Compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND) and associated yield predictions in maize: a case study in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria
Developing optimal strategies for nutrient management of soils and crops at a larger scale requires an understanding of nutrient limitations and imbalances. The availability of extensive data (n = 1,781) from 2-yr nutrient omission trials in the most suitable agroecological zone for maize (Zea mays L.) in Nigeria (i.e., the northern Guinea savanna) provides an opportunity to assess nutrient limitations and imbalances using the concept of multi-ratio compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND).
Situation report on Nepal’s agrifood systems : April 2023
Nepal’s agrifood system remained economically stable during March of 2023. The year-on-year inflation in food and beverage prices has cooled down to 5.6% compared to 7.5% in Feb/March 2022. Field reports however suggest that this downward movement in prices have not yet translated to substantial changes in the cost of consumer and agricultural market goods. Inflation in food and beverage prices is marginally lower than the previous year: The cost of food and beverages increased by 5.6 percent from March 2022 to March 2023.
Identifying the current and future status of freshwater connectivity corridors in the Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin features a vast network of healthy, free-flowing rivers, which provides habitat for the most biodiverse freshwater fauna of any basin globally. However, existing and future infrastructure developments, including dams, threaten its integrity by diminishing river connectivity, altering flows, or changing sediment regimes, which can impact freshwater species.
Potato Value Chain: A Climate-Smart Agriculture Approach - An Extension Workers Manual
The manual is designed to assist the reader with information about potato value chain and its management in times of climate change. It is comprised of five chapters with coordinated content as summarized below. Chapter one gives some background and a contextual aspect of potato production in Uganda. It also outlines the importance of potato in the food system. The section further highlights the growth characteristics of the crop and its different growth stages. It illustrates the common varieties grown
Narrowing yield gaps does not guarantee a living income from smallholder farming-an empirical study from western Kenya
Crop yields in sub-Saharan Africa need to increase to keep pace with food demands from the burgeoning population. Smallholder farmers play an important role in national food self-sufficiency, yet many live in poverty. Investing in inputs to increase yields is therefore often not viable for them. To investigate how to unlock this paradox, whole-farm experiments can reveal which incentives could increase farm production while also increasing household income.
Sustainable intensification and household dietary diversity in maize-based farming systems of Zambia and Zimbabwe
With only four years before the end date for the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition, the need to identify nutrition-sensitive and sustainable agricultural interventions that can address hunger and malnutrition cannot be more urgent. This paper assesses associations between sustainable intensification practices and dietary diversity in maize-based farming systems of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Soil moisture content and maize grain yield under conventional and conservation agriculture practices - results of short term field tests in liselo, Namibia
This article focuses on the results from trials developed to monitor the short-term effects of conventionally tilled systems versus CA on soil quality and crop productivity under conditions of the major cropping systems in central, north-central and north-eastern regions of Namibia. Conventional tillage (CT), Minimum tillage (MT), Minimum tillage, mulch (MT-M), Minimum tillage, rotation (MT-R) and Minimum tillage, mulch and rotation (MT-MR) were the primary treatments tested.
Genetic diversity and population structure of some Nigerian accessions of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.,) using DArT SNP markers
Bambara groundnut is one of the crops with inadequate molecular research to show its full potentials. Previous studies showed morphological diversity with inadequate information to confirm genetic variations. In the quest to reveal the genetic potentials, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of the selected accessions was extracted through leaf samples at 3 weeks old, using Dellaporta Miniprep for Plant DNA Isolation procedure. The high quality DNA was sequenced using Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers to unlock diversity among Bambara groundnut of Nigerian origin.
Sunflower Value Chain: A Climate-Smart Agriculture Approach - An Extension Workers Manual
The manual is designed to assist the reader with information about sunflower value chain and its management in times of climate change. This manual takes the reader through a learning process on the importance, management, and benefits of sunflower crop. The different chapters describe the processes including production and post-harvest handling, marketing, challenges, and
Exploiting crop genotype-specific root-soil interactions to enhance agronomic efficiency
Challenges of soil degradation and changing climate pose major threats to food security in many parts of the world, and new approaches are required to close yield and nutrition gaps through enhanced agronomic efficiency. Combined use of mineral fertilizers, organic inputs, improved germplasm and adaptation of these practices to local contexts through improved agronomy can promote efficiency whilst building stocks of soil organic matter (SOM).