Research Highlights on Conservation Research Highlights on Conservation Agriculture run by CIMMYT in AfricaAgriculture run by CIMMYT in Africa

By: Christian ThierfelderBy: Christian Thierfelder

The Challenges:The Challenges:

CIMMYT‘s work on CA in East and Southern CIMMYT‘s work on CA in East and Southern AfricaAfrica

● Ongoing research since 2004● Major target countries, Ethiopia,

Kenia, Tanzania - Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe

● Adaptive research on CA systems in 444 target communities

● Strategic research on 24 research locations

● Partnership approach with relevant NARES and NGOs

•Basin planting

•Jab-planter •AT Direct seeder

•Dibble stick

•Hoe-planter

•Magoye ripper

New Ideas for Africa....?New Ideas for Africa....?

We do agronomic research on…We do agronomic research on…● Crop livestock interaction

Residue level trials, relay cropping, alternative fodder strategies, intercropping trials● Weed management

Weed control strategy trials, effects of GMCC on weeds, herbicide trials● CA systems trials

Testing different CA systems under different agro-ecologies● Variety trials under CA

Performance of maize varieties under CA● CA long-term trials● Adaptation to climate change

modelling of longer term impacts

Socio-economic research focusses on..Socio-economic research focusses on..● Adoption monitoring● Economic evaluation of CA systems● Capturing labour in different CA systems● Analyzing the effects of CA on Gender● Analysis of innovation systems and value

chains● Defining farm typologies for better targeting

of technologies – recommendation domains!

Key results from 2013/2014……Key results from 2013/2014……

Longer term maize grain yields on farmers Longer term maize grain yields on farmers fields in Zambia - Monzefields in Zambia - Monze

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Longer term maize grain yields on farmers Longer term maize grain yields on farmers fields in Malomwe, Mozambiquefields in Malomwe, Mozambique

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Longer term maize grain yields on farmers Longer term maize grain yields on farmers fields in Malawi - Lemufields in Malawi - Lemu

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Regional perspective – Southern Africa, 80% positive maize yield responses to CA

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Manual direct seeding, MalawiManual direct seeding, intercrop., Malawi

Ripline seeding, ZimbabweDirect seeding Zimbabwe

Thierfelder, C., Wall, P.C., 2009. Effects of conservation agriculture techniques on infiltration and soil water content in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Soil and Tillage Research 105, 217-227.

Thierfelder, C., Wall, P.C., 2010. Investigating Conservation Agriculture (CA) Systems in Zambia and Zimbabwe to Mitigate Future Effects of Climate Change. Journal of Crop Improvement 24, 113-121.

Thierfelder, C., Wall, P.C., 2010. Rotations in conservation agriculture systems of Zambia: Effects on soil quality and water relations. Experimental Agriculture 46, 309-325.

Thierfelder, C., Wall, P.C., 2011. Reducing the Risk of Crop Failure for Smallholder Farmers in Africa through the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture, In: Bationo, A., Waswa, B., Okeyo, J.M.M., Maina, F., Kihara, J.M. (Eds.), Innovations as Key to the Green Revolution in Africa. Springer, Netherlands, pp. 1269-1277.

Thierfelder, C., Wall, P.C., 2012. Effects of conservation agriculture on soil quality and productivity in contrasting agro-ecological environments of Zimbabwe. Soil Use and Management 28, 209-220

Ngwira, A.R., Thierfelder, C., Lambert, D.M., 2012. Conservation agriculture systems for Malawian smallholder farmers: long-term effects on crop productivity, profitability and soil quality. Ren. Agriculture and Food Systems FirstView, 1-14.

Thierfelder, C., Cheesman, S., Rusinamhodzi, L., 2012. A comparative analysis of conservation agriculture systems: Benefits and challenges of rotations and intercropping in Zimbabwe. Field Crops Research 137, 237-250.

Johansen, C., Haque, M.E., Bell, R.W., Thierfelder, C., Esdaile, R.J., 2012. Conservation agriculture for small holder rainfed farming: Opportunities and constraints of new mechanized seeding systems. Field Crops Research 132, 18-32.

