Participatory On-farm Research Research Articles

Descriptions of Chestnut Cultivars for Nut Production in the Eastern and Midwestern United States

The Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) and other Castanea species (Castanea spp. Mill.) have been imported and circulated among growers and scientists in the United States for more than a century. Initially, importations of C. mollissima after 1914 were motivated by efforts to restore the American chestnut [Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.], with interests in timber-type characters and chestnut blight resistance. Chestnut for orchard nut production spun off from these early works. Starting in the early 20th century, open-pollinated seeds from seedlings of Chinese chestnut and other Castanea species were distributed widely to interested growers throughout much of the eastern United States to plant and evaluate. Germplasm curation and sharing increased quite robustly through grower networks over the 20th century and continues today. More than 100 cultivars have been named in the United States, although a smaller subset remains relevant for commercial production and breeding. The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry curates and maintains a repository of more than 60 cultivars, and open-pollinated seed from this collection has been provided to growers since 2008. Currently, more than 1000 farms cultivate seedlings or grafted trees of the cultivars in this collection, and interest in participatory on-farm research is high. Here, we report descriptions of 57 of the collection’s cultivars as a comprehensive, readily accessible resource to support continued participatory research.

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN THE INDOGANGETIC PLAINS OF INDIA: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

SUMMARYThis paper follows the progress made in India for research and farmer adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) since the publication of Erenstein (2012), who contested the idea that zero-till (ZT) establishment of wheat in rice–wheat systems could be further developed into full CA systems. Data presented in this paper show that research has successfully found solutions for both the wheat and rice phases of the rice–wheat systems of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) in the past 8 years. It shows that by finding solutions in both the rice and wheat phases, yields, water use efficiency and profits increased, while labour needs reduced. Indian scientists have also confirmed these benefits in participatory on-farm research in various locations, both east and west regions of the IGP. Farmers see for themselves through experimentation that they get higher yields with less cost and with more efficient use of inputs and water. A key factor has been the development of improved seed drills with the help of Indian private sector manufacturers of agricultural equipment. Indian scientists have also successfully conducted CA research on several other crops and in other regions besides the IGP. The paper shows that it is better to introduce parts of the CA management practices in a step-wise fashion first, rather than introducing the entire package at once since farmers first have to test and evaluate a new technology to understand how it benefits them personally before they will adopt it. The paper concludes that in the rice–wheat systems of South Asia, adoption of CA is indeed possible to achieve although it is still a work in progress. CA is a complex technology package and it takes time to overcome all of the contested issues mentioned in Erenstein (2012).

Integrated peanut aflatoxin management for increase income and nutrition in Northern Ghana

Aflatoxins contamination in peanut seeds remains a major challenge in Ghana. This study evaluated aflatoxin levels in peanut samples from farmer storage units, and participatory on-farm research tr...

Integrated maize management options to improve forage yield and quality on smallholder farms in Kenya

Maize provides an important source of forage for the maize–dairy farmers in Kenya. However, due to small farm size, maize cannot supply all the feed needed for dairy cattle and forage is in short supply in the dry seasons. This paper examines practices to increase the health and use of maize and increase forage quality and quantity. The paper uses data from participatory on-farm research on cultural management practices of maize and on-station field trials in which plants were artificially infected with maize streak virus disease (MSVD) in the intensive maize–dairy production systems in central Kenya. Findings showed that smallholder farmers have deliberately changed the maize management practices by planting densely and systematically thinning the crop to obtain both fodder and grain. They perceived MSVD to have the greatest effect on forage yields and to be a difficult disease to control. Maize management trials showed that increasing plant density increased forage yields by up to 41% but decreased grain yields by up to 17% when specific thinning regimes were applied fairly late in the growth of the crop. However, grain yields were maintained when maize was planted at high density and then progressively thinned for forage during the growing season according to the crop situation or need for forage. The on-station research is the first study on the impacts of MSVD on maize forage and was carried out to increase production of forage during the wet seasons through use of resistant cultivars and agronomic interventions with a view to mitigating forage shortages during the dry seasons. MSVD infection was achieved with artificially infected leafhoppers (Cicadulina mbila (Naudé) (Hem.: Cicadellidae). In the 2001 short rainy season (SRS), early infection (14 days after crop emergence) reduced thinning yields by 43% in the susceptible cultivar, H511, compared to only 22% in a tolerant one, KH 521. Stover yields were reduced by 24% in H511 while there were no significant losses in KH 521. Interestingly, the local landrace, Gikuyu, was tolerant of MSVD in terms of grain yield but not thinnings. Forage from crops infected 35 and 56 days after crop emergence did not differ significantly from the uninfected controls. In the 2002 long and short rainy seasons, early infection with MSV again reduced thinning and stover yields whereas fertilizer and plant density did not significantly affect the influence of MSVD on either maize forage or grain yields. Use of tolerant cultivars provided insurance against forage and grain yield losses caused by early infection by MSV, but yield benefits varied with season. With respect to forage quality, MSVD had a beneficial effect on susceptible cultivars (H511 and H614) due to the higher crude protein (CP) and lower neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentrations of infected material in the early stages of growth. However, the reduced yields due to MSVD negate any advantage of increase in CP in infected material of susceptible maize cultivars. Further, the benefit of breeding for high NDF concentrations as a defense mechanism against disease effects is disadvantageous to improving quality of maize forage.

