Abstract
Much research has been conducted on cereal-legume intercropping as a sustainable intensification (SI) practice in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). However, the role of inorganic fertilizers in sustainably intensifying intercropping systems has not been systematically analyzed. Therefore, the objective of the present analysis was to assess the role of inorganic fertilizer use in cereal-pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) intercropping in terms of SI indicators, namely, yield, production risks, input use efficiency, and economic returns. The data used for this analysis were gathered from over 900 on-farm trials across Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique. All SI indicators assessed showed that intercropping combined with application of small amounts of inorganic fertilizers is superior to unfertilized intercrops. Fertilizer application in the intercropping system improved cereal yields by 71–282% and pigeon pea yields by 32–449%, increased benefit–cost ratios by 10–40%, and reduced variability in cereal yields by 40–56% and pigeonpea yields by 5–52% compared with unfertilized intercrops. Improved yields and reduced variability imply lowering farmers’ risk exposure and improved credit rating, which could enhance access to farm inputs. We conclude that the strategic application of small amounts of inorganic fertilizers is essential for the productivity and economic sustainability of cereal-pigeonpea intercropping under smallholder farming in ESA.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer improved cereal yields by 71–282% compared with unfertilized intercrops.
Verbatim
e0“Fertilizer application in the intercropping system improved cereal yields by 71–282% and pigeon pea yields by 32–449%, increased benefit–cost ratios by 10–40%, and reduced variability in cereal yields by 40–56% and pigeonpea yields by 5–52% compared with unfertilized intercrops”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer improved pigeon pea yields by 32–449% compared with unfertilized intercrops.
- Taxon
- pigeon pea
Cajanus cajane0 - Treatment
- Fertilizer applicatione0
- Outcome
- pigeon pea yieldse0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Value
- 32–449%e0
- Comparator
- unfertilized intercropse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fertilizer application in the intercropping system improved cereal yields by 71–282% and pigeon pea yields by 32–449%, increased benefit–cost ratios by 10–40%, and reduced variability in cereal yields by 40–56% and pigeonpea yields by 5–52% compared with unfertilized intercrops”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer increased benefit–cost ratios by 10–40% compared with unfertilized intercrops.
- Taxon
- pigeon peaCajanus cajane0
- Treatment
- Fertilizer applicatione0
- Outcome
- benefit–cost ratiose0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 10–40%e0
- Comparator
- unfertilized intercropse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fertilizer application in the intercropping system improved cereal yields by 71–282% and pigeon pea yields by 32–449%, increased benefit–cost ratios by 10–40%, and reduced variability in cereal yields by 40–56% and pigeonpea yields by 5–52% compared with unfertilized intercrops”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer reduced variability in cereal yields by 40–56% compared with unfertilized intercrops.
Verbatim
e0“Fertilizer application in the intercropping system improved cereal yields by 71–282% and pigeon pea yields by 32–449%, increased benefit–cost ratios by 10–40%, and reduced variability in cereal yields by 40–56% and pigeonpea yields by 5–52% compared with unfertilized intercrops”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer reduced variability in pigeonpea yields by 5–52% compared with unfertilized intercrops.
- Taxon
- pigeonpeaCajanus cajane0
- Treatment
- Fertilizer applicatione0
- Outcome
- pigeonpea yieldse0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 5–52%e0
- Comparator
- unfertilized intercropse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fertilizer application in the intercropping system improved cereal yields by 71–282% and pigeon pea yields by 32–449%, increased benefit–cost ratios by 10–40%, and reduced variability in cereal yields by 40–56% and pigeonpea yields by 5–52% compared with unfertilized intercrops”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude that small amounts of inorganic fertilizer are essential for productivity and economic sustainability of cereal-pigeonpea intercropping.
Verbatim
e0“the strategic application of small amounts of inorganic fertilizers is essential for the productivity and economic sustainability of cereal-pigeonpea intercropping under smallholder farming in ESA”
The same questions in other papers
fertilization · yield · Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea)Positive and negative results
158 papers in the same direction as this paper · 7 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- no effect
- no effect
162 papers more in this group
See all 166 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.