Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) cropping system: Improved resource use and productivity in Ghana

Danquah, Eric Owusu; Frimpong, Felix; Yeboah, Stephen; Tetteh, Erasmus Narteh; Weebadde, Cholani; Ennin, Stella Ama; Agyeman, Kennedy; Amankwaa-Yeboah, Patricia; Akley, Edwin Korbla; Hayford, Princess; Snapp, Sieglinde S.

doi:10.1016/j.aoas.2022.05.001

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Pigeonpea (Cajanus Cajan), a legume shrub, is observed to play a significant role in nitrogen fixation for sustainable yam production upon integration into yam cropping systems (Owusu Danquah et al, 2017;Acheampong et al, 2019;Owusu Danquah, 2020) due to its deep taproot system, it is drought tolerant and can adapt to a wide range of environments. Pigeonpea grains are rich in proteins and vitamins, which can serve as an additional source of nutrition for smallholder farmers (Ouyabe et al, 2019).…”

Section: Integrated Soil Fertility Management (Isfm) With Legumesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A major reason is that yam has a substantially high demand for soil nutrients, resulting in high nutrient export of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in tubers upon harvest. Therefore, there is a sharp decline in tuber yield of the second season yam crop upon continued cropping on the same piece of land without appropriate soil fertility replenishment (Frossard et al, 2017;Owusu Danquah, 2020;Neina, 2021).…”

Section: Introduction and Rationalementioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainable Intensification and Climate-Smart Yam Production for Improved Food Security in West Africa: A Review

Danquah¹,

Danquah²,

Frimpong³

et al. 2022

Front. Agron.

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Intensification of staple food crops such as Yam (Dioscorea spp.) while sustaining the environment is imperative in providing food for the expected 9.6 billion global population by 2050. In West Africa, amid the threat posed by climate change on food security, yam production is associated with deforestation and land degradation. Integrated soil fertility management and improved staking options for intensification and sustainable yam production on continuously cropped fields hold the key to addressing this challenge. This review evaluates the last decade's yam production trends in West Africa and in three leading yam-producing countries, Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire, using the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) data. A production increase of 1.72, 1.43, and 1.35 times resulted in an area harvest increase of 2.25, 1.23, and 1.59 times in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire, respectively. Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire had the worst yam productivity across the decade by producing at an average yield 17.3 and 12.5%, respectively, of the estimated potential yam yield (50 t ha−1). Even in Ghana, where the productivity increased across the decade, the average productivity was 33% of the estimated potential yield. Thus, it can be observed that the primary reason for the increase in yam production across the globe and in West Africa is mainly because of the increase in area under cultivation in the major yam-producing countries. The projected future erratic rainfall and elevated daily mean temperature as a result of climate change would cause declining tuber yields. Meanwhile, the importation of food such as rice as a strategy to improve food availability cannot be accessed by poor rural households due to the strong correlation between international food price hikes and prices of these foods. However, there is less relationship between international yam price hikes and yam prices in West Africa. Therefore, yam production and sustenance could be vital for food security for the increasing population of West Africa. This study reviews current research on soil fertility and staking options for sustaining yam production on continuously cropped fields. Promotion and adoption of these improved technologies would enhance food security and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No poverty), 2 (Zero hunger), 13 (Climate action), and 15 (Life on land).

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Section: Integrated Soil Fertility Management (Isfm) With Legumesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction and Rationalementioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Intensification and Climate-Smart Yam Production for Improved Food Security in West Africa: A Review

Danquah¹,

Danquah²,

Frimpong³

et al. 2022

Front. Agron.

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“…Although smaller seed sett sizes of about 200 g were used on the improved yam agronomic practice fields, total yam tuber yields were however significantly (p < 0.01) higher compared to the farmers' practice which used bigger seed sett sizes of more than 350 g. Bigger seed sett sizes do not necessarily translate into significantly higher yield but planting density and agronomic management are observed to be vital in total yam yield (Owusu Danquah et al, 2018b). Improved yam practice generated at least 7 t/ha more yields across all locations and cropping seasons (Figures 2 to 4).…”

Section: Influence Of Improved Yam Agronomic Package On Tuber Yieldmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Farmers' sett sizes of about 350 g on the average which in some cases was double of what was used in the improved agronomic fields were planted without any seed pre-treatment. This is a normal practice for most farmers from these localities as they tend to cut their seed yam bigger enough to expect bigger tubers at harvests (Owusu Danquah et al, 2018b). Emerged weeds in the improved agronomic fields were controlled with glyphosate (2.5 liters per ha) before the sprouting of the yam while farmers only slashed on their fields.…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demonstrating the efficacy of existing yam technologies in the Forest-Savannah transition zone of Ghana

Norbert¹,

Frimpong²,

Asumadu³

et al. 2020

J. Agric. Sci. Pract.

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Improved technologies (row planting, ridging, seed treatment, weed management, fertilizer application) with a proven record of sustained productivity for yam production are imperative for food security. This study promotes the efficacy of these existing improved agronomic practices using a farmer-based participatory approach in some selected major yam-growing areas in the forest–savannah transition zone of Ghana. The improved agronomic practice treatment included use of ridging as seedbed, seed treatment before planting, fertilizer application at a rate of 30:30:36 N:P2O5: K2O kg/ha plus 15 kg/ha Mg and 20 kg/ha S as MgSO4 and the use of minimum stakes (trellis; 30-50% fewer stakes used by farmers). This was compared with farmers’ practice, which consisted of mounding, no fertilizer application, and no seed treatment. A significantly (p ≤ 0.01) higher yam yields (more than 60%) were observed for the improved agronomic practice over the farmers’ practice at Ejura, Atebubu, and Kintampo which are major yam-growing communities of Ghana. Sensory evaluation showed that the culinary quality of fertilized yam was as good as unfertilized yam. The contribution of existing improved yam production practices in the selected yam communities of Ghana was quantified in terms of their productivity and economic benefit to smallholder farmers.

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Financial analysis of pigeonpea-yam cropping system options and implications on profitability of smallholder farmers in Ghana

Danquah

Dissanayake²,

Danquah³

et al. 2022

Agroforest Syst

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Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) cropping system: Improved resource use and productivity in Ghana

Cited by 5 publications

References 41 publications

Sustainable Intensification and Climate-Smart Yam Production for Improved Food Security in West Africa: A Review

Sustainable Intensification and Climate-Smart Yam Production for Improved Food Security in West Africa: A Review

Demonstrating the efficacy of existing yam technologies in the Forest-Savannah transition zone of Ghana

Financial analysis of pigeonpea-yam cropping system options and implications on profitability of smallholder farmers in Ghana

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