@article{fdi:010084362,
  title = {{N}utrient flows and balances in mixed farming systems in {M}adagascar},
  author = {{F}anjaniaina, {M}. {L}. and {S}tark, {F}. and {R}amarovahoaka, {N}. {P}. and {R}akotoharinaivo, {J}. {F}. and {R}afolisy, {T}. and {S}algado, {P}. and {B}ecquer, {T}hierry},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}ixed farming systems are still prevalent in sub-{S}aharan {A}frica. {I}n these systems, the recycling of nutrients through crop-livestock integration ({CLI}) practices is crucial for the sustainability of soil fertility and crop production. {T}he objective of this study was to analyze nutrient ({N}, {P}, {K}) flows and balances of mixed farming systems to assess {CLI} contribution to the performance of those systems. {W}e hypothesized that more intensive farms had a better nutrient balance at the farm level, and that improved biomass management methods improved their nutrient balance. {N}ine farms in the {M}adagascar highlands were selected, some corresponding to poor traditional farms with only draft cattle; some small or medium-sized, more intensive farms with a dairy herd; and some of the latter with some improvement to management methods of livestock effluents (manure composting, liquid manure collection). {T}he nutrient balance of the farming systems was determined, and performance indicators were calculated at both farming, livestock, and {CLI} levels. {R}esults showed that nutrient recycling through {CLI} is significant in the functioning of the systems studied, contributing primarily to circulating nutrient flows (up to 76%) and leading to greater efficiency and productivity. {N}utrient flows resulting from these practices mainly concerned animal feeding (higher than 60% of nutrient flows), even if manure management was central for crop fertilization and that manure remained a desired animal product of these types of farms (up to 100% of animal products). {L}arge negative balances of {N} and {K} (up to 80% of inputs) were observed in traditional livestock systems with draft cattle. {T}hey were smaller (39-68%) in more intensive dairy farms. {C}omposting of manure did not decrease negative balances, whereas their magnitude was significantly reduced by the collection of liquid manure (19% for {N}; 42% for {K}). {B}etter management of biomass at the farm level, in particular the collection of liquid manure, seemed to substantially reduce nutrient losses in {MFS}.},
  keywords = {biomass management ; livestock effluents ; low input farming systems ; network analysis ; efficiency ; sustainability assessment ; crop-livestock ; integration ; {MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}ustainability},
  volume = {14},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {984 [19 ]},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.3390/su14020984},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084362},
}