QSMAS is an integrated land use management strategy embracing
principles of conservation agriculture that contribute to its
superior performance in terms of productivity, sustainability and
resilience.
QSMAS management practices leads towards efficient nutrient
cycling, improved crop water productivity, and increased and QSMAS plot: soybean (Glycine max
L.) production managed by women
sustained C assimilation and accumulation in a resilient production
system, thereby enhancing support for livelihoods in rural areas.
Under experimental conditions, QSMAS is equally effective as SB
system for the production of maize and more efficient to produce
common bean. The more dramatic effect is the increased
productivity of water in the later part of the bimodal rainy season,
A. Castro1, M. Rivera1, O. Ferreira1, J. Pavón2, E. García1, E. Amézquita3, M. when rainfall is usually irregular (dry spells on key stages of crop
Ayarza3, E. Barrios4, M. Rondón5, N. Pauli6, M.E. Baltodano1, B. Mendoza7, L.A. development) or inadequate (shorter rainy season).
Wélchez8, N. Johnson9, J. Rubiano10, S. Cook10 and I.M. Rao1 Consortium for the Integrated Management of
Soils in Central America
High natural variation in QSMAS plots (i.e. predominant vegetation,
(1)CIAT; (2) Instituto Nicaragüense de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Nicaragua; (3)Corporación
80
Slash
0 .1 4
L S D 0 .0 5 = 0 . 0 1 5
40
LSD
DMS 0.05 = 6.2
0 .6
QSMAS <2 Maize
soil properties) and marked differences on their management (e.g.
Nicaraguan farmers being trained
Runoff (mm h-1)
S la s h a n d B u rn
crop residues) demonstrates that the implementation of its
and Burn LSD 0.05 = 0.14
Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (CORPOICA), Colombia; (4)EMBRAPA, Brazil; (5)IDRC, Canada;
70 QSMAS
C ro p w a te r p ro d u c tiv ity (k g m -3 )
30
A vailable w ater content (m 3 m -3 )
S e c o n d a ry F o re s t 0 .5 Bean
60 2007 – LSD= ns LSD0.05 = 0.10
by Honduran farmers on the
(6)University of Western Australia; (7)Universidad Nacional de Agricultura (UNA), Nicaragua; (8) FAO-
principles strongly relies on criteria of individual farmers that are
0 .1 2 20 Slash &
2006 – LSD= 1.08 Burn
S o il lo s s (t h a )
establishment of QSMAS plots
-1
0 .4 QSMAS 5-7
50 2005 – LSD= 6.59
Honduras; (9) ILRI, Kenya; (10)CPWF-Basin Focal Project Coordination, Colombia
10
40
0 .1 0
0 0 .3 QSMAS >10 influenced by current and future needs of the householders.
Infiltration (mm h-1)
30 -1 0
Driving forces behind QSMAS adoption are multiple and articulated.
0 .2
20 -2 0
0 .0 8
QSMAS
The success of the system in Honduras and Nicaragua is a reflection
0 .1
10 Secondary
The knowledge generated in Honduras (Central America) by a CPWF
-3 0
Forest DMS 0.05 = 6.6
LSD
0 -4 0 0 .0
of a community-based learning process in which local people and
0 .0 0
funded Project indicated that the Quesungual Slash and Mulch Erosion: QSMAS protects soil by markedly Soil water: QSMAS improves dry season adaptation of crops through Productivity: QSMAS improves
Agroforestry System (QSMAS) can be a model production system for reducing soil losses (~7.5 times in two higher soil water availability together with reduced runoff and crop water productivity extension service providers share ideas and learn together.
years) compared to SB system. increased infiltration compared to SB. compared to SB.
implementing conservation agriculture principles to achieve sustainable food security and other 0 .5
QSMAS benefits should be increased through intensification and
ecosystem services in drought-prone areas of hillsides in the sub-humid tropics in the face of land 320
0 .4
diversification with high value components (livestock and fruit crop
C h a n g e in n u trie n t s ta tu s (m g k g )
-1
280 T o ta l N 0 .3
degradation and climate change. As a suitable option to replace the slash and burn agriculture, QSMAS options).
A v a ila b le P 0 .2
240
Slash 1 .2 3 .0
C h a n g e in S O M (% )
0 .1 and Burn
200
= SED +F L S D 0 .0 5 = 0 .2 2 +F L S D 0 .0 5 = N S
can improve smallholder livelihoods through eco-efficient use and conservation of natural resources.
