Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems

Abstract In Western Africa, agro-sylvo-pastoral systems are dominant and food demand is booming. To meet this demand, many farmers intensify the production with industrial inputs (mineral fertilizers, feeds, pesticides, herbicides). However, the price of these inputs is rocketing. To face this issue...

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Main Authors: Vall, Eric, Orounladji, Boko Michel, Berre, David, Assouma, Mohamed Habibou, Dabiré, Der, Sanogo, Souleymane, Sib, Ollo
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/139374
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author Vall, Eric
Orounladji, Boko Michel
Berre, David
Assouma, Mohamed Habibou
Dabiré, Der
Sanogo, Souleymane
Sib, Ollo
author_browse Assouma, Mohamed Habibou
Berre, David
Dabiré, Der
Orounladji, Boko Michel
Sanogo, Souleymane
Sib, Ollo
Vall, Eric
author_facet Vall, Eric
Orounladji, Boko Michel
Berre, David
Assouma, Mohamed Habibou
Dabiré, Der
Sanogo, Souleymane
Sib, Ollo
author_sort Vall, Eric
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Abstract In Western Africa, agro-sylvo-pastoral systems are dominant and food demand is booming. To meet this demand, many farmers intensify the production with industrial inputs (mineral fertilizers, feeds, pesticides, herbicides). However, the price of these inputs is rocketing. To face this issue, some farmers reconsider crops, livestock, and tree synergies and by-product recycling to increase their production sustainably at a lower cost. The study aimed to characterize the diversity of Koumbia’s farming systems and to assess farming systems’ technical performance in an agroecological perspective. We surveyed 391 farms in the county of Koumbia (Burkina Faso). Considering 15 agricultural practices (4 on by-products recycling, 4 on soil protection, 4 on industrial inputs limitation, 2 on smart use of natural resources, and 1 on cropping diversification), a multivariate analysis (PCA+HAC) combined to an agroecology (Ae) scoring system (−15 to +15) based on 15 specific indicators (one/practice), we highlighted 3 agroecological farming systems clusters. These clusters are distributed along a gradient of agroecology intensity (Ae+: high degree of Ae, Ae+/−: medium degree, and Ae−: poor degree). Ae+ farms (Ae score: +3.0) group 17% of the farms, Ae+/− (Ae score: −4.5) group 58% of the farms, and Ae− (Ae score: −10.5) group 25% of the farms. Ae+ raise more livestock and recycle a higher rate of crop-livestock by-products in fodder, organic manure, and mulch. These recycling practices are facilitated by better levels of equipment for transportation and storage and soil water and crop residue conservation measures, including maintenance of the wooded park on the cultivated fields. This set of practices, which close better the agricultural system, produces a systemic effect which has a positive impact on yields and on the whole ecosystem. Our findings outline for the first time that crop-livestock synergies and by-product recycling are major factors of agroecological transition in agro-sylvo-pastoral systems.
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spelling CGSpace1393742025-12-08T09:54:28Z Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems Vall, Eric Orounladji, Boko Michel Berre, David Assouma, Mohamed Habibou Dabiré, Der Sanogo, Souleymane Sib, Ollo agroecology biodiversity organic fertilizers mixed farming forage biomass integrated crop-livestock systems agroecosystems recycling Abstract In Western Africa, agro-sylvo-pastoral systems are dominant and food demand is booming. To meet this demand, many farmers intensify the production with industrial inputs (mineral fertilizers, feeds, pesticides, herbicides). However, the price of these inputs is rocketing. To face this issue, some farmers reconsider crops, livestock, and tree synergies and by-product recycling to increase their production sustainably at a lower cost. The study aimed to characterize the diversity of Koumbia’s farming systems and to assess farming systems’ technical performance in an agroecological perspective. We surveyed 391 farms in the county of Koumbia (Burkina Faso). Considering 15 agricultural practices (4 on by-products recycling, 4 on soil protection, 4 on industrial inputs limitation, 2 on smart use of natural resources, and 1 on cropping diversification), a multivariate analysis (PCA+HAC) combined to an agroecology (Ae) scoring system (−15 to +15) based on 15 specific indicators (one/practice), we highlighted 3 agroecological farming systems clusters. These clusters are distributed along a gradient of agroecology intensity (Ae+: high degree of Ae, Ae+/−: medium degree, and Ae−: poor degree). Ae+ farms (Ae score: +3.0) group 17% of the farms, Ae+/− (Ae score: −4.5) group 58% of the farms, and Ae− (Ae score: −10.5) group 25% of the farms. Ae+ raise more livestock and recycle a higher rate of crop-livestock by-products in fodder, organic manure, and mulch. These recycling practices are facilitated by better levels of equipment for transportation and storage and soil water and crop residue conservation measures, including maintenance of the wooded park on the cultivated fields. This set of practices, which close better the agricultural system, produces a systemic effect which has a positive impact on yields and on the whole ecosystem. Our findings outline for the first time that crop-livestock synergies and by-product recycling are major factors of agroecological transition in agro-sylvo-pastoral systems. 2023-10 2024-02-14T14:11:02Z 2024-02-14T14:11:02Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/139374 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Vall, E.; Orounladji, B.M.; Berre, D.; Assouma, M.H.; Dabiré, D.; Sanogo, S.; Sib, O. (2023) Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 43: art. 70. ISSN: 1773-0155
spellingShingle agroecology
biodiversity
organic fertilizers
mixed farming
forage
biomass
integrated crop-livestock systems
agroecosystems
recycling
Vall, Eric
Orounladji, Boko Michel
Berre, David
Assouma, Mohamed Habibou
Dabiré, Der
Sanogo, Souleymane
Sib, Ollo
Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems
title Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems
title_full Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems
title_fullStr Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems
title_full_unstemmed Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems
title_short Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems
title_sort crop livestock synergies and by products recycling major factors for agroecology in west african agro sylvo pastoral systems
topic agroecology
biodiversity
organic fertilizers
mixed farming
forage
biomass
integrated crop-livestock systems
agroecosystems
recycling
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/139374
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