eGlobal CA-CoP CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management


Dear Subscribers,

Please see herebelow the October Newsletter from Cornell -- Conservation Agriculture Scoopit Research Update.

Thank you Professor Hobbs for sharing.

Apologies for any cross-posting.

Amir Kassam

Moderator

Global CA-CoP

e-mail: [log in to unmask]

URL: http://www.fao.org/conservation-agriculture

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Peter Hobbs <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2020 at 16:05
Subject: October newsletter
To: Amir Kassam <[log in to unmask]>


Dear Amir: Here is our October 2020 Conservation Agriculture Scoopit Research Update. You can also view online at:


Can you send this out to people who get your list serve material? The hard copy is below. Many thanks for helping to distribute this. Peter

An easier link to see all the research papers on CA is as follows:

See our full research database at:


Also, visit our main website at http://soilhealth.org for news and other CA information.

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This paper presents results from a study done in the sub-humid and semi-arid location of Kenya, focusing on the effects of CA- and/or ISFM-based practices on maize yield on farmer fields.  Maize grain yield increase compared to the control was highest under ISFM in the low fertility fields in both locations and all seasons. The higher SWC observed under NTR and NTRM was related to no tillage with residue retention while under CTM it was related to improved soil organic matter through manure addition. The high NUE under CA was attributed to the placement of urea in the planting holes while maintaining residue on the soil surface. The low NUE under NTRM was linked to fertilizer N immobilization. Lastly, from the biomass yield, our study showed that monocrop maize under NTR requires a kick-starting by an ISFM-based practice in the low fertility fields of the semi-arid region.
This research letter assesses and compares on-farm effects of different practices related to the three pillars of CA on maize yields under ENSO-driven rainfall variability in Kenya and Malawi. Yields increased by 250kg on average in dry years in Malawi and by 700kg in wet years in Kenya but had no affect in dry years in Kenya. Ground cover made a positive impact in dry years in Malawi but had no affect in wet or dry years in Kenya where mixed crop livestock systems limited this practice. Rotation made positive impacts in Kenya in wet and dry years where maize-legume systems are practiced but not in Malawi  where farms are too small to practice rotation. The letter concludes that isolated CA techniques can have positive effects on yields even after only a few years of practice under variable rainfall conditions. Also that both full and partial adoption of CA practices should be supported in areas where climate change is leading to more variable rainfall conditions.



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