Integrated crop, soil health and livestock technologies for ecological intensification in Kongwa and Kiteto, Tanzania

Anthony KimaroICRAF

Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Malawi, 14-16 July 2015

Land Degradation Challenges in Kongwa and Kiteto

Test and validate integrated soil, crop and water management technologies to address land degradation problems and hence contribute to SI

Jumpstart Key findings in KK sites:•Fragile ecosystem with poor soil fertility and high soil erosion

Land Degradation Challenges in Kongwa and Kiteto• Improved management of land and water is a critical step

in sustainable intensification (SI) of farming systems• Limited availability of site-specific nutrient management

guidelines for semiarid zones in Tanzania undermines efforts to target technologies to biophysical and/or socio-economic conditions in which farmers operate.

• Technologies adopted under these circumstances may be risky to farmers.

• Soils in Kongwa and Kiteto districts were characterized to assess soil fertility status and drivers of land degradation so as to inform the development of integrated land management options for SI.

Theme 2 Clusters/Components• Soil Fertility Enhancing Technologies • Integrated Land and Water Management Options • Tree (Agroforestry) based technologies for SI• Livestock - Crop integration• Socio-economic Analysis and Adoption Monitoring

to guide technology scaling

Cluster 1: Biophysical Characterization of Action Sites

LDSF (Landscape) Njoro Sentinel site

LDSF: Infiltration Measurements in the field (Njoro Sentinel)

Profile pit for soil classification (0-200cm)

10km

10k

m

Soil Fertility Status in Mother Sites in KKSite Soil

ParameterRemarks (Landon)

pH 5.6 - 6.8 Medium to slight acidic

OC (%) 0.33 - 1.9 very low to low Exch. Phosphorus (mg/kg)

8-14 Low to medium

Total N (%) 0.06-0.15 Very low to lowCEC cmol (+)/kg soil 4.4 -10.2 Very low to low

Cluster 1: Biophysical baseline

Fertilizer Reccommendations for KK sites

b

ab

a a

b

c

c

a

ab

bc

0.0

1.5

3.0

4.5

6.0

0 15 30 45 60

Mai

ze g

rain

(Mg

ha-1

)

Phosphorus application rates (kg P ha-1)

20132014

b

a

ba

ba baba

b

a aa

a

b

0.0

1.5

3.0

4.5

6.0

0 20 40 60 80 120M

aize

gra

in (M

g ha

-1)

Nitrogen application rate (kg N ha-1)

20132014

Phosphorus Nitrogen

• 30 kg P/ha for Phosphorus• 60 kg N/ha for Nitrogen• Expand to include microdose and tillage x fertilizer trials

(2015-16)

• Increase efficiency of P fertilizer use via localized application at planting

• Sustain crops yield at reduced inputs, especially P

• Factorial combinations of N and P at 0, ¼, ½ and full (30 kg P/ha and 60 kg N/ha)

• Give equivalent amount in g/hill

P-Fertilizer Microdosing in KK sites: 2015-16

• Farmer groups formation and training on GAP (fertilizer, spacing, improved variety, site preparations etc.) and layout and management of demo plots

• Technologies demonstrated in 293 baby plots: Manure and fertilizer (Minjingu mazao and Yara Mila Cereals at 30 kg P/ha and 60 kg N/ha) under maize monoculture or intercropping with pigeonpea

• Follow up training during the off season on group dynamics, record keeping

Baby Plots: Scaling fertilizer and improved crop varieties

Farmers in Njoro village during a training session in Dec 2014Demo plot layout

Cluster 2: Integrated Land and Water Management

Led by ARI-Hombolo (E. Swai)

CONTROL OF SOIL EROSION IN KITETO AND KONGWA DISTRICTS

From 2012/2013 cropping season to date an attempt has been made under “Africa RISING Project” to fast track the integration of soil erosion control measure in cropping and land management systems.For effective control measures efforts have been geared towards the use of “landscape approach” through fully engagement of farming communities in the entire process of implementing the followings strategies: Application of physical and biological barriers on control of

soil erosion Assessment of the efficacy of physical barriers for erosion

control. Testing of in situ water harvesting technologies.

