1. Theme 2: Integrated crop, soil health and livestock technologies for ecological intensification

2. Land Degradation Challenges in Kongwa and Kiteto
Theme 2 Focus:
Test and validate integrated soil, crop and water management technologies to
address land degradation and other constraints to SI
Causes of Land degradations
Poor tillage and crop management practices.
Extensive grazing system widely adopted in the area
Lack of knowledge on control of soil erosion among others.
Land degradation:
Improved management of land and water is a critical step in sustainable intensification (SI) of farming systems
Limited availability of site-specific nutrient management guidelines for semiarid zones in Tanzania undermines efforts to target technologies to biophysical and/or socio-economic conditions in which farmers operate.
Technologies adopted under these circumstances may be risky to farmers.
Soils in Kongwa and Kiteto districts were characterized to assess soil fertility status and drivers of land degradation so as to inform the development of integrated land management options for SI.

3. Theme 2 Clusters/Components
Integrated Soil Fertility Management Technologies
Integrated Land and Water Management Options
Tree (Agroforestry) Integration for SI
Livestock - Crop integration for SI
Socio-economic Analysis and Adoption Monitoring to inform technology scaling
Cluster1: Integrated Soil Fertility Management Technologies for SI
Cluster 2: Integrated Land and Water Management Options for SI
Cluster 3. Landscape based Agroforestry Options for SI
Cluster 4: Livestock - Crop integration
Scaling, economic analysis and Adoption monitoring

4. Building on the Jumpstart Results: May-Sept 2012
50% of the HH are large families, with 5-8 people.
Land holding: 36% (1-4 ha) and 20% (8 ha) per household
Grain yield for maize (1-1.5t/ha) below potential of 4.5t/ha.
60% of HH experience food deficit for 1-9 months in a year.
60% of the farmers keep livestock
17% of respondent use fertilizer or manure
Less than10% of farmers use improved seed

5. Soil Health Indicators for SI: (Output 1: characterization of intervention sites); 2013-14
Soil Parameter
Range (Min – Max)
Remark (Landon) pH
4.6 – 8.3
Strongly acidic to moderate alkaline
Texture
Sandy Clay Loam, Sandy Loam
OC (%)
0.14 – 1.97
Very low to low
Nitrogen (%)
0.02 – 0.21
Bray 1-P (mg/kg)
0.20 – 24.6
Low to high
Olsen-P (mg/kg)
1.16 – 27.0
Exch. K+
0.17 – 1.58
Medium to high
Exch. Ca2+
0.59 – 12.7
Very low to very high
Exch. Mg2+
0.4 – 6.13
Low to very high

6. Fertilizer Reccommendations: : (Output 5 & 6: Resilient, productivity enhancing and crop nutrition innovations)
Molet
Molet
Agronomic site specific application rates are:
30 kg N/ha for Phosphorus as this rate was associated with the highest maize yield (4.29 in Njoro & 4.57 in Molet = 4.4t/ha). However, farmers who can not afford this rate may use 15 kg P ha-1 as maize yield obtained by this rate was similar to the yield of the optimum rate. The CBA data are still being processed to understand the economical rate for farmers.
60 kg N/ha for Nitrogen
Expand to develop micro-dose application options for P (rates in Lilian study and sources in Swai)
Progress:
Refining application rates to microdose for enhancing use efficiency
Integrating fertilizer and tillage/RWH technologies & improved seeds

7. Farmers in Njoro village during a training session in Dec 2014
Baby Plots: Promoting fertilizer and improved seed:
Farmers in Njoro village during
a training session in Dec 2014
Demo plot layout
Farmer groups formation and GAP training
Fertilizer/manure use, intercropping, tillage practices
Plant density (spacing, rows) & improved crop variety
Demo plot layout and other management practices
Groups formation and training on GAPs, group dynamics, record keeping
900 farmers reached via mother and baby plots trials/demonstrations
Technologies demonstrated: Manure and fertilizer (Minjingu mazao and Yara Mila Cereals at 30 kg P/ha and 60 kg N/ha) under maize monoculture and/or intercropping with pigeonpea