Targeting agricultural research and extension for food security and poverty alleviation: A case study of fish farming in Central Cameroon

Over 5 years of participatory on-farm research, market access, profitability, farming systems productivity and economic sustainability were compared on 100 small-scale farms in Central Cameroon. Integration technology based on the use of agricultural by-products as fishpond inputs was the driver for intensification. Over all farms, fishpond productivity increased from 498 kg to 1609 kg fish/ha (2145 kg/ha/yr). During the project period, the number of active fish farmers increased from 15 to 192 (including 55 farms which participated only through information exchange). Over all farms, net returns from aquaculture increased by 5 times over pre-project levels. Productivity, intensity and profitability increased more significantly in periurban areas with good market access, compared to rural areas. Among farmers with good market access, average net income from the aquaculture enterprise rose from $118 up to $1485. Research-Extension Team (RET) support cost an average of $61,300 per year. Over 5 years, rural farmers recaptured 23% of the relevant RET investment compared to 442% by periurban farmers. Likewise, increase in production attributable to RET intervention was higher for periurban (253%) compared to rural (11.3%) fish farmers. Within 3 years of the end of extension support, rural farmers had returned to pre-project production levels, whereas periurban farms had better maintained their productivity and profitability. Findings indicate that, in areas with little or no access to markets, the number of fishponds and fish farmers can be increased and yields improved, increasing local food supplies, but sustainability in the absence of extension subsidies is questionable. To achieve either of the two principal goals for the sector, food security and/or poverty alleviation, investments need to be made in improving the availability of quality technical assistance to targeted farmers and finding means of reducing social conflict arising from perceived inequalities in the accrual of the benefits of development.

Investigation of biofertilizers influence on quantity and quality characteristics in Nigella sativa L.

To reduce farmers’ dependency on mineral fertilizers, to increase water use efficiency, and to increase households’ incomes, participatory on-farm research trials to test the beneficial impact of biological fertilizers application on black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) some yield characters were investigated. Our objectives in this study were the interactive effects of biofertilizer application on quality and quantity yields at Iran in 2010. In this respect, the experimental unit had been designed by the achieved treatments in factorial on the basis of completely randomized block design with three replicates. Certain factors including four levels of animal manure (0, 10, 20 and 30 ton/ha respectively) and two levels of azotobacter (non-application and application) were studied. The final statistical analysis indicated that in the 20 ton/ha animal manure and azotobacter application, yield components were significantly higher. Those such as: biological yield, seed yield, essential oil yield, stem dry weight, capsule dry weight, leaf dry weight and plant height were higher in unites by 20 ton/ha animal manure and azotobacter application. The finding may give applicable advice to farmers for management and concern on fertilizer strategy and carefully estimate chemical fertilizer supply by biofertilizer application. Key words: Azotobacter, animal manure, essential oil yield, Nigella sativa L

Comparative Study on the Growth and Yield of NERICA Cultivated with Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers: Participatory On-Farm Research at Marakwet District in Kenya