Application of Physical and Biological barriers on Control of Soil Erosion in KK:

Run-off plots at Mlali villageParticipatory run-off measurement at

Mlali village, Kongwa

Insitu rainwater harvesting technique at Chitego, KongwaPearl millet field with Fanya juu terrace at Laikala village, Kongwa

Maize field with Fanya juu terrace at Njoro village, Kiteto

Evaluating efficiency of physical barriers for controlling soil water erosion: 2014 & 2015

Treatments:• Bare plot (BP)-Reference• Oxen ploughing• Ox-ripping• Tied-ridging

• The percentage of rainfall lost through runoff:− 2013/2014 season: 36.4 %, 30 % and 6.7 % for conventional ox

ploughing, ox ripping and ox-ridging, respectively. • Low runoff in tied ridging reflect the ability of ponding of

water to sustain soil moisture and crop production• Overall tied-ridging consistently increased resilience of

farming systems against frequent and/or prolonged drought under semiarid climate

Efficiency of Physical Barrier for Erosion Control: Results

Tillage Effects on Soil Moisture

10 20 300.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

PLRTTR

Soil depth ( cm)

Volu

met

ric

wat

er c

onte

nt

cm3/

cm3

10 20 300.00

0.06

0.12

0.18

0.24

0.30

PL

RT

TR

Soil depth (cm)

Volu

met

ric

wat

er c

onte

nt,

cm3/

cm3

Vegetative stage Grain filling stage

• PL = Ox-ploughing• RT = Ox-ridging• TR = Ox-ripping

PL RT TR0

1

2

3

4

1.4a

2.3ab2.9b

Tillage methods

Mai

ze g

rain

( t/h

a)

Maize yield increase relative to the conventional ox-ploughing method was 64 % in ox-ripping and 107 % in ox-ridging treatments.

Effect of tillage on maize grain yield: 2013/2014

Demonstrations: Scaling up land and water Magt. technologies

Demonstrations: Scaling up soil and water Magt. technologies

• Mobilizing farmers in groups• Training key farmers on contour layout• Over 180 farmers have constructed contours for erosion

control. The contours are stabilized by trees and grass which also supply fodder and improve soil fertility

Cluster 3: Tree (Agroforestry)-based Technologies for SI• Intercropping and double legume

arrangements• Shelterbelts and boundary tree planting• Woodlots for fodder and wood supply

Agroforestry Options for SI

Maize stover(Fuelwood)

Food, FodderFuel, soil fertility

Food, FodderFuel & soil fertility

Tree Nursery

G. sepium on contours: Food,

Fodder, Fuel & Soil Fertility

Food , Fuelwood, and NRM

• Sustained livestock productivity in semiarid central Tanzania is limited by availability of quality feeds of sufficient amount, especially during the off season.

• Africa RISING is screening local species for fodder quality and introducing fast growing N-rich fodder trees/shrubs in various niches (contour bunds, double-legume, woodlots, shelterbelts) on-farm to supply supplementary high quality fodder and other benefits like fuelwood, erosion control and soil fertility improvement

• Local browse tree species have been screened for fodder quality and best species identified• Out of 180 farmers who have established contours, 51 farmers (30%) have planted trees for

stabilizing contours and providing ecosystem services identified above

Integrating trees for feeds & fuelwood supply, erosion control, and soil fertility improvement

Woodlots for fodder bank (G. sepium) and wood supply at

Molet village, Tanzania

Fodder trees (Gliricida sepium) used to stabilize soil erosion control contours at Mlali Village, Tanzania

• The long-term ICRAF trials of intercropping Gliricidia, pigeonpea and maize suggest that this double-up legume system can sustain crops production and improved soil fertility

• This system works well because the initial slow growth of pigeonpea relative to cereals minimizes competition in mixture, making pigeonpea compatible with most cereal-based systems. Also trees can be pruned during the growing season to control competition

• Africa RISING is building on this work to intensify and diversify farming systems to provide farmers with multiple products: food, fodder and fuel from maize, pigeonpea and G. sepium