Sims, B.G., Thierfelder, C., Kienzle, J., Friedrich, T., Kassam, A., 2012. Development of the conservation agriculture equipment industry in sub-Saharan Africa. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 28, 813-823.

Ngwira, A.R., Thierfelder, C., Eash, N., Lambert, D.M., 2013. Risk and maize-based cropping systems for smallholder Malawi farmers using conservation agriculture technologies. Experimental Agriculture FirstView, 1-21.

Thierfelder, C., Cheesman, S., Rusinamhodzi, L., 2013. Benefits and challenges of crop rotations in maize- based conservation agriculture (CA) cropping systems of southern Africa. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 1-17.

Thierfelder, C., Mwila, M., Rusinamhodzi, L., 2013. Conservation agriculture in eastern and southern provinces of Zambia: Long-term effects on soil quality and maize productivity. Soil and Tillage Research 126, 246-258. Thierfelder, C., Chisui, J.L., Gama, M., Cheesman, S., Jere, Z.D., Bunderson, W.T., Ngwira, A.R., Eash, N.S., Rusinamhodzi, L., 2013. Maize-based conservation agriculture systems in Malawi: Long-term trends in productivity. Field Crop Research 142, 47-57.

Thierfelder, C., Mombeyarara, T., Mango, N., Rusinamhodzi, L., 2013. Integration of conservation agriculture in smallholder farming systems of southern Africa: identification of key entry points. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 1-14.

Wall, P.C., Thierfelder, C., Ngwira, A., Govaerts, B., Nyagumbo, I., Baudron, F., 2013. Conservation Agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa. In: Jat, R.A., Sahrawat, K.L., Kassam , A.H. (Eds.), Conservation Agriculture: Global Prospects and Challenges. CABI, Wallingford Oxfordshire OX10 8DE, UK.

Publications on CA benefits 2009-2014Publications on CA benefits 2009-2014

Publications on CA benefits 2009-2014Publications on CA benefits 2009-2014Cairns, J.E., Hellin, J., Sonder, K., Araus, J.L., MacRobert, J.F., Thierfelder, C., Prasanna, B.M., 2013. Adapting maize production to climate change in sub-

Saharan Africa. Food Security, 1-16.Muoni, T., Rusinamhodzi, L., Thierfelder, C., 2013. Weed control in conservation agriculture systems of Zimbabwe: identifying economical best strategies.

Crop protection 53, 23-28.Mupangwa, W., Thierfelder, C., 2013. Intensification of conservation agriculture systems for increased livestock feed and maize production in Zimbabwe.

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 1-15.Thierfelder, C. Matemba-Mutasa, R., Rusinamhodzi, L.2014. Yield response of maize (Zea mays L.) to conservation agriculture cropping system in

Southern Africa. Submitted to Soil and Tillage Research Thierfelder, C. Mutenje, M., Mujeyi, M., Mupangwa W., 2014. Where is the limit? Lessons learned from long-term conservation agriculture research in

Zimuto Communal Area, Zimbabwe. Submitted to Food SecurityNgwira, A., Aune, J.B., Thierfelder, C., 2014. On-farm evaluation of the effects of principles and components of conservation agriculture on maize yield

and weed biomass in Malawi. Experimental Agriculture, 1-20.Ngwira, A., Aune, J.B., Thierfelder, C., 2014. DSSAT modelling of conservation agriculture maize response to climate change in Malawi. Soil and Tillage

Research 143, 85-94.Muoni, T., Rusinamhodzi, L., Mabasa, S., Rugare, J.T., Thierfelder, C., 2014. Does the Use of Atrazine in Maize Grown Under Conservation Agriculture

Adversely Affect Soybean Productivity in Maize-Soybean Rotation in Zimbabwe? Journal of Agricultural Science 6, 294-303.Muoni, T., Rusinamhodzi, L., Mabasa, S., Rugare, J.T., Thierfelder, C., 2014. Effect of herbicide application on weed flora under conservation agriculture in