8. Response of Maize to Yara Mila Cereal (Yara) and Minjingu Mazao (MM) fertilizers under farmer managed conditions: 2015
Maize yields in Baby Plots
Preliminary results of the demos indicate that fertilizer doubled yield of maize relative to unfertilized control at both Mlali and Molet villages (Fig. 1). Both Minjingu Mazao and Yara Mila Cereals give comparable results and would be candidate fertilizer materials for farmers in the areas based on local availability. The use of improved variety further increased yield compare to local checks, especially with Minjingu Mazao and Staha Maize variety. These results corroborate earlier findings in mother sites and suggest that even under famer management conditions, the use of fertilizer and improved maize variety is beneficial in terms of yield increase.
Farmer are doubling maize yield by using locally available Minjingu Fertilizer and improved maize varieties in their baby plots

9. Cluster 2: Integrated Land and Water Management
Led by ARI-Hombolo (E. Swai)
Output 5 & 6: Resilient, productivity enhancing and crop nutrition innovations
From 2012/2013 cropping season to date an attempt has been made under “Africa RISING Project” to fast track the integration of soil erosion control measure in cropping and land management systems.
For effective control measures efforts have been geared towards the use of “landscape approach” through fully engagement of farming communities in the entire process of implementing the followings strategies:
Application of physical and biological barriers on control of soil erosion
Assessment of the efficacy of physical barriers for erosion control.
Testing of in situ water harvesting technologies.

10. Integrated and landscape Approaches for SWM in KK:
Run-off plots at Mlali village
Participatory run-off measurement at Mlali village, Kongwa
Maize field with Fanya juu terrace at Njoro village, Kiteto
Insitu rainwater harvesting technique at Chitego, Kongwa
Pearl millet field with Fanya juu terrace at Laikala village, Kongwa

11. Measuring runoff and soil loss at Mlali: 2014 & 2015
Treatments:
Bare plot (BP)-Reference
Oxen ploughing
Ox-ripping
Tied-ridging
The percentage of rainfall lost through runoff:
2013/2014 season: 36.4 %, 30 % and 6.7 % for conventional ox ploughing, ox ripping and ox-ridging, respectively.
Low runoff in tied ridging reflect the ability of ponding of water to sustain soil moisture and crop production
Overall tied-ridging consistently increased resilience of farming systems against frequent and/or prolonged drought under semiarid climate
Measuring runoff and soil loss at Mlali: 2014 & 2015

12. Demonstrations: Scaling up land and water Magt. technologies

13. Cluster 3: Tree (Agroforestry) Integration for SI
Intercropping and doubled up legume with trees
Shelterbelts and boundary tree planting
Woodlots for fodder and wood supply
Output 5 & 6: Resilient, productivity enhancing and crop nutrition innovations/technologies.

14. Trees reduce land degradation and increase water use efficiency
Output 5 & 6: Resilient, productivity enhancing and crop nutrition innovations
Maize-PP-Gliricidia
Laikala Kongwa, Dodoma
Timeline for Activities ( )
Tree seedlings production
Tree planting and management
Data collection after 2-3 years
Diversified products and benefits to farmers (SI)
Fertilizer trees reduce land degradation and increase water use efficiency
RUE was measured as yield per raindrop; it is the “crop per drop”.
RUE is defined here as the mass (kg) of grain dry matter produced per unit area per mm of precipitation received during the rainy season. This is the same definition used in dry land ecology.
Lower RUE indicates higher land degradation.
Mechanisms: Fertilizer trees restore soil health, capture rainfall and improve moisture retention capacity of soils, thus make rainwater available for crops growth and yields.
Source of information: (Sileshi GW, unpublished)
See also Sileshi, W. G., Akinnifesi FK, Ajayi OC, Muys B (2011) Integration of legume trees in maize-based cropping systems improves rainfall use efficiency and crop yield stability. Agricultural Water Management 98:
Sileshi et al. (2011). Agricultural Water Management 98:

15. Maize-PP Intercropping options in low and high potential sites
Pure
1:1 (Alternate)
2M:1PP
1M:2PP
Maize-PP ratio
Mlali
Chitego
2M:1PP
1.06
1.71
1M:1PP
1.14
1.22
1M:2PP
1.53
1.15
Output 5 & 6: Resilient, productivity enhancing and crop nutrition innovations/technologies.