• Validation and agronomic studies are also conducted to guide on the spatial arrangement of component which will optimize productivity at the farm level

Harvesting maize (see stover on the ground) from the Gliricidi-pigeonpea double legume system at Laikala, village, Tanzania

Shelterbelt and Double Legume Systems for Food, Feeds and Fuel Supply

New Shelterbelt at Molet

Spatial/Double-Legume Arrangements of Maize, PP and Gliricidia sepium

Pure 1:1 (Alternate)

2M:1PP 1M:2PP

Cluster 4: Integrated livestock and poultry management for productivity enhancement • Characterization of rangelands productivity

and grazing land management systems • Fodder/feeds quality assessment to guide

livestock and poultry feeding trials• Characterization of indigenous chicken to

select for superior ecotypes to improve productivity and income

KK Rangelands forage productivity

Grazing land CP (g/kg DM)

Elkiushbor 42

Kibaya 28Kimana 60NARCO 55PRC 56

Required 80

Elk-iushbor

NARCO PRC0

0.51

1.52

2.53

Herbage forage Yield

• Browse trees foliage are alternative sources of nutrients but less is known on their nutritive values

Bio

mas

s (t/

ha)

Species CP Species CP

Acacia spp. 100-174 Dichrostachys 154

A. senegal 205 Ximenia caffra 80

A. tortilis (pods) 160 Exotic fodder

A. mellifera 169 Gliricidia sepium 156

A. polyacantha 145 Leucaena pallida 212

A. bethanii 142 Mellia azedrach 205

Faidherbia albida 114 Leucaena spp. 231

Assessment of Nutritive Values Fodder Trees

Ecotype with superior qualities identified

Parameter Cocks Pullets/hens

Body weight (kg)

1.69 1.43

Body length (cm)

39.08 36.83

Chest Circumference (cm)

31.44 30

Shank length (cm)

9.57 8.64

Mean physical measurements (N=134)

Selection- desirable attributes

Sustainable Chicken ProductionModel

Sustainable Chick Supply (mother sites)

Increase per capita egg intake/ hatchery/income (80% hatchery success

Superior- Parent StockImproved Livelihoods

• Poultry integration in Africa RISING helps to supply manure to improve soil fertility, and provide nutrition and income to households, especially to women and children.

• Crop residues and by-products (e.g. maize bran, chuffs from maize and sunflower cake) and tree leaves (Melia spp. and Grliricidia spp.) can also be used to make high quality poultry feeds ; thus reducing post-harvest losses and recycling nutrients via manure.

• However, sustainable production of indigenous chickens is limited by poor feeding & disease management and lack of superior ecotypes. Africa RISING is addressing these challenges

• Farmers already are reporting 70 eggs production within three months. This yield is similar to the standard egg laying of 260 eggs per annum by a commercial layers’ chicken flock

Demonstrating superior ecotypes of local chickens and fodder tree leaves used as leaf meal during the 2015 field school at Mlali Village, Tanzania

Economic Appraisal of Application Fertilizer Rates

1 2 3 4 5 601234567

Benefit cost ratioGross marginMaize yield (t/ha)

Fertilizer treatments: T1:0 kg/ha PT2:7.5 kg/ha P T3:15 kg/ha PT4:30 kg/ha PT5: 45 kg/ha PT6: 60 kg/ha P

Yiel

d (t/

ha);

Gro

ss m

argi

n (T

ZS/h

a an

d B

CR

Fertilizer Rates

Highlights of Key Achievements• Developed fertilizer guidelines for semiarid Tanzania• Integrated land and water conservation techniques for

reducing runoffs by up to 80% and doubling maize yields validated and up-scaled in action sites

• Identified superior ecotypes of indigenous chicken• Potential fodder trees identified and introduced on-farm for

livestock/poultry feeds supplementation and other benefits• Graduate students training (2 theses completed, 3 in

progress)• Farmer groups formed and/or strengthened to support

scaling up of tested technologies through demonstrations• Initiated economic appraisal and monitoring adoption of

promising technologies• Conference presentations (4 posters in international conf.)