International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
ICRISAT Open Access RepositoryNot a member yet
12134 research outputs found
Sort by
Evaluation of Diverse Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench)] Genotypes for Drought Tolerance and Yield Performance in Nigeria
No full textSorghum is a staple cereal crop in Nigeria, particularly valued for its adaptability to harsh environments and its importance in food security. With increasing climate variability and recurrent drought episodes, identifying drought-tolerant genotypes for adaptation and climate-smart variety development, which forms the objective of this study, is critical. 192 diverse range of early, medium, and late-maturing sorghum lines, with varying degrees of drought tolerance sourced from sorghum-growing countries across Africa were evaluated, aimed at identifying high-yielding, drought-tolerant genotypes that could also serve as parental lines in crop improvement. The experiment was conducted using an alpha lattice design with two replications. Data were collected on agronomic, yield, and drought-tolerance traits and analyzed statistically. The collections were clustered, and correlation matrices, biplots, and scatterplots were used to determine trait contributions and classify genotypes. Four major clusters were identified at a Euclidean distance of 0.2. Correlation analysis revealed strong associations between grain yield and both panicle weight and panicle length (r = 0.96). Plant height showed a significant positive correlation with days to maturity (r=1), but a neutral association with yield—suggesting that taller plants require longer growth periods without necessarily improving productivity. Box plot and scatter plot analyses revealed a wide range of grain yield across maturity groups (<500 to~2000 kg/ha), with medium-maturing genotypes achieving the highest median yield (1100 kg/ha)and the broadest yield range. Extra-early and early maturing genotypes had moderate but more uniform yields, indicating a relationship between earliness and productivity. In contrast, late-maturing genotypes exhibited very high yield variability. Variability was also observed in stay-green expression, a key drought-related trait. Notably, genotypes ICSV 246167, ICSV 246160, ICSV 246011, and ICSV 246145 were identified as promising parental lines for developing improved, drought-resilient sorghum varieties
Interplay of resource endowments, agriculture and nutritional outcomes in the Central Indian Landscape
Full text linkThe agricultural development, resource availability and nutritional outcomes are inherently interconnected, particularly in ecologically vulnerable regions. In such context, fluctuations in resource endowments, especially water, directly impact agricultural productivity, which in turn shapes household income and food consumption patterns. Despite growing policy focus on improving agricultural output and food security, a fragmented understanding of how these domains interact has limited the effectiveness of interventions. This study, therefore, undertaken to bridge this knowledge gap by providing an integrated analysis of how natural resources and agricultural practices collectively influence nutritional outcomes in the Central Indian Landscape (CIL) in South Asia. A primary survey of 1,403 households was carried out from 20 villages across seven districts of the CIL and applied ordered probit model to identify important drivers which influences nutritional outcomes. On average, about 40% of total agricultural area was kept fallow either during monsoon or post-monsoon period largely due to poor water availability in dug wells, which is the major source of irrigation. For most crops, yield was ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 t ha−1. Livestock is an integral part of the farming system as 60% of the households own cattle, buffalo and goats. Income sources are diverse, with agriculture and livestock contributing significantly to large farmers’ income, while marginal and small farmers rely more on labor and remittances. The average annual household income for marginal farmers and large farmers is US 4,930, respectively. A model analyzing factors influencing nutritional indicators such as energy, protein, and iron intake reveals that larger landholdings, higher income, education, and participation in welfare programs like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) improve nutritional outcomes. Family size negatively impacts dietary intake, while irrigated land positively affects energy, protein, and iron intake. These findings suggests that the critical need for integrated water resource management along with improving irrigation infrastructures, climate-resilient agriculture practices and promoting education and expanding access to social welfare programs are key to enhancing income, food and nutritional security of resource-poor households in vulnerable ecologies
Genetic variability studies for quantitative traits in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) mapping population and maintainer lines under different phosphorus fertilizer rates in Sudano Sahelian Agro-Ecology of Nigeria
Full text linkLow soil Phosphorus is considered to be one of the major limiting factors to pearl millet production in
sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study seeks to establish the extent of genetic variability in the pearl millet mapping population and maintainers under varying levels of phosphorus. A set of twenty-four pearl millet mapping population and maintainer lines were evaluated at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Minjibir experimental station under two levels of Phosphorus application to determine the genotype responses and to identify major traits involved in Phosphorus tolerance. The
experiment was laid out in an alpha lattice with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all 11 characters studied. The study identified phosphorus-tolerant lines, P1449-2, PT732B-P2, ICMB 89111, ICMB 90111, and susceptible lines; H77/833-2 P5 (NT), Tift 186, and H77/833-2 (reselected), which could be utilized in developing QTLs to aid in marker-assisted breeding. Phosphorus fertilizer application resulted in significantly higher grain and grain yield components.
