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The depletion of soil organic matter is one of the major challenges constraining agricultural production in the southern zone of Mali. This study evaluated the effects of compost types, methods, and dose applications on the productivity... more
The depletion of soil organic matter is one of the major challenges constraining agricultural production in the southern zone of Mali. This study evaluated the effects of compost types, methods, and dose applications on the productivity and sustainability of sorghum. Two types of compost (farmer practice and cotton stems) were applied to sorghum at two rates (microdosing at 2.5 t ha−1 and broadcasting at 5 t ha−1) and evaluated on 30 farmer fields in 2019 and 2020. The treatments used included CPA (cotton stem compost at 5 t ha−1 + 100 kg ha−1 DAP), CPA (cotton stem compost at 2.5 t ha−1 + 100 kg ha−1 DAP), CP (farmer compost at 5 t ha−1 + 100 kg ha−1 DAP), CP (famer compost at 2.5 t ha−1 + 100 kg ha−1 DAP), control (100 kg ha−1 DAP), and control. The results showed that regardless of the compost type, applying a microdose of 2.5 t ha−1 improved the growth rate, plant height, grain yield, and biomass yield by 15%, 18%, 47%, and 27%, respectively, when compared to the control. No sta...
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In rural Mali shortage of livestock feed is a challenging phenomenon worsening day by day, particularly in the villages of Kani and Noumpinesso. The significant decrease in crops yield and livestock are due to persistent and continuous... more
In rural Mali shortage of livestock feed is a challenging phenomenon worsening day by day, particularly in the villages of Kani and Noumpinesso. The significant decrease in crops yield and livestock are due to persistent and continuous land degradation and over grazing. Soil water erosion and inappropriate or ineffective farming systems led to land degradation over the many years. A purposeful growing of fodder plant (fast growing trees species) and crops in interacting combinations for a range of benefits would be required using a technology that is easily adaptable by the rural farming communities. Contour ridge (CR) technology is a holistic approach that protects farmlands from erosion; increases soil moisture, nutrient availability for crops and associated fast growing trees. The CR technology in combination with forage and improved crop production systems were applied in Kani and Noumpinesso villages of southern Mali and resulted indicated that at the end of rainy season of 201...
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Global population growth is placing increasing pressures on land for food and feed production as well as energy security. In particular in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), these issues require urgent attention. This is clearly stated in The... more
Global population growth is placing increasing pressures on land for food and feed production as well as energy security. In particular in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), these issues require urgent attention. This is clearly stated in The United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development emphasizing the importance of sustainable use of land resources to increase food productivity and energy requirement. SSA lags behind most regions of the world in household food security and access to energy. The rural agriculture-dependent communities of SSA are the hardest hit by food and energy scarcity and the impact is felt most by communities in the dryland farming areas. In terms of energy supply appropriate measures and interventions are required to address this challenge. Jatropha curcas L. oil fast tracked itself from obscurity to prominence. Its main advantage is the high content of methyl ester (or bio-diesel). It conforms to EN 14214 specifications, exhibiting emission reduction potent...
Research Interests: Business and Proceedings
A significant decline in soil quality has occurred across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through adverse changes in soil properties causing serious challenge to regional food security. This paper presents the new Jatropha technology for soil... more
A significant decline in soil quality has occurred across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through adverse changes in soil properties causing serious challenge to regional food security. This paper presents the new Jatropha technology for soil quality improvement and its importance for meeting rural energy demand in SSA. The paper starts from the premise of Jatropha agriculture and its impact on soil quality improvement with reference to examples from the drylands of Nigeria and Mali. Having reviewed the sweeping claims on Jatropha’s role and ability as alternative energy source, its ‘alleged’ cheap domestication and rush for mega plantations of Jatropha, the paper weighs the controversies surrounding the sustainable production, land grabbing and consequent economics of Jatropha productivity in mega plantation settings. It suggests the need to focus Jatropha agriculture and research in SSA toward rehabilitation of degraded lands, wastelands and badlands while, promoting Jatropha hedge-row f...
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Continuous monitoring of soil physical quality is essential in determining sustainability of land use in natural and managed ecosystems particularly; mountainous systems such as the Ethiopian highlands, where soil deterioration and... more
Continuous monitoring of soil physical quality is essential in determining sustainability of land use in natural and managed ecosystems particularly; mountainous systems such as the Ethiopian highlands, where soil deterioration and degradation can become major threats to ecosystem and productivity. This study focused on assessment of soil physical quality (SPQ) by comparing values of soil indicator properties to their corresponding ‘ideal ranges’ established in literature and determining soil structural stability and aggregate associated carbon as influenced by land use types. It further employs factor analysis to identify appropriate SPQ indicators and soil structural indices that are dominantly influenced by each land use type in the three watersheds (namely; Jeldu, Diga and Fogera) of the Ethiopian highlands. Surface soil samples were collected from four adjacent agricultural land use types (namely; Grass fallow, Tree fallow, Homestead and Continuous field cropping) within each of the three watersheds for study of Dexter “S” index, aggregate associated carbon and aggregate stability and other SPQ indicators. Results revealed that soils were only adequate in Relative Field Capacity and Plant Available Water Capacity in all watersheds. The soils of the watersheds still maintained good physical quality but there are strong indications of low soil structural resilience and tendency to degrade. Factor analysis grouped SPQ indicators and structural indices into three factors: (Factor 1) structural stability (with soil organic carbon, aggregate associated organic carbon and aggregate size being the most dominant soil quality indicators); no dominant attribute for Factor 2 and Factor 3 is mainly soil texture (with clay being the most dominant). Soil improvement programme in the watersheds lies in management practices that will promote proper management of organic carbon as it is the principal SPQ indicator that influenced variation in other soil attributes.
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Summary The reconnaissance field visit undertaken by the NBDC team to Diga (Oromiya province, Ethiopia) was an eye-‐opener when all of a sudden we entered the innovative small-‐scale irrigation water use by a resettled community called... more
Summary The reconnaissance field visit undertaken by the NBDC team to Diga (Oromiya province, Ethiopia) was an eye-‐opener when all of a sudden we entered the innovative small-‐scale irrigation water use by a resettled community called Mada-‐jalala(meaning ...
MacAlister, C., Zemadim, B., Erkossa, T., Haileslassie, A., Fuka, D., Steenhuis, T., Seyoum, S., Hoff, H., Getnet, K. and Johnson, N. 2011. Water productivity impacts for the NBDC. Presented at the Nile Basin Development Challenge Science... more
MacAlister, C., Zemadim, B., Erkossa, T., Haileslassie, A., Fuka, D., Steenhuis, T., Seyoum, S., Hoff, H., Getnet, K. and Johnson, N. 2011. Water productivity impacts for the NBDC. Presented at the Nile Basin Development Challenge Science and Reflection Workshop, Addis Ababa, 4-6 May 2011. Addis Ababa: IWMI. ... Presented at the Nile Basin Development Challenge Science and Reflection Workshop, Addis Ababa, 4-6 May 2011. ... There are no files associated with this item.