Sustainable Intensification through the doubled-up legume technology

Regis ChikowoSieg Snapp

Michigan State University, University of Zimbabwe

Africa RISING Project

The story is clear

Maybe clearer with this one…

Legumes

Closer look..

Within farm Contrasts

Climbing beans: possibilities in Linthipe

Alarming yield gaps ??

Crop Actual yields (t/ha)

Attainable yields (t/ha)

Maize 1 5+Soyabean 0.6 1.8+Groundnut 0.5 1.5+

Closing the yield gaps:

Requires knowledge assimilation by farmers through simple pathways

Plausible approaches include learning by doing – farmers empowered through experimentation

When land is too constraining..

Increasing land productivity is a mustWe have to go an extra mile with our innovations

Beyond the ‘low hanging fruits’

The doubled-up legume technologyIntercropping two grain legumes

Legume –legume intercrops (double legume) based on different crop growth habits /architecture one of the crops starts growth slowlyBoth crops planted at their optimum spacing (as in

sole cropping – additive intercropping design) two grain crops harvested soil fertility benefits larger (

The pigeonpea/groundnut doubled up system the best

Doubled-up legumes – intercropping 2 legumes that have little inter-specific competition for resources

When groundnut is almost mature, pigeonpea begins vigorous growth

Then flowers and pods form

Understorey groundnut has since been harvested….!!!

‘Double grain’As sole crop (kg/ha) In doubled up

system(kg/ha)

Groundnut 1400 1200Pigeoppea 900 500

LER (land equivalency ratio)

1.4

LER> 1 is an index of superior productivity of crop mixture

Belowground biomass: 0-20 cm layer

Lest we AIM aimlessly

One day we had a good find in Kandeu – really impressive

… and I was with this old young man who quickly sprang into action

… but months later, results were disappointing…

… we have to avoid futile efforts and use our science responsibly for the change that we want

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation

africa-rising.net

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