Biomass and nutrient flow dynamics and sustainability practices to de-risk environmental challenges in the Sub-Saharan Africa farming system

M. Guindo, B. Traore and Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu
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Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu: International Water Management Institute

Papers published in Journals (Open Access), 2024, 2(4):100109. (Online first)

Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, productivity risks stem from weather variability, while environmental risks include soil nutrient depletion due to unsustainable farming practices that include monoculture, inadequate or lack of soil and water conservation measures, and low-nutrient application. As a result, shifts from the prevailing fallow system to permanent cultivation lead to soil degradation. The present study aimed to quantify the fluxes of biomass, nutrients, and nutrient balances from different fertilizer sources to de-risk the challenges related to agriculture and the environment in Mali. A farm household survey was conducted over two years (July 2018 to June 2020) with 45 households. The survey enabled us to categorize farm households into three typologies: high resource endowment (HRE), medium resource endowment (MRE), and low resource endowment (LRE). Data on sustainability indicators from cropland, livestock, farm input use, and redistribution units enabled the analysis of biomass and nutrient flow dynamics from households to farmlands and vice versa. The nutrient monitoring (NUTMON) tool generated nutrient flows and balances. Results showed that the total annual biomass collected per hectare by HRE (22.3t) is significantly higher than that collected by MRE (13.4t) and LRE (5.35t) farms (P

Keywords: Farming systems; Farm typology; Biomass; Nutrient balance; Risk; Environmental impact; Sustainability; Soil fertility; Farm inputs; Fertilizers; Manure management; Farmers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iwt:jounls:h052918

DOI: 10.1016/j.farsys.2024.100109

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