0 .0
-0 .1 QSMAS Secondary 1 .0 2 .5
160
-0 .2 Forest
Participatory validation activities in Nicaragua and Colombia suggest that the principles embedded in
120
-0 .3
0 .8 2 .0
80 -0 .4
Slash = SED
QSMAS can be readily accepted by resource-poor farmers and local authorities in similar agroecosystems.
-0 .5
and Burn
Research for development activities support the recommendation of
40
-0 .6 S la s h a n d B u rn 0 .6 1 .5
0 -0 .7 QSMAS
QSMAS Secondary
QSMAS (or the application of its principles) as an option to achieve a
-0 .8 S e c o n d a ry F o re s t
-4 0 Forest 0 .4 1 .0
-0 .9
)
Soil quality: QSMAS improves soil nutrient status and soil organic
-1
number of social, agricultural and environmental benefits in rainfed
C r o p y ie ld s ( t h a
)
-1
0 .2 0 .5
C r o p y ie ld ( t h a
matter (SOM) content (0-20 cm soil depth) compared to SB system
Slash and burn (SB, Fig. 1) is a traditional form of agriculture practiced (after one year).
0 .0
1 .2
L S D 0 .0 5 = N S
3
0 .0 systems of the sub-humid tropics.
-F -F L S D 0 .0 5 = N S
by small-scale farmers in around 20% of the tropical land area (Dixon et
2005 2005
Policy implications for achieving wider impacts include enabling:
1 .0 2 .5
2006 2006
50000
Landscape in the region of Honduras
2007 2007
al., 2001). Despite the short-term benefits obtained from its use (i.e. A v e ra g e A v e ra g e
•Regional–national-local goals to protect the sustainability of
y )
S la s h a n d B u rn 0 .8 2 .0
-1
where QSMAS is practiced
QSMAS
-1
40000
source of firewood, source of nutrients for crop development, and
S e c o n d a ry F o re s t
G W P (k g C O 2 e q u iv a le n ts h a
0 .6 1 .5
agroecosystems while enhancing their functionality.
(1) Establishment of a slash and burn reduction in incidence of pests and diseases), it is recognized as an
30000
plot: cutting of forests and burning
0 .4 1 .0
•Local agricultural and developmental extension systems.
of the resulting biomass
environmentally unfriendly practice that does not guarantee food 20000
0 .2 0 .5
•Incentives to communities to adopt more sustainable and
security and may lead to a rapid resource degradation. Unfortunately, 10000
0 .0 0 .0
environmentally friendly production practices.
there are not many alternatives to SB agriculture, especially for small- 0
Honduras (2005-07): Average productivity of QSMAS is similar of •Financial mechanisms to facilitate adoption of proposed changes.
scale farmers usually forced to produce on marginal soils on sloping GHG emission: QSMAS reduces the risk (42%) for higher than in SB system (+F and -F = fertilizer and no
global warming potential (GWP) compared to
•Physical infrastructure to sustain productivity gains.
lands. fertilizer, respectively).
slash and burn (SB) system (20 year scenario). •Benefit sharing mechanisms such as the payment for environmental
In southwest Honduras, in the early 1990s experts from FAO identified services (PES).
native farming practices and worked together with farmers to develop a Estimated value of In synthesis:
production system suitable to replace the SB system in that eco-region. environmental services
• Soil-plant-atmosphere continuum: Reduced runoff, erosion, water turbidity and
Potential on the PES provided by QSMAS could enhance its acceptance in
(Honduras, 2007): countries with national objectives of protecting ecosystems in the face QSMAS plot bordered by forests
The Quesungual Slash and Mulch Agroforestry System (QSMAS, Fig. 2) is surface evaporation; and increased infiltration, soil water storage capacity and use of regenerated as result of
a smallholder production system comprising a group of technologies for US$ 2,240 per hectare green water. of climate change. They may compensate: elimination of slash and burn
(2) QSMAS plot for the the sustainable management of vegetation, soil, water and nutrients in • Soil quality: Improved aggregation, structure, biological activity, organic matter, •Reduced global warming potential (improved C capture and mitigation
considering: (i) Soil and water
production of maize
drought-prone areas of the sub-humid tropics. The system has been (runoff, infiltration, water fertility and fertilizer use efficiency. of greenhouse gas fluxes)
adopted by 6,000 farmers in 7,000 hectares in Candelaria, Honduras, holding capacity, and soil • Green house gases (GHG): Reduced global warming potential and improved C capture. •Increase of water quality and availability
