Impact of sustainable soil management practices on soil microbial biomass carbon: Implications for climate change mitigation

Although soil microbial biomass (MBC) comprises less than 5% of soil organic matter, it responds rapidly to changes in soil management practices and, therefore, is generally used as early indicators of changes in soil carbon. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of tillage practices (conventional tillage and no-tillage) and fertiliser types (synthetic, organic, and no fertiliser) on soil MBC. The field experiment, located in Bue, Southwest region of Cameroon. The experiment was carried out in a split-plot design with three replications with tillage systems as main plots and fertiliser types as sub-plots. Soil samples were collected at 0–15 cm depth at an interval of 4 (early season), 8 (mid-season) and 12 (late season) weeks during the 2020 and 2021 minor and major growing seasons respectively, for the determination of soil MBC by the chloroform fumigation and extraction method. The findings of the study showed that the main effect of tillage practice and fertiliser types was unsignificant (p>0.05) in the 2020 and 2021 study season throughout the sampling period. Plots under zero tillage with control experiments (No.Till:CON) recorded the highest soil MBC in the 2020 season (201 kg-1 respectively) while in the 2021 season, plots under zero tillage with organic fertilisation (No.Till:ORG) recorded the highest (400.4 mg kg-1) soil MBC. Soil MBC was higher in the 2021 season than in the 2020 season. These findings suggest that the use of compost in combination with either conventional tillage or no-tillage in farms in the study area could potentially enhance soil MBC

Gender dynamics and sustainable agriculture adoption for low emission food systems in Cameroon

Sustainable agrifood systems have the potential to significantly impact the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Cameroon. However, there is a gender disparity in the adoption of these technologies due to various sociocultural norms and gender dynamics. In 2020, 351 southern and eastern Cameroonian farming households were surveyed. Gender roles, decision-making, and sustainable agrifood systems were studied using a multistage random sample. The principal component analysis identified thirteen sustainable agrifood systems used by farmers and grouped them into practices with mitigation potentials, adaptation potentials, and soil conservation. Descriptive statistics examined gender differences in farm and household decision-making. A multinomial logit regression model (MNL) was used to examine how gender-based household decision-making affects farmer enrollment in sustainable agrifood systems. MNL marginal effects coefficients were used to interpret the effects of independent variables on the sustainable agrifood systems enrollment, controlling for other factors and allowing comparisons across variables. The results of the study reveal that women play a significant role in the technical aspects of farming (64.4%) and take most decisions regarding onfarm activities (70%). However, decisions regarding farm earnings (81.4%) and farm technology (84%) are made by men. Household decision-making, particularly by women, significantly (P≤0.001) influences the adoption of different sustainable agrifood system packages. The use of practices with mitigation potential and soil conservation practices increased for households with decisions made by females, while the use of practices with adaptation potential decreased. The study emphasises the importance of extension services in encouraging farmers to use larger (more than 3 practices) sustainable agrifood system packages. Education and land ownership also positively (P≤0.05) influenced sustainable agrifood systems, particularly those with mitigation potential. Women have little decision-making power in agricultural production, according to decision-making results. Thus, gender-equitable agrifood systems adoption policies and programmes are needed to empower women. Such efforts can increase agricultural productivity, economic empowerment of women, gender equity, and social justice

CLIFF-GRADS Science Collaboration Series 2020 - Thematic student session: Soil Systems

Featured Speaker: Dr. Ngonidzashe Chirinda, Soil and Climate Change Scientist, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco. Student Speakers: Maria Eliza Turek, Brazil; Erick Rodrigo da Silva Santos, Brazil; Amahnui George Amenchwi, Cameroon; Ricardo Cesário dos Santos, Brazil; Antony Mlambo, Zimbabwe; Bethel Geremew Shefine, Ethiopia; Chukwuebuka Christopher Okolo, Nigeria. The 2020 CLIFF-GRADS Science Collaboration Series was developed to facilitate technical capability building, knowledge transfer and international collaboration for the CLIFF-GRADS Alumni. Particularly for the Round 3 CLIFF-GRADS whose research stays have been delayed due to the global Covid-19 Pandemic. In addition to a series of special sessions with guest speakers, these webinars provide a platform for the Round 3 students to present their PhD research and research questions to their CLIFF-GRADS peers. Through establishing research connections, the CLIFF- GRADS Alumni network can connect internationally and across research institutes. Thematic Sessions: Specifically, during a series of thematic sessions, the Round 3 students will have the opportunity to clarify their PhD research questions and/or research direction with their peers. The thematic sessions have been disaggregated into the following agricultural systems: i) integrated, ii) pastoral and agronomy, iii) ruminant, iv) rice and v) soil. Learn more about the CLIFF-GRADS Program and Alumni: https://ccafs.cgiar.org/CLIFF-GRAD