Sustainable Intensification and Climate Resilient Dryland Cropping Systems For Sub-Saharan Africa: Case Study Of Ghana.

Opportunities to increase grain yields and farm profitability of small holding farmers in West Africa largely revolve around environmental and economic constraints. Improving grain yield, soil quality and plant available water quantity will require sustainable intensification and adoption of innovative crop management practices. Agricultural practices involving crop rotations, local or improved conservation agricultural practices (CAPs) such as reduced tillage, crop residue, legume cover crop, and integrated nutrient and water management practices can be useful. Permanent groundcover, especially with cover crop or crop residues is challenging to farmers because of conflicts with livestock management a key component of farming systems; and due to alternative uses of residues and problems with free animal grazing and fire hazards. However, opportunities are available for use of intensive crop rotations, minimum tillage and integrated fertilizer and water management. Our preliminary research has shown that sole crops of maize or soybean produced greater grain yields and crop residue than intercropping. There was no significant difference in maize yield under conventional tillage or no-tillage in continuous maize cropping system. Soybean yields were increased with fertilizer application, particular phosphorous under both conventional and no-tillage conditions. Soybean growth and yield was not affected by tillage, residue management or the interaction of tillage and residue management. Although residue and grain yields tended to be higher under conventional tillage than under no-till. Maize planted on tied ridges, and tied ridges with grass strips or pigeon pea strips produced higher maize residues than maize planted on flat-bed, and flat-beds with grass strips or pigeon pea strips. Similarly, use of contour ridging, micro-dose fertilizer application also showed significant yield improvement. Our results suggest that there are some opportunities to increase crop yields through use of intensive sustainable agricultural practices such as application of fertilizer, minimum tillage, crop rotations, seed bed preparation and water management practices. However, there are challenges for suitable cover crops and maintaining soil cover. There is a critical need for infrastructure, capacity building of scientists, developing effective extension program and to increase collaboration between research and government and non-government extension services.