Land health surveillance for four sites in Malawi

Joyce Njoloma

Introduction

Malawi falls within the Miombo forest region

Miombo woodlands are seasonally dry, deciduous, relatively open woodlands which support a fast-growing population depending primarily on subsistence farming

Figure 1. Map of LDSF sites with mean annual rainfall for Malawi.

District/Site

Population*

Population density*

(km2)

Poverty**(%)

Current Cropping practice

Kasungu-Kasu

616,085 78 30-40Maize/tobacco/ground-

nut rotation, or continuous maize

Neno-Mwan†

94,476

41 40-60 Maize, citrus

Ntchisi-Visa††

224,098 135 50-60Maize/soya/groundnut

rotation,or continuous maize

Salima-Sali 340, 327 155 50-60 Maize/cassava, cotton

Table 1. Description of the four districts.

• Malawi 2008 Census Report• **Malawi Poverty and Vulnerability Ass. 2006 †

• Neno district was created from a division of Mwanza district in 2003.• ††Visanza was an older name for Ntchisi district.

Objectives of the study

To assess land health, providing a baseline assessment of

soil physical and vegetation characteristics and condition

(health) at a landscape level,

To identify where land health may be particularly at risk in

the four LDSF sites.

Methodology

The framework used in the study was the Land Health

Surveillance draw from the scientific principles used in public

health surveillance, to measure and monitor land health

indicators (UNEP, 2012).

Preliminary results

Cluster No. Kasungu Visanza Salima Mwanza1 280 0 92.875 262.52 530 18.55 72.375 03 730 162.175 115.375 117.54 952.5 281.5 169.7 12.55 861.25 80 25.7 292.56 380 130.8 68.2 07 82.5 97.15 66.3 17.58 432.5 410.85 91.325 77.59 627.5 534.475 4.05 110

10 390 176.25 64.775 77.511 272.5 407.75 32.4 26512 22.5 388.75 62.625 287.513 330 385.775 31.45 9514 195 432.425 62 13515 620 298.75 68 016 7.5 545.35 64.925 0

Average 420 272 68 109

Table 2: Tree density

Table 3Estimated area under cultivation or management in each cluster for

each of the five blocks (names are abbreviated).Kasu Mwan Sali Visa

Cluster % area1 80 0 100 30

2 80 ND1 70 703 80 40 50 1004 90 100 10 1005 40 0 100 1006 70 ND 100 807 70 0 20 408 60 50 50 709 20 20 50 70

10 30 0 80 10011 50 0 90 6012 70 10 30 9013 50 0 40 4014 50 0 50 9015 30 ND 70 10016 60 ND 20 70

Average 2 58 18 58 761 ND=no data

Mzimba Dedza Thyolo Mulanje Salima0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

AFSP beneficiaryNon-beneficiary

Mai

ze y

ield

(t/

ha)

Maize yield (t/ha) and number of food secure months were better among beneficiaries of AFSP than non-beneficiaries

Results from the Malawi Agroforestry Food Security Program (AFSP) (2007-2011)

Results from Malawi Agroforestry Food Security Program (2012-2013)

Yield (t ha-1)

Tree species 2012 2013

Gliricidia sepium 3.6 3.6

Tephrosia vogelii 3.1 3.4

Pigeon pea 3.1 3.0

Faidherbia albida 3.1 3.1

Sesbania sesban 3.1 --

Control fields 2.7 2.8

Data from total number of 242 and 210 fields sampled in 2012 and 2013

Challenges

-Slow up-take/adoption by farmers- Tree planting is a long-term investment … farmers discount the future- Knowledge and skills in tree management- Access to planting material

-Bush fires destroying new plantings

-Free ranging livestock

-Diversity of conditions knowledge gaps about species suitability

Challenge: High within field spatial variability

Homestead: high fertility

Out field: low fertility

Out field: medium fertility

Fertility gradient

Challenge: Diversity of conditions

14

Conclusion

• LDSF work will help in fertilizer tree targeting and other tree conservation activities