Phosphorus application significantly increased heritability and genetic advance values in most of the yield and yield components. High heritability (60.12) coupled with high genetic advance (317.56) was found for head weight, followed by grain weight with high heritability (44.45) and high genetic advance (99.46), indicating that most likely the heritability is due to additive gene effects, and selection based on these characters would be effective for further pearl millet mapping population improvement program
The practice of scaling landscape-based fertilizer advisory in Ethiopia: Drivers, pathways, and strategies for upstream-downstream integration for scaling
Full text linkSmallholder farming in Ethiopia faces challenges with poor nutrient use efficiency and low yields. Addressing these issues requires site-specific nutrient management strategies. Since 2020, a landscape-based fertilizer advisory has been developed, co-validated, and piloted to improve fertilizer use efficiency, lower costs for smallholder farmers, and promote environmental sustainability. This effort has been catalyzed by the CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy Initiative and driven by demand partners from the local to the national level. This paper systematically analyzes the process and practice of scaling up this innovation, using an agricultural innovation system (AIS) analysis. Using a contextualized innovation scaling framework, we examine the dissemination process and mechanisms, key drivers of scalability, the institutional collaboration and governance of the scaling process and practices. We emphasize the importance of a demand-driven, participatory, and collaborative scaling process that guides the analysis of scaling drivers, diffusion pathways, barriers, and strategies for responsible scaling from both local (horizontal scaling) and national (vertical scaling) perspectives. This scaling process has led to a localized, farmer-relevant nutrient management approach that delivers optimized and cost-effective advisory services. Consequently, farmers have demonstrated significant improvements in understanding (86–94 %) and implementing the landscape-based advisory (75–91 %), with usability scores ranging from 4.2 to 5.2 out of 7. This paper provides insights and guidance to facilitate the transition from delivery to scaling agricultural innovations on a large scale, emphasizing the importance of a contextualized science of scaling and pathways, customized strategies, successful partnerships, responsible scaling, and ongoing efforts to overcome emerging barriers to effective scaling
Nitrogen Fertilizer Replacement in Legume Cereal Rotations
Full text linkSustainable food production is one of the major global challenges, exacerbated by climate change, increasing population, and natural resource degradation, including soil degradation and loss of biodiversity (Pretty and Bharucha, 2014; Vanlauwe et al., 2014). Cropping systems that specialize in one or two crops, with little attention to crop diversity, may lead to biological and physical soil degradation (Kirschenmann, 2002; Tanaka et al., 2010). Annual cropping systems, which include diverse crops such as cereals, legumes, and oilseeds, may be economically viable options for farmers. Diversifying crops in cropping systems also influences the soil environment and diversity of soil organisms (Williams et al., 2023; Yang et al., 2020). It is crucial to consider the synergistic or antagonistic relationships of crops in cropping systems for sustainability and resilience in agricultural systems (Kirschenmann, 2007).
