Maize-legume rotation and intercropping

Maize-legume: Savings in Soil, Growth in Profit

This practice harnesses biological nitrogen fixation in legume roots, benefiting the productivity of rotated or intercropped maize crops. Assimilated nitrogen is transferred between the crops through soil processes. Mineral fertilizer application is highly efficient, and intercropping alleviates weed infestation, soil erosion, and run-off. Certain legumes reduce parasitic Striga weed infestations in maize, further enhancing crop health. Tall maize crops regulate soil temperature and improve water productivity.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 8/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive high

Under 18: Positive low

Women: Positive high

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

Water use: Same amount of water used

Problem

Nutrient limitation in subsistence farming systems: In subsistence farming, there is often a lack of essential nutrients like nitrogen in the soil, hindering plant growth and reducing crop yields.
High nitrogen fertilizer expenses in commercial farming systems: Commercial farmers face significant costs associated with nitrogen-based fertilizers, impacting their profitability and economic sustainability.
Weed infestation, leading to reduced crop productivity: Weeds compete with crops for resources, resulting in lower crop yields and making it harder for farmers to meet their production goals.
Pest and disease outbreaks impacting crop health: Pest and disease outbreaks can cause extensive damage to crops, affecting both quality and quantity, leading to financial losses for farmers.
Risk of hunger season due to crop failure caused by drought or pest attacks: Subsistence farmers are at risk of food scarcity if their crops fail due to factors like drought or pest attacks, which can have serious consequences for household nutrition and well-being.

Solution

Enhanced Soil Fertility through Nitrogen Fixation: Utilizes biological nitrogen fixation in legumes to enrich soil with essential nutrients, promoting healthier plant growth and increased crop yields.
Cost-Effective Nitrogen Management: Reduces dependency on expensive synthetic fertilizers by naturally fixing nitrogen from the air through maize-legume rotation and intercropping.
Natural Weed Control: Effectively manages weed growth by keeping more land covered and protected throughout the growing season, leading to minimized weed infestation and enhanced overall crop productivity.
Pest Resilience through Intercropping: Intercropping with specific legumes reduces infestations of harmful Striga weeds in maize crops, enhancing crop health and resilience against pests.
Risk Mitigation for Food Security: Cultivating two complementary crops on the same land reduces the risk of complete crop failure, ensuring a more reliable and balanced food supply, and contributing to enhanced food security for subsistence farmers.

Key points to design your project

This technology enhances crop productivity, ensures food security, and promotes economic sustainability by optimizing nitrogen management, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and fostering healthier plant growth. It also contributes to ecosystem preservation by effectively managing weeds and combating Striga weed infestations, all while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

To integrate this technology into your project, a series of activities and prerequisites should be outlined:

Educate farmers about the benefits of maize-legume rotation and intercropping.
Provide guidance to farmers on suitable methods for mixed cultivation and varieties based on local contexts.
Obtain high-quality seed of maize and legumes, along with mineral fertilizer and legume inoculants.
Allocate funds for training and post-training support to ensure effective utilization of the technology.
Develop communication materials like flyers, videos, and radio broadcasts to promote technology adoption.
Establish partnerships with agro-input dealers, subsistence, and commercial maize and legume farmers for implementation.

For enhanced optimization, consider associating with drought-tolerant varieties, specialized pre-plant fertilizer blending, N topdressing, and fall armyworm control in maize production.

ROI: $$$ 0.5—1 tons

maize grain yields increase in yield/ha

30—70 kilograms

of nitrogen carried over from soybean to maize crops

IP

Unknown

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Goal 13: climate action

Goal 12: responsible production and consumption

Select Compatible Varieties: Choose maize and legume varieties that complement each other in growth.
Prepare the Land: Clear debris, plow, and create well-drained beds.
Planting: Sow maize in rows, leaving space for legumes in between.
Weed Control: Keep the area weed-free, especially in the early stages.
Fertilize and Monitor: Apply nutrients as needed, and monitor for pests and diseases.
Water Management: Provide sufficient water for both crops.
Harvest Separately: Harvest maize and legumes when they reach maturity.
Post-Harvest Handling: Clean, dry, and store each crop appropriately.