Abstract
The general soil fertility and crop yield decline constraints have guided the Malian agricultural research institute (Institut d’ Economie Rurale, IER), the Sahel Program of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to join efforts and undertake research activities aimed at mitigating the constraints in Mali. Thus, from the year 2000, 14 different trees and shrubs are being tested in improved fallow systems to find which ones perform best to replenish soils and improve crop yields. The results have (i) identified most suited species for 1 or 2 yr improved fallows, (ii) determined their impact on sorghum grain yields and (iii) documented the remnant effects of their impact on soil fertility and crop yields.
Some species (Indigofera astragalina,Crotalaria ochroleuca,Crotalaria agatiflora,Crotalaria retusa,Crotalaria goreensis,Crotalaria paulina et Tephrosia vogelii) could not survive more than 1 year the Samanko conditions. Among them, C. agatiflora (1944, 1141 and 741 kg sorghum grain yields ha-1 respectively in years 1, 2 and 3 after cultivation) and I. Astragalina (1343, 1301 and 393 kg sorghum grain yields ha-1 respectively in years 1, 2 and 3 after cultivation) would be the best candidates for 1-yr improved fallows. Others such as Tephrosia candida, Sesbania sesban (Lery, Gache, Kibwezi and Kakamega provenances), Cassia sieberiana and Cajanus cajan have completed 2-yr duration improved fallows. In 2002, the first year of cultivation, it was the Kenyan provenances of Sesbania sesban which performed best with sorghum grain yields over 2 t ha-1. A year later, 2003, there has been a general decrease in crop yield. Again, the Kenyan provenances of S. seban, with yields 40% lower than the first year of cultivation, were the worst affected by this decrease. No significant changes were observed in the traditionally tested chemical soil parameters. In conclusion, C. agatiflora,I. astragalina and the Kenyan provenances of S. sesban are well-adapted species for 1-yr improved fallow systems in the Samanko, Mali, conditions
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Kaya, B., Niang, A., Tabo, R., Bationo, A. (2007). Performance evaluation of various agroforestry species used in short duration improved fallows to enhance soil fertility and sorghum yields in Mali. In: Bationo, A., Waswa, B., Kihara, J., Kimetu, J. (eds) Advances in Integrated Soil Fertility Management in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5760-1_52
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5760-1_52
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