Legumes play a major role in the sustainability of cropping systems, primarily due to their contribution of biologically fixed N and other beneficial effects, such as breaking pest and disease cycles for non-legume crops (Agegnehu et al., 2014; Peoples et al., 1995; Siddique et al., 2008). In Ethiopia, crops and cropping systems are diverse due to large agroecological and cultural diversity, which in turn leads to variable cropping patterns. The greater reliability of return is the main feature of multiple cropping, compared to monocropping. This report summarizes the contribution of crop rotation to the yield of major cereal crops after major precursor legumes based on legacy research data on cereal-legume rotations. Determining the contribution of major leguminous crops to subsequent cereal crops in terms of yield and soil fertility will help compensate for the rate of nitrogen fertilizer required, thereby enabling integration into digital fertilizer advisory services
Exploring the entrepreneurial behavior of vegetable growers: influential factors and implications for agricultural development
Full text linkIntroduction: Entrepreneurship in agricultural sector is a key enabler of rural development and economic growth. This research delves into the entrepreneurial behavior of vegetable growers involved in polyhouse protected farming and focuses on the factors that influence their entrepreneurial pursuits.
Methods: The research employed a mixed sampling methodology and the data collection was done by personally interviews. Whereas, data were analyzed using various statistical techniques including Entrepreneurial behavior index computation and Kendall’s tau correlation.
Results: The results of the study reveal noteworthy associations between factors such as farm income, experience in protected cultivation, area allocated for polyhouse cultivation and extension contact with entrepreneurial behavior. Notably, income consistently demonstrated a positive correlation with all aspects of entrepreneurial behavior, while experience and extension contact also exhibited significant positive relationships. Conversely, education level displayed a negative correlation with risk-taking ability but a positive correlation with other dimensions such as cosmopoliteness and innovativeness. However, family size and gender did not demonstrate significant associations with entrepreneurial behavior.
Discussion: The findings underscored the intricate nature of entrepreneurial behavior among vegetable growers which necessitate tailored interventions to foster entrepreneurship in this sector. The research recommends policy measures like financial incentives, enhanced access to extension services and promoting collaboration among polyhouse cultivators to encourage entrepreneurship. These initiatives aim to overcome financial barriers, improve technical knowledge and address structural challenges, ultimately fostering sustainable entrepreneurship and agricultural development
Editorial: Evidences (states and experiences) of land management and food/nutrition (in)security in mixed farming systems: a global perspective
Full text linkThe world is not on track to meet sustainable development goals for ending hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition by 2030, with billions still lacking access to nutritious, safe, and sufficient food (Assefa et al., 2017; Iversen et al., 2023). The need to increase agricultural productivity in response to growing population has become a global concern (Wirsenius et al., 2010). As the world faces rapid population growth, climate change, and evolving market dynamics, rainfed farming systems are under increasing pressure to meet the growing demand for food and nutrition while also addressing the urgent need for environmental sustainability (Tully and Ryals, 2017). The challenge is not only to expand cultivated land and enhance agricultural productivity but also to manage land resources in ways that promote long-term ecological health, food security, and resilience to external shocks (Wani et al., 2009). One major sustainability issue is the limited agricultural space, which has become a critical concern as it is increasingly difficult to accommodate the growing of rainfed dependent rural population (Midmore, 2010). Expanding the arable landscape has been a vital strategy, but studies show that horizontal land expansion alone will not sustainably guarantee food security (Pretty, 1999). Ontop of limited agricultural space, mismanagement and progressive degradation of cultivated landscapes have worsened food insecurity, especially for smallholder farmers in developing countries (Zerssa et al., 2021). While conventional ways of enhancing grain productivity requires context-specific, innovative land use and management systems, yet effective solutions remain unclear (Wani et al., 2009). Recent recommendations underline that financing for food security and nutrition, along with effective tracking and innovative financing methods, is crucial for increasing investments needed to eradicate hunger and malnutrition (Iversen et al., 2023; Raj et al., 2022). The objective of the Research Topic were; (1) to explore innovative land use and management solutions to improve rural livelihoods and boost grain production, (2) to document the failures and success stories of land management strategies practiced across diverse regions of the world and finally (3) by highlighting the prevailing challenges in applying effective land use and livelihood systems, like the scalability issue, and indicating the need to co-designing of context and tailored land management solutions and (4) to identify and asses opportunities and challenges of addressing food security issues
