Challenges and constraints of conservation agriculture adoption in smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa:A review  

作　　者：Tesfay Araya Tyson E.Ochsner Pearson N.S.Mnkeni K.O.L.Hounkpatin Wulf Amelung 

机构地区：[1]Department of Soil-and Crop-and Climate Sciences,University of the Free State,PO Box 339,Bloemfontein,9300,South Africa [2]Department of Plant and Soil Sciences,Oklahoma State University,Stillwater,OK,74078,USA [3]Department of Agronomy,Faculty of Science and Agriculture,University of Fort Hare,P.Bag X1314,Alice,5700,South Africa [4]Department of Soil and Environment,Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,P.O.Box 7014,Uppsala,SE-75007,Sweden [5]Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation(INRES)e Soil Science and Soil Ecology,University of Bonn,Nussallee 13,53115,Bonn,Germany

出　　处：《International Soil and Water Conservation Research》2024年第4期828-843,共16页国际水土保持研究(英文)

基　　金：funded by TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits Programme in Germany;support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under Germany's Excellence Strategy,EXC-2070-390732324-PhenoRob.

摘　　要：Common farming practices in sub-Saharan Africa(SSA)such as intensive and repeated tillage,complete crop residue removal,and biomass burning create risks of soil degradation.To reduce these risks,conservation agriculture(CA)uses minimal soil disturbance,crop residue retention,and crop rotation in order to reduce soil erosion,improve soil quality and crop production,and facilitate climate change mitigation and adaptation.Nevertheless,CA adoption in SSA is extremely low.This paper aims to review current practices,challenges,and constraints to the adoption of CA in SSA.Our analyses show that CA is practiced in only about 1.25%of the total cultivated area in SSA,despite two decades of efforts to promote CA adoption among smallholder farmers.Specific difficulties in CA adoption by smallholder farmers in SSA may be attributed to i)lack of locally adaptable CA systems,particularly those integrating the needs of livestock production;ii)lack of adequate crop residues for surface mulch;iii)inconsistent and low crop yields;iv)lack of smallholder CA equipment for direct sowing;v)limited availability,high cost,and inadequate knowledge associated with the use of appropriate fertilizer and herbicides;and vi)lack of CA knowledge and training.Other problems relate to the management of specific soil orders,e.g.,CA implementation on steeply sloping land and poorly drained soils such as Vertisols.CA adoption by smallholder farmers is also obstructed by socio-economic factors due to smallholder farmers’focus on short term yield increases and their lack of access to markets,loans,and education.To facilitate wider adoption by smallholder farmers in SSA,CA approaches should be downscaled to fit the existing tillage tools and the specific agroecological and socio-economic farm settings.

关 键 词：Crop residue Soil degradation Climate change Crop rotation Minimal soil disturbance 

分 类 号：S15[农业科学—土壤学]