is important for crop diversification, soil fertility improvement, household nutrition and climate adaptation. However, cereals often outcompete the intercropped legumes for growth resources resulting in low legume yields. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were: i) assessing the effects of different intercropping options (crop spatial configurations) and maize crop (Zea mays L.) management innovations on productivity and economic benefits to farmers and ii) examining how farmers adapt new intercropping technologies to meet their household food security needs. METHODS The study was undertaken in six on-farm researcher-designed and managed trials in high and low rainfall agro-ecological zones of Babati District in Tanzania, during four cropping seasons (2018–2021). The cropping systems tested included a sole maize system rotated with a legume-legume intercrop (Doubled-up legume), an innovation involving two maize rows intercropped with two legume species (Mbili-Mbili), maize-legume intercrop both with and without de-topping, maize-legume intercrop (2 maize plants at 50 cm intra-space, de-topped), maize-legume system (maize with vertical leaf architecture) and a farmer practice. The Mbili-Mbili technology adaptation assessment was conducted on 225 farmers during the 2021 cropping season. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Overall, maize grain yields increased by up to 56% in improved compared to farmer intercropping practices (P ≤ 0.05). There were no significant differences in maize grain yield among the improved practices. Significantly higher pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) yields of between 71% and 113% in 2020 and between 65% and 140% in 2021 were observed under Doubled-up legume and between 63% and 124% under local farmer practices in 2020 than in the improved cereal-legume practices. Across the study period, net revenues of sole maize and Doubled-up legume rotations were both the highest and lowest relative to other intercropping options, depending on the starting phase (US$ 653 sole maize and US$ 326 legume phase starting). These were also associated with the highest variances indicating instability. Mbili-Mbili intercropping system had not only high net revenue i.e., a mean of US$623 per hectare, but also more stable. Farmers perceived that Mbili-Mbili increased food security and 96% were willing to implement the system without project support. SIGNIFICANCE Mbili-Mbili is recommended for adoption by farmers because of its potential economic benefits, food security and resilience in the current unpredictable weather and climate patterns.
dc.description.sponsorshipUnited States Agency for International Development
dc.format.extent1-13
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectLegumes
dc.subjectCropping Systems
dc.subjectGender
dc.subjectEconomics
dc.subjectTanzania
dc.subjectIntercropping
dc.subjectFarmers
dc.subjectHouseholds
dc.subjectNutrition
dc.subjectMaize
dc.subjectSoil Fertility
dc.subjectInnovation
dc.subjectTechnology
dc.titleAgronomic and economic performance of legume-legume and cereal-legume intercropping systems in Northern Tanzania
dc.typeJournal Article
cg.contributor.crpMaize
cg.contributor.affiliationAlliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.affiliationKenyatta University
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Embu
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEast Africa
cg.coverage.countryTanzania
cg.researchthemeNatural Resource Management
cg.researchthemePlant Production and Health
cg.identifier.bibtexciteidKINYUA:2023
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country institute
cg.iitasubjectAgronomy
cg.iitasubjectCrop Systems
cg.iitasubjectFood Security
cg.iitasubjectGender
cg.iitasubjectGrain Legumes
cg.iitasubjectPlant Breeding
cg.iitasubjectPlant Production
cg.iitasubjectSoil Fertility
cg.journalAgricultural Systems
cg.notesOpen Access Article; Published online: 20 Dec 2022
cg.accessibilitystatusOpen Access
cg.reviewstatusPeer Review
cg.usagerightslicenseCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 0.0)
cg.targetaudienceScientists
cg.identifier.doihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103589
cg.iitaauthor.identifierMateete Bekunda: 0000-0001-7297-9383
cg.iitaauthor.identifierGundula Fischer: 0000-0002-7658-786X
cg.futureupdate.requiredNo
cg.identifier.issue103589
cg.identifier.volume205


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