The Institute of Rural Economy, Mali has undertaken a study in the scope of the SustainSahel project with the specific aim is to evaluate the effect of alley cropping with Leucaena leucocephala (Photo 1) on the improvement of the bio-physical-chemical properties of the soil and on the yield of the cotton (Photo 2) and maize crop.
Project location and methods
The study is taking place in the villages of Nagnassoni (Commune of Fama), Zoumana-Diassa and Touroumadié (Commune of Kléla) in the Sikasso region of southern Mali. In each village, four volunteer farmers were chosen to carry out the study:
- A split-plot design with L. leucocephaqle as the primary factor and three organo-mineral fertilisation options as secondary factors was adopted.
- The cotton and maize plots were installed in June with the close cooperation of the producers
- Followed by transplantation of the nursery-produced L. leucocephala plants later in July 2022.
- The experiment will take place over three agricultural seasons with cotton and maize in rotation.
At the beginning of the second cropping season, the leaf biomass of Leucaena will be cut, weighed and ploughed into the soil in order to assess its impact on improving the bio-physical-chemical properties of the soil and crop yields.
The results of soil sample analysis and cotton and maize yields will allow the performance of this agroforestry technology to be assessed under the agroecological conditions of southern Mali.
Experiment results... coming soon!
Written by: Dr Sidi Sanogo, Researcher in the Forest Resources Programme at the Institute of Rural Economy (IER) of Mali
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