A participatory field study was conducted in Tunyo division, Marakwet district, Kenya, to investigate whether there would be a significant response of New Rice for Africa (NERICA) cultivars 1 and 4 to farmyard manure and chemical fertilizers. Seeds were directly sown in 2 m X 5 m plots at a depth of 2-3 cm and a spacing of 30 em X 1.5 cm. The treatments included chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer (farmyard manure), and control (no fertilizer). In the chemical fertilizer treatment, 2.5 g N m2 was applied as compound fertilizer N: P: K (20: 12: 12) as basal fertilizer at planting, and 2.5 g N m- 2 using urea (46: 0: 0) as topdressing at panicle initiation stage. In the organic fertilizer treatment, 10.6g N m2 from farmyard manure (N-0.53%, P-0.62%, K-1.35%) obtained from cattle droppings was applied at planting. The experiment was conducted in two farmers' fields using split plot design with two replicates. Data on days to seed emergence, panicle initiation, heading, flowering and maturity were collected. Plant height and tiller number data were recorded during vegetative growth stage. At harvest, panicle number, panicle length, grain number per panicle, weight of 1,000 grains and paddy yield were measured. Growth pattern, fertilizer response, and post harvest qualities of NEIRCA were evaluated by farmers by means of questionnaires and interviews. Focus group discussions to clarify on farmers' responses were held. Yield increased significantly with fertilizer application, and the yield of NERICA 4 was significantly higher than that of NERICA 1, irrespective of the treatment. Farmers evaluated NERICA 1 as having excellent tillering ability, excellent response to fertilizers, good growth vigor as measured by height and yield, excellent threshability and aroma, very good milling quality, and good eating qualities. Farmers also assessed NERICA 4 as having excellent tillering ability, excellent response to fertilizers, excellent growth vigor, excellent yield, excellent threshability and taste, very good milling properties, and good eating qualities. NERICA 4 performed as well as or better than NERICA 1 in most attributes evaluated in this research. NERICA 1 was preferred for its aroma, while NERICA 4 earned the overall preference by farmer for cultivation owing to its superior yield. This research showed that the participation of farmers in field research strengthens the research-extension-farmer linkage, which could be expected to lead to faster technology transfer and uptake of new farming practices in Kenya.

Designing better on-farm research in Australia using a participatory workshop process

There are renewed calls for end-user participation and the integration of local knowledge in agricultural research. In Australia, the response has included an increased emphasis on participatory on-farm research with farmers and commercial agronomists that tests accepted principals to answer practical local farming questions. However, this pursuit of greater relevance has often led to compromises in research designs, unclear results and frustration amongst farmers, commercial agronomists and Research Development and Extension (RDE) agency researchers. This paper reports on a series of pre-season planning workshops from ‘Doing successful on-farm research’, a workshop-based initiative that provides guidelines and a series of interactive activities to plan better participatory on-farm research. The workshop approach helps people design on-farm research that is appropriate to their own needs and local conditions. It assists them to clearly identify their issues, develop specific research questions and decide the best approach to answer those questions with the appropriate rigour for their own situations. These ‘Doing successful on-farm research’ workshops address four potential deficiencies in on-farm research and farming systems RDE more generally in Australia: (1) variable participation of scientists and farmers in on-farm research; (2) the lack of clear guidelines for effective participatory practice and on-farm research; (3) limited support for on-farm research beyond the intensive investigations conducted by RDE agencies and (4) limited support for industry and farmers to contextualise information and research outcomes for specific individual circumstances and faster adaptation of technology. This may be a valuable contribution to balancing the demands for both relevance and rigour in on-farm research in Australia.

Dissemination of outputs from a cluster of livestock production programme projects in Zimbabwe

During the mid to late 1990’s a cluster of Livestock Production Programme (LPP) projects, funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) was established in Zimbabwe, as a representative country of southern sub-Saharan Africa, to develop outputs to increase the livestock contribution to the alleviation of poverty. All stakeholders were involved with the projects from the planning stage and participatory on-farm research was a key feature. Several of the projects addressed one of the major constraints to livestock production in arid and semi-arid areas, dry season feeding, the animal species considered being poultry, donkeys (draught power), goats and milking cows. The benefits of these projects can only be realised through effective dissemination to relevant target groups (farmers, extension staff, which because of failing government extension services in several African countries, must include NGOs, churches and local organizations, and policy makers) and development of relevant training materials.