AI-Enabled UAV Borne Hyperspectral Imaging for Crop-Livestock Farm Management
No full textCrop-livestock farming plays a crucial role in global agricultural communities by integrating crop production with livestock farming to create a sustainable and diversified farming system. However, this industry has become increasingly scrutinized due to environmental impact, climate change, and land degradation. As per present reports, crop residues, a significant livestock feed resource, are in shortage and have poor nutritional value. Moreover, various factors like heatwaves, drought, and diseases can negatively impact forage quality and reduce productivity. Conventional methods of assessing forage/crop residue quality face significant challenges, including labor-intensive, costly, time-consuming, and error-prone. UAV-based imaging can boost multi-dimensional crop improvement programs due to advantages like wider coverage, short revising times, high spatial resolutions, and ease of operation. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensors provide enriched spectral information, enabling more precise investigations into feed quality evaluation, forage management, and livestock health. Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) approaches can effectively analyze high-dimensional HSI data and extract meaningful insights. Integrating UAV-based HSI and AI/ML techniques is crucial to enhance crop-livestock farm management. This chapter explores the potential of UAV-based HSI and AI/ML for crop-livestock farm research and management, focusing on animal and forage health monitoring, and enhancing feed quality. We also emphasize AI/ML-based data analytics and algorithm development on UAV-borne HSI data to revolutionize crop-livestock farming
Genomics, Pan-Genomics, and Super Pan-Genomics of Major Oilseed Crops
No full textOilseed crops, such as soybean, groundnut, mustard, sunflower, and sesame, are important in global agriculture due to human consumption and industrial applications. Considering their importance in global agriculture, there has been significant attention given to improving both seed oil content and quality. Oil synthesis and accumulation are regulated by complex biochemical pathways and are typically classified as quantitative traits. Over the past few decades, the elucidation of regulatory pathways governing fatty acid synthesis, identification of target genes and advancements in metabolic engineering have made significant progress. Additionally, advancements in sequencing technologies and revolutionized bioinformatics have helped in a significant transformation in the field of genomic analysis. This transformation involves a shift from analyzing individual cultivars to encompassing studies of entire species at the genomic level. This paradigm shift is aimed at comprehensively capturing the full spectrum of diversity. This chapter explores the complexities of traits linked to oil content and recent advancements in mapping these traits to gain a deeper understanding of their complexity. Additionally, the concepts of the pan-genome and super pan-genome, along with the methods employed for their construction are discussed. We also discuss the current challenges faced in major oilseed crops and consider the future prospects for this ever-evolving field
Competitive Effects of Dwarf Bean Cultivars (Phaseoulus vulgaris L.) on Maize (Zea mays L.) Intercrop Productivity Influenced by Spatial Arrangements
No full textCompetitive effects and responses influenced by spatial arrangements and dwarf bean interactions were assessed in traditional maize/bean intercropping systems in northern Malawi at the Meru Experimental Research Station between the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 growing seasons. A revised maize population with reduced plant spacing as a response to crop intensification limited the inclusion of bean intercrops and, hence, reduced bean productivity. Increasing dwindling landholding per capita aggravated the need to identify suitable bean cultivars for intercropping. Five dwarf bean varieties bred for a sole cropping system were evaluated in four spatial intercropping arrangements with maize at two bean planting densities in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) replicated four times in an additive series. Interactions between companion crops were assessed with the land equivalent ratio (LER) and aggressivity (A). Crop yields were measured to ascertain crop interactions. The PLER showed significantly higher values for maize than bean intercrops. Across the two cropping seasons and at any bean sowing density, alternate-row intercropping showed statistically better land and resource use efficiencies than within-row intercropping. The A values for maize were higher than beans in the intercropping systems. In the intercropping system, maize and beans had positive and negative A values, respectively. In both growing seasons, LER and A values increased in alternate-row over within-row intercropping systems, demonstrating that maize/dwarf bean intercropping has the potential to improve productivity among smallholder farmers in Malawi. All bean cultivars performed well in intercropping arrangements in both seasons except for Mnyambitira, which performed inferiorly in within-row intercropping except for alternate-rows. At any bean sowing density, farmers can realise more benefits if the bean intercrops are spatially sown in alternate-row than within-row arrangement