Intensification of dryland farming in Mali through mechanisation of sowing, fertiliser application and weeding

This study focuses on the role of mechanised sowing and weeding in combination with seed priming and fertiliser microdosing in Mali. Mechanised sowing and weeding were based on using a combined donkey-drawn planter/weeder and a motorised planter/weeder. The research methods included studies of seed delivery in manual and mechanised sowing, field experiments on different levels of mechanization/intensification, labour studies on mechanisation and an economic assessment of the different levels of intensification. The average sorghum grain yield across three years increased by 352 kg ha−1 (43.7% increase) by combining mechanisation with seed priming and microdosing of 0.2 g NPK 15-15-15 fertiliser per pocket compared to a control with manual sowing but without seed priming and microdosing. The labour demand (sowing and weeding) for manual, donkey-drawn and motorised operations was 184, 67 and 47 hours ha−1, respectively. An economic analysis showed that the donkey-drawn planter/weeder is the appropriate mechanisation below six ha while above this land size it becomes increasingly interesting for the farmers to invest in a motorised planter. The use of mechanisation will result in earlier and uniform crop establishment, facilitate microdosing application, timelier weeding, higher yields, better economic return and reduced labour demand.