Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Lienhard P., Panyasiri K., Sayphoummie S., Leudphanane B., Lestrelin Guillaume, Seguy L., Tivet F. (2014). Profitability and opportunity of conservation agriculture in acid savannah grasslands of Laos. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 12 (4), p. 391-406. ISSN 1473-5903.

Titre du document
Profitability and opportunity of conservation agriculture in acid savannah grasslands of Laos
Année de publication
2014
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000341135700003
Auteurs
Lienhard P., Panyasiri K., Sayphoummie S., Leudphanane B., Lestrelin Guillaume, Seguy L., Tivet F.
Source
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 2014, 12 (4), p. 391-406 ISSN 1473-5903
In north-eastern Laos, the savannah grasslands of the Plain of Jars cover vast areas of potentially cultivable land. However, soil acidity, low inherent fertility, and the absence of alternatives to tillage represent significant constraints to the development of sustainable smallholder agriculture. Our objective was to evaluate the potential for conservation agriculture (CA) to enhance soil productivity and farming system profitability. A three-year rotation of rice/maize/soybean was tested under three fertilization levels and four agricultural systems: one conventional tillage-based (CT) system and three CA systems based on no-tillage with cover crops. After four cropping seasons, our results show that, compared with CT, CA systems led to similar-to-higher grain production, similar-to-higher profits, higher opportunity of livestock system intensification, and higher labour productivity regardless of fertilization levels. While CA represents a relevant alternative to current practices, our results suggest that its contribution to the emergence of a sustainable smallholder agriculture is conditioned by broader institutional transformations, including the enrolment of local manufacturers and traders for deploying no-till implements and seed market channels for cover crops, long-term public support to maintain active research and technical mentoring to farmers, and possibly the integration of ecosystem services in agricultural policy.
Plan de classement
Sciences du monde végétal [076]
Description Géographique
LAOS
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010062522]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010062522
Contact