Productivity of yam (Dioscorea rotundata, Dioscorea alata) under cashew grove integrating smart agriculture practices in the face of climate change in Central Benin
摘要
Yam cultivation is one of the main causes of deforestation and land degradation worsened by climate change. Smart agriculture was practiced by groups of farmers in central Benin in West Africa. This concerns an innovative agroforestry yam-based cropping system selected in a rotational crop dynamic in old cashew plantation upgraded integrating multi-purpose species such as Jatropha curcas and Gliricidia sepium in the hedge fence design, previous maize-Mucuna in intercropping and planting with two local varieties of yam (Dioscorea rotundata, Dioscorea alata) and application of three doses (0 t, 5 t and 10 t ha−1) of compost produced locally and used as background manure. This practice was assessed in collaboration with farmers in farmer Field School, in comparing with the usual dominant practice of degraded forest fallow on slash and burn (absolute control). The objective was to evaluate the technical and economic performance of these systems. The improved systems offered better productivity of land, labor and capital. Average yields in improved systems varied from 9.5 to 14.5 t ha−1 with different doses, all yam varieties combined, compared to 10.2 t ha−1 in degraded fallows on burned (P < 0.0001), all below the production potential of the species. No interaction effect between treatments and varieties was observed. Discounted net incomes, return on investments and labor productivities ranged respectively $1900–$2342 ha−1, 64%–71% and $4.62–$5.69 per Man-Day in improved systems versus $818 ha−1, 43% and $4.30 per Man-Day in degraded fallow. The social and economic impacts, the benefits, constraints and solutions, the environmental impacts were highlighted.