@article{fdi:010088720,
  title = {{S}ustainable intensification of sorghum-based cropping systems in semi-arid sub-{S}aharan {A}frica : the role of improved varieties, mineral fertilizer, and legume integration},
  author = {{T}raore, {A}. and {F}alconnier, {G}. {N}. and {C}ou{\¨e}del, {A}. and {S}ultan, {B}enjamin and {C}himonyo, {V}. {G}. {P}. and {A}dam, {M}. and {A}ffholder, {F}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}roblem: {S}ustainable intensification of cereal cropping systems can contribute to reducing food insecurity while mitigating biodiversity losses thanks to land sparing. {Y}et, intensifying crop production with more nutrient inputs often increases sensitivity to climate hazards and yields inter-annual variability. {H}ow different options for sustainable intensification interact and how they could help achieve greater and less variable yields is not well known for key cereal cropping systems of sub-{S}aharan {A}frica.{O}bjective: {H}ere, we aim to assess the impact on productivity and its interannual variation of three contrasted strategies of crop intensification, namely i) the integration of cowpea intercropped with sorghum or as sole crop, ii) improved varieties with high harvest index and greater nitrogen use efficiency, and iii) the use of more mineral fertilizer.{M}ethods: {W}e did this assessment using a calibrated soil-crop model for a case study of sorghum-based cropping systems of semi-arid southern {M}ali, using a historical weather series from 1980 to 2010.{R}esults: {W}e found that the incremental combinations of two or three strategies helped increase productivity in terms of energy and protein. {H}owever, greater productivity went hand in hand with greater inter-annual vari-ability. {I}ntercropping sorghum with cowpea helped to reduce the inter-annual variability of productivity, but only when mineral fertilizer was not added. {W}ith mineral fertilizer input, sorghum contributed the largest share of the intercrop productivity, and sorghum yield was more variable from a year to another than cowpea yield. {T}he overall productivity of intercropping sorghum with cowpea was always greater than having the two sole crops on separate plots. {T}his was possible thanks to the facilitation of light, water and {N} acquisition by the two crops in the intercropping, regardless of the specificities of the growing season with regard to water and nitrogen stress. {H}owever, the variability of productivity was smaller for the cultivation of the two sole crops on separate plots, regardless of fertilizer input.{C}onclusion: {T}he often-claimed benefit of intercropping on reducing the inter-annual variability of production does not hold when the three strategies are combined.{I}mplications: {O}ur results suggest that the integration of legumes does not help cushion farmers against the risk related to the intensification of cropping systems with more nutrients and improved seeds. {C}areful gross margin analysis that accounts for price variability and uncertainty would be required to refine this risk assessment for specific farm contexts. {W}e discuss the implication of these findings in light of the current research agenda for the sustainable intensification of cropping systems in sub-{S}aharan {A}frica.},
  keywords = {{S}tics ; {I}ntercropping ; {F}ertilizer ; {Y}ield variability ; {S}orghum ; {C}owpea ; {MALI} ; {AFRIQUE} {SUBSAHARIENNE} ; {ZONE} {SOUDANOSAHELIENNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}ield {C}rops {R}esearch},
  volume = {304},
  numero = {},
  pages = {109180 [10 ]},
  ISSN = {0378-4290},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109180},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088720},
}