On-farm evaluation of the establishment of clonal rubber in multistrata agroforests in Jambi, Indonesia

Perennial tree crops are often grown in complex multistrata systems that incorporate natural vegetation. These systems contribute simultaneously to sustaining rural livelihoods and to the conservation of biodiversity, but their productivity is usually low. Introduction of high yielding germplasm, usually selected in monocultural plantations, is a potential way to increase productivity, but a critical requirement is that such plants can be established in a competitive multispecies environment. The establishment of clonal planting stock in the jungle rubber agroforests of Indonesia was explored through participatory on-farm research. The trial involved four farmers who grew clonal rubber trees in a total of 20 plots, constituting five replicate experimental blocks spread across four farms. Unexpectedly, vertebrate pest damage by monkeys (Presbytis melalophos nobilis) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa) was the most important influence on establishment, explaining almost 70% of the variation in rubber tree growth. The amount of labour invested in weeding was also positively correlated with rubber tree growth. Farmers generally decided to completely cut back vegetation between rows of rubber trees, including potentially valuable trees, rather than weeding within the rows and selectively pruning trees in the inter-row. Farmers thought that the inter-row vegetation would harbour vertebrate pests and compete with the clonal rubber, and they had access to fruits, firewood and other non-timber forest products from other land. Thus, contrary to expectations, when offered clonal germplasm, farmers opted to use plantation monoculture methods to protect what they considered a valuable asset, rather than maintain the traditional multispecies strategy they use with local germplasm.

TAH VILLAGE PROJECT IN SYRIA: ANOTHER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE LEY-FARMING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

A participatory on-farm research project was started at Tah village, 100 km south of Aleppo, Syria in 1984. The objective was to introduce annual medics (Medicago spp.) as a replacement for fallow in dryland wheat (Triticum durum)/fallow farming systems. About 50 farmers were directly involved in the project while an equal number were passive participants, receiving seed but no technical advice. The project did not attain its original intention of introducing a ley-farming system into Syria. The Syrian Government decided to eliminate fallow – which was to receive medics – in the agricultural planning for 1989–90. An array of profitable crops such as lentil (Lens culinaris), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), sesame (Sesamum indicum) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), together with price supports on wheat presented formidable economic competition to the use of pasture on cultivated land. Technical constraints include insufficient farm size, lack of a medic phase in every year, deep ploughing, overgrazing and uncontrolled grazing. The Tah project experience also suggests that feed production projects must include an assessment of how the feed benefits animals and be designed to demonstrate the economic advantages of integrating livestock and crops in dryland farming systems.

Development of more effective conservation farming systems through participatory on-farm research

AbstractResearch aimed at advancing conservation farming practices is typically performed using traditional scientific approaches, which have been highly successful in increasing agricultural output and efficiency. With the current emphasis on environmental and economic sustainability of agriculture, there is a need for a more integrated approach to applied agricultural research. Participatory research helps to bring scientific methods and the integrated production needs of farmers together to develop practical, effective, and carefully tested farming methods. The strength of participatory research is in the synergism of scientists and farmers working together to design, implement, and evaluate research. The development of new technologies for farming systems large or small, conventional or organic, can be greatly enhanced through more extensive use of participatory research.

Termites and agricultural production in the Sahel: from enemy to friend?

Termites are an important component of agroecosystems, particularly in developing countries where they are an alternative to high priced inputs. Given the major problems in the Sahel of soil crusting and nutrient depletion, this paper shows that termites associated with proper management techniques can play a vital role. Termites contribute to the rehabilitation of crusted soils, i.e. by opening up voids on the sealed surface leading to improved infiltration capacity, and consequently improved water availability. It is recommended, however, that participatory on-farm research should be carried out on how to increase the contribution of termites towards soil management and to reduce the harmful effects.

Statistical literature for participatory on-farm research

A review is presented of available documents containing statistical methodology for participatory on-farm research. Further needs in this area of work are commented upon.

Conference on Participatory On-farm Research and Education for Agricultural Sustainability

Conference on Participatory On-farm Research and Education for Agricultural Sustainability