Improving Techniques and Technologies of Crops and Forage Production in the Sudanese Zone of Mali

In rural Mali shortage of livestock feed is a challenging phenomenon worsening day by day, particularly in the villages of Kani and Noumpinesso. The significant decrease in crops yield and livestock are due to persistent and continuous land degradation and over grazing. Soil water erosion and inappropriate or ineffective farming systems led to land degradation over the many years. A purposeful growing of fodder plant (fast growing trees species) and crops in interacting combinations for a range of benefits would be required using a technology that is easily adaptable by the rural farming communities. Contour ridge (CR) technology is a holistic approach that protects farmlands from erosion; increases soil moisture, nutrient availability for crops and associated fast growing trees. The CR technology in combination with forage and improved crop production systems were applied in Kani and Noumpinesso villages of southern Mali. Data was taken in 40 fields (replications), for the two years of research we took data in CR plot and NCR plot for each replication on different crops (cotton, maize, sorghum, and millet) growth and yield. Experimental design was couple design as crops were seedling in two neighboring plots (CR plot and NCR plot) for each replication. Five yield squares were placed in each plot to take data. For the 40 replications crop used depended on the owner of farm for each replication. Crops used were sorghum, millet, cotton and maize.

马里农村地区的牲畜饲料短缺问题日趋严峻，尤其集中于卡尼（Kani）与努姆皮内索（Noumpinesso）两村。当地作物产量与牲畜存栏量的显著下降，源于长期持续的土地退化与过度放牧。多年来，土壤水蚀与不当低效的耕作制度进一步加剧了土地退化。为实现多重综合效益，需采用易于农村农耕社区推广适配的技术，开展饲料作物（速生树种）与农作物的间作组合种植。等高垄（Contour Ridge, CR）技术是一种全方位农田保护方案，可有效抵御土壤侵蚀，提升土壤含水量，同时为作物及伴生速生树种提供更充足的养分供给。研究团队在马里南部的卡尼与努姆皮内索两村，将CR技术与饲草种植、作物高产栽培体系相结合开展田间试验。本研究共设置40块试验田作为重复单元，在为期两年的研究周期内，针对每个重复单元的CR试验区与非等高垄（Non-Contour Ridge, NCR）试验区，分别采集棉花、玉米、高粱、谷子等不同作物的生长状况与产量数据。试验采用配对设计：每个重复单元均设置两块相邻的试验田（CR试验区与NCR试验区）用于作物种植。每块试验田内布设5个测产样方以采集相关数据。40个重复单元所种植的作物由各试验田的农户自主选择，涵盖高粱、谷子、棉花与玉米四类作物。