Options for Sustainable Intensification of Agricultural Production

The design of productive and sustainable farming systems is a major concern for researchers and farmers. This study, conducted in 2014 in the municipality of Koumbia, aimed to analyze the performance of the maize-cowpea intercrop under field conditions. The study was conducted on 15 farmers' farms. Each farmer implemented three treatments on 1 ha: (T1 = 0.5 ha of pure cowpea; T2 = 0.25 ha of maize + cowpea; T3 = 0.25 ha of pure maize). Measurements focused on the agro-economic performance of the crops and the nutritional value of the forage. A simulation was performed on the potential milk production and average daily gain (ADG) enabled by the forage available at harvest. The results showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between treatments T2 and T3 for corn grain yield and gross margin. Forage production was higher in T2 (intercropped crops) compared to T1 and T3. Bromatological analysis revealed significant variation in mineral content among the different treatments at various phenological stages.

Pagina's: 52, Paperback, Our Knowledge Publishing