Strip Cropping Effect on Yield of Maize, Cowpea and Groundnut in Northern Ghana
Larbi A.1, Addul Rahman N.1, Hoeschle-Zeledon I.2
1International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) – Tamale, Ghana
2International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) - Ibadan, Nigeria
Corresponding author email: [email protected]
A randomized complete block design with 5 replicates was used.
Intercrop treatments were maize pure stand (M), cowpea pure
stand (C), groundnut pure stand (G), 2M:2C, 2M:2G, 2M:4C and
2M:4G. Grain yield, land equivalent ratio (LER) and land saved
were measured.
Results and main findings
o Strip cropping did not affect grain yield of maize, cowpea and
ground.
o land equivalent ratio of strip cropping showed better
productivity (Fig. 1).
o Land saving for strip cropping showed positive results (Fig. 2)
o Majority of farmers preferred 2M:2L option (Fig. 3)
Land equivalent ratio
Key research activities
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
2M : 2G
2M: 4G
2M : 2C
Strip cropping
2M : 4C
Fig. 1: Effect of strip cropping land equivalent ratio
60
Implications of the research for
generating development outcomes
Strip cropping of maize and legume at 2M: 4L or 2M: 2L may be
used to increase productivity of maize-legume system in Northern
Ghana.
Land saving (%)
50
40
30
20
10
0
2M : 4C
How this work would continue in
Africa RISING phase 2
2M : 2G
2M: 4G
Strip cropping
2M : 2C
Fig. 2: Effect of strip cropping on land saving
Results from this study can be used for scaling-up activity in
Africa RISING phase 2 to improve productivity of crop –livestock
systems in northern Ghana.
SC
Current partnerships and future
engagements for out scaling
100
80
60
40
20
0
SM
Female
Male
2M:2G
SG
2M:2C
Current : Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA)
Future: Agricultural Technology Transfer project (ATT)
2M:4C
2M:4G
Fig 3: Farmer preference for strip cropping
The Africa Research In Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING) program comprises three research-fordevelopment projects supported by the United States Agency for International Development as part of the U.S. government’s Feed the
Future initiative.
The three projects are led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (in West Africa and East and Southern Africa) and the
International Livestock Research Institute (in the Ethiopian Highlands). The International Food Policy Research Institute leads an
associated project on monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment.
Through action research and development partnerships, Africa RISING will create opportunities for smallholder farm households to move out
of hunger and poverty through sustainably intensified farming systems that improve food, nutrition, and income security, particularly for
women and children, and conserve or enhance the natural resource base.
www.africa-rising.net