Presentation at the RTB Annual Review and Planning Meeting (Entebbe, Uganda, 29 Sep-3 Oct 2014)

1. Developing tools
for more productive, ecologically robust
cropping systems
RTB Annual Review and Planning Meeting 2014
29th Sept to 3rd Oct, Entebbe, Uganda

2. Theme 5 product lines
- Ecological and physiological understanding
of RTB crops and cropping systems:
- Increasing productivity in RTB cropping
systems through nutrient/water/light
management practices:
- Integrated decision and management tools
for RTB crops developed and validated:

3. Topics in theme 5 presentation
Topics in theme 5 presentation:
-Yield gaps
- Cropping system proposal for West Africa
- Yam cropping system
- Crop models
- Collaboration with other CRPs
- looking forward

4. Yield Gap Analysis
GAP

5. Community of practices on
potato yield gap analysis in SSA:
3 methods:
1) Model simulations
2) Field experiments and yield contests
3) Historical maximum farmer yields
Workshops Regional Field
Experiments
ICT(e-mail exchange,
Skype meetings,
phone calls, SMS,
etc..)

6. Potential, experimental farmer yield
Tigoni
Kabuku
Kabete1
Kabete2
Site
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Rwegura
Fongo-Tongo
Mulungu
Adet1
Adet2
Antsirabe
Sussundenga
Kuru
Kalengyere
Suyian
Marigat
Bembeke
Tuber Yield (t/ha)
0
Yield Simulated on Potential conditions
Yield Observed in experiment
Average yield
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Unica Granola Yungay Canchan Perricholi Perricholi Capiro Andina Ccompis Waycha
Rendimiento (t/ha)
R. Potencial R. Experimental R. lim. agua

7. Maximum yield:
minor banana cultivars
Banana expert survey: 161 responses by minor cultivar group.
Survey conducted of experts self identified as knowledgeable about minor cultivars
with 21 responses. In addition, literature survey
Maximum reported bunch weight per cultivar group.
Largest bunch weight reported
Cultivar group Less common Musa
cultivar - expert survey
N Literature cited in this
review
N*
Gros Michel
AAA
40kg ‘Gros Michel’ 5 75kg ‘Gros Michel’ 6
Other AAAs 65kg ‘Lakatan’ 3 29,6kg ‘Viemama’ 30
ABBs 80kg ‘Sohokunture’ 6 22kg ‘Saba’ 51
Dessert AABs 40kg ‘BRS Platina’ 4 28,7kg ‘Thap Maeo’ 31
Diploids No respondents 0 20kg ‘Pisang Berangan’ 29

8. Yield gap analysis plantain WA

9. Yield gap continued:
Limitations

10. Concept note: intensification of cropping systems
with plantain in West and Central Africa

11. Country/zone system Agroclimate – annual rainfall Distance to
market
intensive Mixed
food
crops
Mixed
perennial and
food crops
Dry
seasonal
900-1500
Short dry
season 1500-
2500
Wet
>2500
close far
Guinea - forest X X X
Cote d’Ivoire X X X
Cote d’Ivoire X X X
Ghana X X X
Ghana X X X
Nigeria X X X
Nigeria X X X
Cameroon –
X X
volcanic soils
Cameroon/Gabon X X X
Congo - Brazza X X X
Congo – bas
X X X
Congo
Congo -
Kinsangani
X X X

12. Mixed cropping – yield gaps
Characterizing cropping systems
And yield gaps – methods/studies
Intensifying cropping systems
– methods and tools/protoypes

13. Crop models:
Potato – CIP
Sweet potato
Free download: http://inrm.cip.cgiar.org/home/downmod.htm
Banana – CIRAD, Bioversity, IITA

14. Yam based cropping systems
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Nil Fertilizer
0 10003 13333 14815 16667 19048 22222 26667 33333
Maize grain yield (Mg ha -1DM)
Yam plant density ha-1
Maize grain yield = -0.3277 yam density + 3.9
r² = 0.83
4.3
4.1
3.9
3.7
3.5
3.3
3.1
2.9
2.7
2.5
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Maize grain yield (Mg ha -1DM)
Yam plant density m-2
*

15. Collaboration with other CRPs
Joint workshop with Humidtropics
Collaborative research with CRP Maize in Africa
Potential for collaboration with CRP grain legumes

16. Looking forward
Yield gaps –
- Monocrops
- Mixed cropping: total field output versus component crops
Toolbox for cropping system intensification – decision criteria:
- relative resource use, soil health
- multiple use – leaves and roots
- collaboration with other commodity CRPs
- effects on pests and diseases
Climate change
- CCAFS minimal commodity focus
Collaborative models with systems CRP:
Gender and generational roles in cropping systems intensification

17. Thank you