The Role of Mucuna pruriens in Smallholder Farming Systems of Eastern and Southern Africa: A Review

Muoni, Tarirai; Öborn, Ingrid; Mhlanga, Blessing; Okeyo, Irene; Mutemi, Mary; Duncan, Alan

doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9783-8_23

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…This confirms the positive correlation between biomass and coffee yield that was observed. Thus, the findings on biomass accumulation and increase in the availability of soil nutrients are consistent with the observed increase in coffee yield under T1 and T3 and agree with other studies which indicate that cover legumes contribute to sustained yield increase [41,43,48]. The overall increase in coffee yield in all treatments during LR2 could, besides the impact of the treatments, be attributed to the high rainfall that was received in that season (Figure 2) and not necessarily attributed to the impact of T4.…”

Section: Coffee Yieldsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Sufficient above-ground biomass (up to 8.7 mt/ha/yr) for cover under C. arabica was produced by T3 as compared to the control where only 3.2 mt/ha/yr was generated. This result agrees with findings on biomass generation by M. pruriens under different soil, agroecological, and cropping system conditions [46][47][48][49][50]. Similarly, related studies indicate that M. dura has a high stem density [66] and can produce above-ground biomass of 8.2-17 mt/ha [89].…”

Section: Above-ground Biomasssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Under T4, the C. arabica was also likely experiencing competition from the weeds, and destruction of the roots of C. arabica due to continuous weeding, hence there were low yields with subsequent negative gross profit. These findings confirm that covering with legumes is profitable as opposed to no-cover [8,9,48]. Although, until the fourth growing season the profit in T2 was significantly lower than in T1, its tested impact was preliminary since the M. dura trees were not fully mature.…”

Section: Profitabilitysupporting

confidence: 70%

“…Although, until the fourth growing season the profit in T2 was significantly lower than in T1, its tested impact was preliminary since the M. dura trees were not fully mature. Thus, a further increase in annual biomass production and nitrogen fixation rate can be expected in the future to impact soil fertility positively under T2 and T3 resulting in higher coffee yield with a subsequent increase in profits as reported in related studies [41,43,48].…”

Section: Profitabilitymentioning

confidence: 65%

“…Gross profit in T4 continued to be negative due to the high costs required for continuous hoeing as a traditional weed control method while this cost was avoided under T3 since the biomass cover in this treatment smothered the weeds [42,47,48,53]. Under T4, the C. arabica was also likely experiencing competition from the weeds, and destruction of the roots of C. arabica due to continuous weeding, hence there were low yields with subsequent negative gross profit.…”

Section: Profitabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of Integrating Annual and Perennial Legumes under Coffea arabica on Sloping Land

et al. 2023

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Above-ground biomass cover under Coffea arabica on sloping land is beneficial but difficult to sustain. Interplanting annual and perennial legumes can sustain the above-ground biomass cover, and improve soil fertility, yield, and profitability. This was tested on 26 sloping farms in a four-growing season experiment on undersowing C. arabica with new crop combinations: Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (T1); Millettia dura Dunn (T2); a combination of M. pruriens and M. dura (T3); and the control with a no-cover legume (T4). On each farm, all treatments followed a randomized single-block design. T3 produced 8.7 mt/ha/yr above-ground biomass that was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than other treatments and was increasing with the seasons. Under T3, plant-available nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) increased more than in other treatments. During the fourth season, coffee yield in T3 was 54%, 22%, and 11% higher than in T4, T2, and T1, respectively. The gross profit under T3 was 86% higher than in T4 in the fourth season. This indicates that interplanting a combination of M. pruriens and M. dura under C. arabica on sloping land can sustainably increase above-ground biomass cover, soil’s plant-available N and K, coffee yield, and profitability. Based on the results, the combination of M. pruriens and M. dura is recommended to optimize coffee production under the described conditions.

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Section: Coffee Yieldsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Above-ground Biomasssupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Profitabilitysupporting

confidence: 70%

Section: Profitabilitymentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Profitabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of Integrating Annual and Perennial Legumes under Coffea arabica on Sloping Land

et al. 2023

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Factors influencing adoption of organic matter management on smallholder farms in the Rwenzori region of Uganda

Ekyaligonza,

Tibasiima,

Bwambale

et al. 2024

Org. Agr.

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Context specific studies on the factors influencing the adoption of organic matter management (OMM) practices on smallholder farms could be crucial for soil fertility improvement. This study aimed to understand the factors influencing the adoption of OMM practices by smallholder farmers. A hybridized theoretical framework was used to map the farmers’ adoption process. This framework states: the adoption process of OMM practices can be facilitated if an individual’s characteristics and the institutional-related factors can support it; information about the OMM practices and the required inputs are available, and he/she can apply the required technology with ease. Data collection involved observations on 100 smallholder farms, interviews with 10 smallholder farmers and 18 experts, as well as two focus group discussions with 10 farmers each. The results indicated that a composite of technical, social, cultural, and economic-driven factors influence farmer adoption of OMM strategies. These factors included the farmer characteristics of age, education status, gender, culture, and knowledge about the use and application of an OMM practice; availability of labor and inputs; availability of appropriate equipment; the existence of supportive policy framework and social support. The factors cut across the adoption components of the hybridized theoretical framework: nature of technology, farmer characteristics, and input-related, information transfer-related and institutional-related adoption factors. The study findings can inform decision-makers to make investment decisions. Future studies should assess the feasibility of the hybridized theoretical framework before experts can apply it in devising strategies for the adoption of OMM practices on smallholder farms.

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Biomass contribution and nutrient recycling of organic matter management practices in tropical smallholder annual farming systems

Ekyaligonza

Tibasiima

Dietrich

et al. 2022

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Sc

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The Role of Mucuna pruriens in Smallholder Farming Systems of Eastern and Southern Africa: A Review

Cited by 4 publications

References 45 publications

Impact of Integrating Annual and Perennial Legumes under Coffea arabica on Sloping Land

Impact of Integrating Annual and Perennial Legumes under Coffea arabica on Sloping Land

Factors influencing adoption of organic matter management on smallholder farms in the Rwenzori region of Uganda

Biomass contribution and nutrient recycling of organic matter management practices in tropical smallholder annual farming systems

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