losses) attributes; and (ii) C
due to its benefits including resilience even to extreme climatic events capture (soil organic carbon) • Food security: Improved crop water productivity and yields at lower inputs of labor. •Conservation of biodiversity
such as El Niño in 1997 and hurricane Mitch in 1998 (FAO, 2005). •Increase of soil quality and resilience
The main objective of this CPWF funded project was to define the key •Recuperation of degrading soils
driving forces and principles behind the social acceptance and the 1.6
Maize DMS 0.05= ns
•Mitigation of impact related to natural disasters and/or climate change
LSD
biophysical resilience of QSMAS by determining the role of the 1.4 Common bean DMS 0.05= 0.43
LSD
1.2
management components of the system and QSMAS’ capacity to sustain
Grain yield (t ha )
-1
REFERENCES: BONHAM-CARTER GF. 2002. Geographic information systems for geoscientist: Modeling with GIS. In:
1.0
crop production and alleviate water deficits on steeper slopes with high Experience over three years of on-farm 0.8
risk of soil erosion. Research activities were conducted in Honduras Merriam DF, editors. Computer Methods in the Geosciences. New York: Pergamon/Elsevier, 302-334; BONHAM-CARTER
participatory validation in Nicaragua 0.6
GF, AGTERBERG FP and WRIGHT DF. 1989. Weights of evidence modeling: a new approach to mapping mineral
(reference site), Nicaragua and Colombia (validation sites) (Fig. 3), from (Somotillo) and Colombia (Suárez) suggests 0.4
(3) Study sites potential. In Statistical Applications in the Earth Sciences, ed. Agterberg, F.P and Bonham-Carter, G.F. Geological
for QSMAS April 2005 to December 2008, to compare the following five land use that QSMAS (or its principles) will be readily
0.2
Honduras: Survey of Canada. Paper 89-9. 171-183; DIXON J, GULLIVER A and GIBBON D. 2001. Framing systems and poverty.
systems:
0.0
Reference site accepted and adopted by smallholders in Nicaragua (2005-06): QSMAS improved
Slash and Burn QSMAS
Improving farmers’ livelihoods in a changing world. FAO, Rome; FAO. 2005. El Sistema Agroforestal Quesungual: una
1= Slash-and-burn (traditional production system) similar agroecosystems (sub-humid tropics). net income (83%) compared to SB opción para el manejo de suelos en zonas secas de ladera. Sistema de Extensión Lempira, Honduras. 49p; JONES, PG,
system. DIAZ, W. and COCK JH. 2005. Homologue: A computer System for Identifying Similar Environments throughout the
2, 3 and 4= QSMAS of <2, 5-7 and >10 years old, respectively Farmer-to-farmer proved to be a useful
5= Secondary forest (reference land use system, only in Honduras) Tropical World. Version Beta a.0. CIAT, Colombia.
mechanism for QSMAS’ promotion and
SB and QSMAS were managed applying local practices to produce maize dissemination.
Nicaragua
and (Z. mays) and common bean (P. vulgaris), with and without addition of Extrapolation Domain Analysis (EDA) for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This project was partially funded by the Challenge
Colombia: fertilizers. Fertilized treatments include 49 kg N + 55 kg P ha-1 at 8-10 QSMAS: bivariate map showing potential Program on Water and Food of CGIAR. It was co-executed by the Integrated
Validation sites Management of Soil consortium (MIS) in Central America including INTA and
days after planting (DAP) and 52 kg N ha-1 at ~30 DAP for maize; and 46 areas for implementation of QSMAS across UNA, Nicaragua; ESNACIFOR, UNA and FAO, Honduras; and CIAT - Honduras,
kg N + 51 kg P ha-1 at 8-10 DAP for common bean. the Pan tropical world. Nicaragua and Colombia; Inter-institutional consortium for sustainable
agriculture in hillsides (CIPASLA), Colombia; and National University of
Here we present the research highlights that support the *EDA performed combining Bayesian Colombia - Palmira. We thank E. Humphreys, M. Fisher, M. Rajasekharan, N.
recommendation of QSMAS as a validated eco-efficient option to (Bonham Carter et al. 1989; Bonham Carter Asakawa, C. Benavides, G. Borrero, J.G. Cobo, L.F. Chávez, J. Galvis, M. del P.
achieve multiple social, agricultural and environmental benefits in 2002) and frequentist statistical models Hurtado, M. Quintero, J. Quintero, J. Ricaurte, V. Soto, M.T. Trejo, R. Vivas, A.
rainfed systems of the sub-humid tropics in the face of climate change. (Jones et al. 2005). Álvarez, O. Ayala, E. Melo and D. Vásquez for their contributions to this work.