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From farm scale synergies to village scale trade-offs: Cereal crop residues use in an agro-pastoral system of the Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso
- Source :
- Agricultural Systems 134 (2015), Agricultural Systems, Agricultural Systems, Elsevier Masson, 2015, 134 (Mars), pp.84-96. ⟨10.1016/j.agsy.2014.08.012⟩, Agricultural Systems, 134, 84-96
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- International audience; Traditionally, cereal crop harvest residues are communally grazed by the ruminant herds of villagers and transhumant pastoralists in the agro-pastoral systems which predominate in the savannah zone of West Africa. We analysed the impact of the private use of crop residues by individual farmers on crop and livestock productivity at three scales: the field, farm, and village. We collected data in the village of Koumbia, located in the Sudanian region of Burkina Faso. Three types of farmers were identified: resource-poor farmers, predominantly livestock farmers, and resource-rich farmers. The trade-offs between different uses and users of cereal crop residues at the three scales were analysed through field surveys and a simple model of biomass flows. We considered current communal use practices and two alternative scenarios of private cereal crop residue use: (i) for composting (fertility scenario) and (ii) as fodder (fodder scenario). Our analysis of current practices confirmed that farmers left around 80% of cereal crop residues on their fields. Soil fertility for cereal production therefore could be improved through crop residue management at the farm scale. We also found that communal grazing benefited farmers with high numbers of livestock. Maize grain production at the farm scale was improved in both of the simulated scenarios. Yet these scenarios had a negative impact on fodder self-sufficiency at the village scale, and on the N balance of the savannah-derived rangelands. The negative impact was greater in the fertility scenario than the fodder stock scenario. Increasing cereal productivity at the farm scale cannot be achieved without considering the trade-offs involved at the village scale. Changes in practices will require negotiations between the different types of farmers involved. Participatory innovation platforms with discussion support tools like the model presented in our study can facilitate such negotiations.
- Subjects :
- Résidu de récolte
Crop residue
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
F08 - Systèmes et modes de culture
[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]
west africa
Compostage
integration
01 natural sciences
nitrogen use efficiency
nitrogen
Productivité
[SHS]Humanities and Social Sciences
F01 - Culture des plantes
spatial carbon
Grazing
Village
fertility management
crop-livestock
2. Zero hunger
flows
U10 - Informatique, mathématiques et statistiques
Agroforestry
Fourrage
soil fertility
Gestion des déchets agricoles
livestock systems
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
PE&RC
Geography
conservation agriculture
phosphorus budget
Livestock
Rangeland
Modèle mathématique
Conservation agriculture
Pastoralism
Zea mays
Pâturage
Petite exploitation agricole
pratique agricole
Fodder
Fertilité du sol
communal grazing
[INFO]Computer Science [cs]
west-african savanna
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
L02 - Alimentation animale
Plante céréalière
village territory
business.industry
P35 - Fertilité du sol
Évaluation de l'impact
Farm Systems Ecology Group
Q70 - Traitement des déchets agricoles
15. Life on land
sub-saharan africa
Utilisation
Système agropastoral
040103 agronomy & agriculture
Exploitation agricole
0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
Champ
Animal Science and Zoology
Soil fertility
business
Agronomy and Crop Science
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0308521X
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Agricultural Systems 134 (2015), Agricultural Systems, Agricultural Systems, Elsevier Masson, 2015, 134 (Mars), pp.84-96. ⟨10.1016/j.agsy.2014.08.012⟩, Agricultural Systems, 134, 84-96
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....30004370b61466f7eeb309e3f404d4d1