Zimbabwe. Accepted for publication in Crop protection.Mhlanga B., Cheesman S., Maasdorp, B., Mupangwa W., Thierfelder, C. 2014. Contribution of cover crops to the productivity of maize-based conservation

agriculture systems in Zimbabwe. Final draft to International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability.Mhlanga B., Cheesman S., Maasdorp, B., Muoni T., Mabasa S., Mangosho E. Mupangwa W., Thierfelder, C. 2014. Weed community responses to

rotations with cover crops in maize-based conservation agriculture systems of Zimbabwe. Final draft for Crop protection.Thierfelder, C., Rusinamhodzi, L., Ngwira, A.R., Mupangwa, W., Nyagumbo, I., Kassie, G.T., Cairns, J.E., 2014. Conservation agriculture in Southern Africa:

advances in knowledge. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 1-21.Thierfelder C., Rusinamhodzi L., Setimela, P., Eash, N., and Walker, F., 2014. Combining conservation agriculture and drought-tolerant open-pollinated

maize varieties to adapt against climate change in central Mozambique. Submitted to Regional Environmental ChangeMupangwa, W, Thierfelder C., Ngwira A. 2014. Fertilizer application in smallholder farming of southern Africa: finding the best strategy in mixed cereal-

legume conservation agriculture (CA) systems. Submitted to Nutrient Cycling in Agro-ecosystems.Thierfelder, C 1, Bunderson, WT2 and Mupangwa W. 2014. Lessons from long-term Conservation Agriculture Research in Southern Africa: Examples from

Malawi and Zimbabwe. Paper presented at the 1st African Congress of Conservation Agriculture, Lusaka, ZambiaThierfelder, C., Mupangwa, W., 2014. Identifying new Sustainable Intensification Pathways for Smallholder Farmers in Southern Africa, Paper presented at

the World Congress of Conservation Agriculture (WCCA6), Winnipeg, Canada.

Overcoming challenges to adoptionOvercoming challenges to adoption Challenges on crop residue

retention and crop/livestock interaction

Weed control Mindset of farmers and

extension officers…. and others? Adaptation to climate change

Long-term sustainability (e.g. SOC)

Short-term productivity (e.g. WUE)

Animal traction Nutrient cycling Income generation Saving / Insurance Display of status

Feeding the soil vs. livestockFeeding the soil vs. livestock

Baudron et al., 2013

Residues vs nitrogen lock-up!Residues vs nitrogen lock-up!UZ 2011/12

treatments

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• Understanding the requirements of the soil and of the livestock

• Using biomass more efficiently• Producing more biomass from

alternative sources• Increasing the productivity of

livestock• Providing incentives to reduce

livestock number• Community agreements to reduce

free grazing

What can be done?What can be done?

Baudron et al., 2013

The Challenge of Weed ControlThe Challenge of Weed Control

Labour gains when using herbicides

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Decline in weed density over time, DTC, Zimbabwe, 2009-2013

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Striga study 2012, Malawi – clear picture!

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Thierfelder et al. 2014

The mindset of farmers and extension officers

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Traditional variety, Matuba DT variety, ZM309DT variety, ZM401DT variety, ZM523

DT variety, ZM625DT variety, Pan53DT variety, Pristine601

Adaptation to Climate Change – Adaptation to Climate Change – Integration of Climate-smart TechnologiesIntegration of Climate-smart Technologies

Current research gaps……. There is need to better understand

and explore adoption trends and perception of farmers (donor dependency vs real adoption)

What are the implications of CA adoption on gender?

How can markets be better integrated to make use of market forces?

The need to explore different outscaling strategies

How do we practice CA with other non-traditional crops? How can some of the remaining biophysical challenges be

overcome? Adaptation to climate change – what is the

mitigation/adaptation potential? (modelling LT effects) There is need to harmonize extension messages and Define recommendation dommains for a multitude of

farming systems

Thank you very much!