@article{fdi:010082684,
  title = {{A}n overlooked local resource : shrub-intercropping for food production, drought resistance and ecosystem restoration in the {S}ahel},
  author = {{B}right, {M}. {B}. {H}. and {D}iedhiou, {I}. and {B}ayala, {R}. and {B}ogie, {N}. and {C}hapuis {L}ardy, {L}ydie and {G}hezzehei, {T}. {A}. and {J}ourdan, {C}. and {S}ambou, {D}. {M}. and {N}dour, {Y}. {B}. and {C}ournac, {L}aurent and {D}ick, {R}. {P}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {S}ahel is at the nexus of extreme ecological, socio-economic, and food security challenges where {G}reen {R}evolution technologies have not been adopted and yields remain unchanged since the 1960s. {A}lthough the {P}arkland system where trees are maintained in cropped fields can have positive ecosystem outcomes, there is limited success for increasing yields at the landscape level. {H}ere we report on a long-term study of inter-cropping with a local and overlooked evergreen shrub, {G}uiera senegalensis that offers a new approach to remediate degraded soils and increase crop productivity. {A} long-term factorial split-plot experiment of an optimized {G}. senegalensis intercropping system (similar to 1500 shrubs ha(-1) with coppiced residue additions to soils) compared to sole-cropping (as the main plot treatment) under four fertilizer treatments (0-1.5 times the recommended {NPK} rate) (as sub-plot treatment) was conducted relative to edaphic and agronomic performance of pearl millet ({P}ennisetum glaucum) and groundnut ({A}rachis hypogaea) in {S}enegal, {W}est {A}frica. {C}ontrary to conventional perspectives, {G}. senegalensis was non-competitive and indeed when coppiced there was a temporal offset of its fine root growth to the late rainy season when crop nutrient and water requirements are diminishing. {T}he {G}. senegalensis intercropping system significantly increased crop yields, notably for millet where yields averaged across fertilizer treatments increased 126%. {I}mportantly this system, over sole-cropping, maintained yields in low rainfall years which coincided with this system having significantly greater water use efficiency for both millet and groundnut. {T}hese responses were related to improved soil quality (increased particulate and total organic matter, and extractable nutrients). {A}n important finding was that this system keeps surface soil temperatures below the critical 35 celcius, plant-physiological threshold during crop establishment which greatly improves crop emergence and early season growth. {W}e conclude that this optimized shrub-intercropping system with its ability to produce abundant biomass (unpalatable to livestock) and unique ecological adaptation to coppicing, provides a logical approach for increasing food security and mitigating climate change. {I}t is a local resource which subsistence farmers can directly utilize without external inputs or new infrastructure.},
  keywords = {{S}hrub-intercropping ; {G}uiera senegalensis ; {M}illet ; {P}eanut ; {G}roundnut ; {D}rought ; {SENEGAL} ; {THIES} ; {ZONE} {SAHELIENNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}griculture {E}cosystems and {E}nvironment},
  volume = {319},
  numero = {},
  pages = {107523 [17 p.]},
  ISSN = {0167-8809},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.agee.2021.107523},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082684},
}