Conservation agriculture in Zambia and Malawi; the opportunities and constraints to adoption
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This document discusses conservation agriculture practices in Zambia and Malawi based on research from Noragric. It finds that adoption of conservation agriculture has been partial, around 26-30% on average, due to various constraints including risks, labor requirements, and capital costs. Conservation agriculture techniques like planting basins increased yields over traditional tillage but required high labor. Ripping had lower labor needs than basins or plowing. The document emphasizes that ecological benefits of conservation agriculture, like increased organic matter and water infiltration, depend on recycling plant residues as mulch. It concludes full benefits require integrating fertilizers, trees, livestock, and improved grazing management with conservation agriculture systems.
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Conservation agriculture in Zambia and Malawi; the opportunities and constraints to adoption
- 1. Jens B. Aune Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric Norwegian University of Life Sciences Conservation agriculture in Zambia and Malawi - the opportunities and constraints to adoption
- 2. 2 Noragric research on conservation agriculture (CA) • Malawi (Chidedze Research Station) • Zambia (Conservaton Farming Unit, GART, University of Zambia) • Ethiopia (Hawassa University) Results presented today are based on our experiences in Zambia and Malawi
- 3. Planting basins (CFU method in Zambia) • Planting basins 30 cm long , 15 cm wide and 15 cm deep • Chaka hoe Photo: B.B. Umar
- 4. Planting basins Advantages • Increased yields (more than 100%) • Good economic return • Works well under dry conditions. • More efficient utilisation of inputs Disadvantages • High labour demand- comparable to general hoe tillage • Women find it hard to use the chaka hoe • Waterlogging under flooding conditions • Basins alone do not improve soil organic matter Source: Umar et al. 2012
- 6. Ripping Advantage • Low labour demand • Lower traction demand than ploughing • Expanding faster in Zambia than planting basins • Farmers that plough turn to ripping Disadvantage • No yield benefit compared to ploughing • Farmers unwilling to use animals in the dry season Source: Aune et al. 2012, Umar et al. 2012
- 7. Use of the planting stick (dibble stick) in Malawi -Low drudgery -Fast -Shallow tillage -Timely sowing -Mulching -Increased organic matter -N input needed Photo: Amos Ngwira
- 9. Traditional tillage Planting basins Ripping CA with mulch and trees Productivity Level of CA
- 10. Traditional tillage Planting basins Ripping CA with mulch and trees Productivity Level of CA In 2009/2010 season in Zambia the area under CA was 26% of the total cultivated area . Land area under CA for adopters in Malawi was 30% (Ngwira et al. 2014) Partial adoption
- 11. Why partial adoption of CA - It takes time to change traditions - Reduce risk. CA may work in dry years, traditional tillage in humid years - Spread of labour. CA reduces time for land preparation, but increases time for weeding. Opposite effect in traditional tillage - Capital requirements. CA is more capital demanding. Fertiliser and herbicides more in use in CA. New equipement is needed. - Tactical reasons in order to achieve continued support from CA projects
- 12. Traditional tillage Planting basins Ripping CA with mulch and trees Productivity Level of CA Increased yields and labour saving
- 13. Labour and yield benefits of CA adoption Tillage Yield kg/ha (GART experiment) Yield Kg/ha (survey) Hand hoe 4.0a 1.8a Basins 6.3b 5.2b Ripping 5.3b 2.3a Ploughing 5.5b 3.8B Source: Umar, B:B. Aune, J.B., Johnsen, F.H. and Lungu, O. 2011
- 14. Land preparation time Tillage Person days/ha Basins 24 Hand hoeing 21 Ripping 0.8 Ploughing 3.8 Source: Umar, BB, Aune, JB, Johnsen FH, Lungu IO 2012
- 15. Traditional tillage Planting basins Ripping CA with mulch and trees Productivity Level of CA Ecological benfits are connected to recycling of organic matter
- 16. Ecological benefits of recycling of organic matter in CA • 31% more organic matter in CA plots as compared to convention plots in Zambia (Thierfelder et al. 2013) • 41% more water infiltrated in CA plots with mulch in Malawi (Ngwira et al. 2012) • 10 times more earthworms per m2 in Malawi (Ngwira et al. 2012) • 50% reduction weed infestion with mulch in Malawi (4 tons/ha) (Ngwira et al. 2014 in press) • Less yield variability in CA as compared to traditional tillage (Ngwira et al. 2014 in press)
- 17. How to reap the ecological and economic benefits of CA • Increase production and produce more mulch- CA without fertilisers in not sustainable. • Recycle mulch and integrate trees • Integrate livestock in CA programs • - fodder production • - improved feeding • - grazing management
- 18. Conclusions • Partial adoption observed • There can be good reasons for partial adoption • The ecological benefits of CA are connected to the recylcing of organic matter • CA should not be promoted under the low- input label as CA without fertiliser is not beneficial.