16. New Shelterbelt at Molet
Shelterbelt and Doubled Legume with trees for Food, Feeds and Fuel Supply
Harvesting maize (see stover on the ground) from the Gliricidi-pigeonpea double legume system at Laikala, village, Tanzania
New Shelterbelt at Molet
The long-term ICRAF trials of intercropping Gliricidia, pigeonpea and maize suggest that this double-up legume system can sustain crops production and improved soil fertility
This system works well because the initial slow growth of pigeonpea relative to cereals minimizes competition in mixture, making pigeonpea compatible with most cereal-based systems. Also trees can be pruned during the growing season to control competition
Africa RISING is building on this work to intensify and diversify farming systems to provide farmers with multiple products: food, fodder and fuel from maize, pigeonpea and G. sepium
Validation and agronomic studies are also conducted to guide on the spatial arrangement of component which will optimize productivity at the farm level
Ask Abdala to visit Laikala and get estimate of yield from these farmers. We need to include them in the training on group dynamics, record keeping etc.

17. Cluster 4: Integrated livestock and poultry management for productivity enhancement
Characterization of rangelands productivity and grazing land management systems
Fodder/feeds quality assessment to guide livestock and poultry feeding trials
Characterization of indigenous chicken to select for superior ecotypes to improve productivity and income
The key challenge for sustainable livestock production in semiarid areas is limited availability of feeds/fodder of sufficient quantity and quality
Characterization of rangelands and livestock management systems
Rangeland productivity (biomass)
Role of local institutions in grazing land management
Fodder bank/woodlot establishment
Fodder quality assessments to improving feeding and nutrition of livestock and poultry
Nutritive value of rangeland fodder species (fodder)
Improving feeding and nutrition of animal through supplementation of leaf meal (Melia azediract) and Acacia tortilis pods
Characterization of chicken population and enhancing production on-farm through improved feeding and nutrition
Selection of superior ecotype of indigenous chicken
Evaluation of growth performance and egg production (farmer & controlled experiments)
Formation of farmer groups for scaling up

18. Superior ecotype and Improved Mgt.
Superior- Parent Stock
Improved Livelihoods
Increase per capita egg intake/ hatchery/income
(80% hatchery success
Sustainable Chick Supply (mother sites)

19. Demonstrating superior ecotypes of local chickens and fodder tree leaves used as leaf meal during the 2015 farmer field school at Mlali Village, Tanzania
Poultry integration in Africa RISING helps to supply manure to improve soil fertility, and provide nutrition and income to households, especially to women and children.
Crop residues and by-products (e.g. maize bran, chuffs from maize and sunflower cake) and tree leaves (Melia spp. and Grliricidia spp.) can also be used to make high quality poultry feeds ; thus reducing post-harvest losses and recycling nutrients via manure.
However, sustainable production of indigenous chickens is limited by poor feeding & disease management and lack of superior ecotypes. Africa RISING is addressing these challenges
Farmers already are reporting 70 eggs production within three months. This yield is similar to the standard egg laying of 260 eggs per annum by a commercial layers’ chicken flock

20. Highlights of Key Achievements
Developed fertilizer guidelines for semiarid Tanzania
Integrated land and water conservation techniques reduced runoffs by up to 80% and doubled maize yields
Identified superior ecotypes of indigenous chicken
Potential fodder trees identified and introduced on-farm for livestock/poultry feeds supplementation and other benefits
Graduated students trained (2 Female and 3 Male)
Farmer groups formed and/or strengthened to support scaling up of tested technologies through demonstrations
Initiated economic appraisal and monitoring adoption of promising technologies

21. Further Research
Scaling approaches/models for the promising technologies
Barriers and drivers of technology adoption, including access to markets and credits; FVC approach
Soil micronutrients and nutritional quality of food produced.
Fertilizer tree and agroecosystem resilience and productivity
Landscape approaches to address land degradation challenges needs more attention

22. Challenges
Lengthy contractual processes and delays in funds transfer and some activities
Annual planning sometimes posed a challenge to keep focus on research over time at initial years.
Transport challenges in the fields, long distance coverage in KK