Grain Legumes and Green Manures for Soil Fertility in ... - cimmyt
Grain Legumes and Green Manures for Soil Fertility in ... - cimmyt
Grain Legumes and Green Manures for Soil Fertility in ... - cimmyt
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Table 4. Risk diversification <strong>in</strong>dices of alternative maize <strong>and</strong><br />
s~ghum soil fertility management technologies <strong>for</strong> male·headed<br />
households. Gw<strong>and</strong>a. Tsholotsho <strong>and</strong> Zimuto. 1990/91·2000/01<br />
Activity Gw<strong>and</strong>a ,.shelotsho Zimuto<br />
Sorghwn+ kraal manure ·4.00 ·2.30<br />
Sorghum +groundnut <strong>in</strong>tercrop ·0.92 ·1.10<br />
Sorghwn +cowpea <strong>in</strong>tercrop ·0.91 ·0.40<br />
Sorghum +18N ·0.69 ·0.55<br />
Sorgum +pit manure ·0.67 ·0.52<br />
Sorghum+9N ·0.53 ·0.31<br />
Sorghum +kraal manure +18N ·0.41 ·0.31<br />
Sorghum +cowpea rotation ·0.37 0.09<br />
Sorghum +kraal +9N ·0.36 ·0.26<br />
Sorghum +groundnut rotation ·0.25 ·0.21<br />
Maize +cowpea <strong>in</strong>tercrop ·0.14 ·0.23 0.14<br />
Maize+18N ·0.13 0.02 0.13<br />
Maize +groundnut <strong>in</strong>tercrop ·0.09 .·0.33 0.09<br />
Maize +pit manure 0.02 0.28 ·0.02<br />
Maize +kraal +9N 0.04 0.29 ·0.04<br />
maize+kraal+ 18N 0.09 0.34 ·0.09<br />
Maize +cowpea rotation 0.09 0.55 ·0.09<br />
Maize +kraal manure 0.16 0.27 ·0.16<br />
Maize +groundnut rotation 0.24 0.26 ·0.24<br />
Maize+9N 0.31 0.53 ·0.31<br />
Maize +long pigeonpea <strong>in</strong>tercrop 0.56 0.19 0.14<br />
maize +medium pigeonpea <strong>in</strong>tercrop 0.61 0.53 0.13<br />
POSB sav<strong>in</strong>gs account 0.65 0.74 0.80<br />
Maize +long pigeonpea rotation 0.89 0.74 ·0.02<br />
Maize +medium pigeonpea rotation 1.13 0.95 ·0.04<br />
Urban labor market 7.96 7.57 7.80<br />
Conclusion <strong>and</strong> Recommendations<br />
The paper evaluates the attractiveness of alternative<br />
soil fertility management technologies <strong>for</strong> adoption<br />
by farm households with vary<strong>in</strong>g resources, <strong>and</strong><br />
risk preferences. Results <strong>in</strong>dicate that maize-cowpea<br />
<strong>and</strong> maize-groundnut rotations <strong>and</strong> maize-pigeon<br />
pea <strong>in</strong>tercrops <strong>and</strong> rotations are good <strong>in</strong>vestment<br />
opportunties <strong>for</strong> diversification with traditional<br />
maize <strong>and</strong> sorghum soil-m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g practices currently<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g pursued by the majority of farm households.<br />
Consequently, these legume-based soil fertility<br />
Table 5. Risk diversification <strong>in</strong>dices of alternative maize <strong>and</strong><br />
sorghum soil fertility management technologies <strong>for</strong> de facto<br />
female·headed households. Gw<strong>and</strong>a. Tsholotsho <strong>and</strong> Zimuto.<br />
1990/91·2000/01<br />
Activity Gw<strong>and</strong>a Tsholotsho Zimuto<br />
Sorghum+ kraal manure ·3.64 ·1.52<br />
Sorghum+ groundnut <strong>in</strong>tercrop ·0.84 ·1.20<br />
Sorghum +cowpea <strong>in</strong>tercrop ·0.81 ·0.62<br />
Sorgum +pit manure ·0.60 ·0.48<br />
Sorghum +18N ·0.58 ·0.82<br />
Maize +cowpea <strong>in</strong>tercrop ·0.44 ·0.76 ·0.38<br />
Sorgbum +cowpea rotation ·0.35 ·0.16<br />
Maize +groundnut <strong>in</strong>tercrop ·0.33 ·0.72 ·2.51<br />
Sorghum +groundnut rotation ·0.32 ·0-'5<br />
Sorghum+9N ·0.31 ·0.39<br />
Sorghum +kraal manure+ 18N ·0.30 ·0.55<br />
Sorghum +kraal +9~ ·0.28 ·0.72<br />
Maize+18N ·0.26 ·0.60 ·0.18<br />
Maize +pit manure ·0.09 ·0.25 ·0.10<br />
Maize +kraal +9N ·0.05 ·0.19 ·0.03<br />
ma.ize +kraal +18N ·0.03 ·0.18 0.05<br />
Maize +cowpea rotation ·0.03 ·0.03 ·0.28<br />
Maize+kraal manure 0.01 ·0.24 ·0.12<br />
Maize +groundnut rotalion 0.08 ·0.13 ·1.14<br />
Maize+9N 0.24 0.05 0.16<br />
Maize+ long'pigeon pea <strong>in</strong>tercrop 0.49 0.52 ·0.01<br />
POSB sav<strong>in</strong>gs account 0.. 50 0.30 ·0.22<br />
maize +medium pigeonpea <strong>in</strong>tercrop 0.53 0.20 0.68<br />
Maize +long pigeonpea rotation 0.80 0.45 1.18<br />
Maize +medium pigeon pea rotation 0.99 0.76 1.34<br />
Urban labor market 8.13 7.42 8.14<br />
The risk analysis presented <strong>in</strong> this paper is a first<br />
cu~ to evaluate technologies that merit further<br />
study. In addition to meet<strong>in</strong>g requirements <strong>for</strong> risk<br />
<strong>and</strong> return, new technologies must fit with the re<br />
source boUndaries of farmers <strong>and</strong> management capabilities.<br />
Mathematical optimization provides<br />
tools <strong>for</strong> a more detailed analysis of the benefits <strong>and</strong><br />
adoption potential of the technologies under the se<br />
vere resource <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutional constra<strong>in</strong>ts faced by<br />
households <strong>in</strong> semi-arid areas.<br />
production technologies are likely to be adopted by<br />
farmers. Significant ga<strong>in</strong>s can also result from<br />
diversification <strong>in</strong>to non-farm assets such as POSB<br />
sav<strong>in</strong>gs accounts <strong>and</strong> urban employment.<br />
However, more detailed analysis us<strong>in</strong>g<br />
mathematical programm<strong>in</strong>g is needed to evaluate<br />
the· feasibilibity <strong>and</strong> sensitivity of options to<br />
changes <strong>in</strong> environmental factors.<br />
Reference<br />
Moss B.C., Weldon N.R. <strong>and</strong> Feartherstone A.M.,<br />
1991. A simple approach to evalaut<strong>in</strong>g risk<br />
diversification opportunties. Journal of American<br />
Society of Farm Managers <strong>and</strong> Rural Appraisors<br />
55:20-24.<br />
84 <strong>Gra<strong>in</strong></strong> legumes <strong>and</strong> <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Manures</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Fertility</strong> <strong>in</strong> Southern Africa