Relay intercropping of sweet potato with legumes

Harvest More, Worry Less with Sweet Potato-Legume Relay Intercropping

Relay intercropping of sweet potato with legumes is a transformative agricultural practice. By planting these crops together, farmers can significantly boost yields, improve resource efficiency, and reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizers, ultimately enhancing food security and economic stability. This approach not only ensures a more balanced diet for subsistence farmers but also mitigates the risk of crop failure due to factors like drought or pests. It's a versatile solution suitable for various regions in Sub-Saharan Africa, making efficient use of limited land and labor resources while bolstering farming communities' resilience to adverse weather conditions.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

8•8

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

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive medium

Under 18: Positive medium

Women: Positive medium

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

Introducing relay intercropping of sweet potato with legumes, this innovative agricultural approach presents several challenges:

Crop Selection and Compatibility: Selecting the appropriate variety of sweet potato and type of legume that are well-suited to the local conditions can be challenging, and the compatibility between different crop species needs careful consideration.
Management Complexity: Managing the timing of planting and growth stages for two different crops in close proximity can be complex and requires careful planning and monitoring.
Labor Intensity: Intercropping may demand more labor input, particularly during planting, maintenance, and harvesting, which can be a burden for resource-constrained farming communities.
Knowledge and Training: Farmers may require training and knowledge on the intricacies of intercropping to ensure its successful implementation.
Weed Control: Effective weed management can be more challenging in intercropped fields compared to monoculture crops.
Disease and Pest Control: While intercropping can help reduce some pest-related issues, it may also introduce new disease and pest management challenges.
Market Demand: The market may not always favor intercropped produce, and finding suitable markets for these mixed crops can be an obstacle.
Infrastructure and Storage: Adequate infrastructure and storage facilities for intercropped crops can be lacking in some regions, leading to post-harvest losses.
Initial Investment: Farmers may require initial investments in resources such as hermetic bags, which could be a barrier for those with limited capital.
Scaling and Adoption: Widespread adoption and scaling of this technique may face challenges, particularly in areas with traditional farming practices.

Solution

The relay intercropping of sweet potato with legumes offers several key benefits for farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa:

Increased Yields and Total Harvests: This method optimizes land and resource use, resulting in higher yields and overall harvests compared to monocrop cultivation.
Resource Efficiency: By intercropping, farmers make better use of land, nutrients, and water resources, leading to improved crop productivity.
Pest and Disease Reduction: Intercropping helps reduce damage by pests and diseases, enhancing crop health and reducing the need for chemical interventions.
Improved Soil Nitrogen: The presence of legumes increases soil nitrogen, promoting better sweet potato tuber production and reducing the reliance on nitrogen fertilizers.
Nutrition and Food Security: Intercropping provides a more nutritional and balanced diet for subsistence farmers, contributing to food security in the region.
Risk Mitigation: The practice reduces the risk of a hunger season in the event of crop failure due to factors like drought or pest attacks.
Efficient Resource Use: Intercropping maximizes the efficiency of labor, fertilizer, and irrigation inputs, ensuring greater returns for farmers.
Environmental Benefits: It helps to reduce weed infestation, soil erosion, and run-off, while also enhancing water and light use efficiency.
Crop Resilience: Crop diversification through intercropping strengthens the resilience of farming communities to unfavorable weather conditions.
Adaptability: The technology is suitable for various regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and can be tailored to local conditions and preferences, offering flexibility to 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 weed infestations, all while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

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

Education for farmers about the benefits of intercropping sweet potato and legumes,
Selecting the right varieties to grow alongside each other depending on local contexts,
Acquiring quality planting materials for sweet potato and legumes,
Purchase of mineral fertilizer and legume inoculants.

For enhanced optimization, consider associating with Orange-fleshed sweet potato (Bio-fortified, Drought and virus tolerant), Raised beds for sweet potato production and weed management.

IP

Open source / open access

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
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–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 2: zero hunger

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Goal 1: no poverty

Goal 13: climate action

The relay intercropping of sweet potato with legumes involves the following steps:

1. Planting on Ridges: Start by planting sweet potatoes on raised ridges, leaving space between the rows for other crops.

2. Layout Options: Choose a suitable layout for intercropping, which can include alternating rows of sweet potatoes and legumes, planting them in strips of 2-3 rows, or scattering them randomly within the field.

3. Planting Density: Adjust the spacing of sweet potatoes based on the type and size of the legume being intercropped. For larger legumes like common beans, soybeans, or peas, sweet potato spacing may need to be modified.

4. Simultaneous or Relay Planting: Decide whether to plant both crops simultaneously or in a relay fashion, aligning their growth and harvest according to local preferences and conditions.

5. Inoculation: Inoculate legume crops with a suitable strain of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to enhance their nitrogen-fixing capabilities, which benefits the sweet potato crop.