Reorienting research investments toward under-researched crops for sustainable food systems

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.The dominance of a few staple crops (maize, rice, and wheat) in most agricultural systems hampers the application of interventions to improve food security and nutrition. Research and development attention has focused on improving the production and utilization of these crops, leaving other crops under-researched and underutilized. Subsequently, there have been high malnutrition rates due to poor diet diversity, yet there are “opportunity crops” that remain under researched. The opportunity crops can unlock solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition, a lack of biodiversity, and indeed poor climate adaptation. The study explored diversification in agricultural systems to analyze whether reorientation of research investment to include under-researched crops can increase nutrient gain and enhance dietary diversity. Research outputs benchmarked as the number of publications from three leading African universities, Nairobi, Pretoria, and Ghana, were related to crop diversity and nutrition of crops in five clusters: cereals, vegetables, legumes, roots and tubers, and nuts. The findings show that maize was the predominantly researched crop across the three institutions. Low research outputs were observed for pearl millet, finger millet, and yam across the three institutions: amaranth and nightshade (Pretoria), sweet potatoes (Pretoria and Ghana), Marama bean (Nairobi), and soya bean (Nairobi and Ghana). There was nutrient gain across all five clusters, particularly from under-researched indigenous crops such as finger millet, amaranth, nightshade, yam, sweet potatoes, Marama bean, and soybean. Nutrient gain was contributed more by cereals and root and tuber crops from Pretoria, vegetables and nuts (Ghana), as well as legumes (Nairobi). The findings demonstrate that incorporating research on the least researched crops with successful integration of other research and development initiatives (policy and dissemination) can increase nutrition and improve dietary diversity. The nutrient gain will positively affect food security and nutrition, contributing to the achievement of Africa Agenda 2063, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and reducing food imports. The findings can inform research investment and decision across different institutions within the African continent. Research investment targeting crops such as finger millet, amaranthus, sweet potatoes, soya beans, and cashew nuts is needed considering the nutritional contribution, climate change adaptability, market potential, and biodiversity contribution. Further analysis should explore production, socio-economic (marketability and income generation), and environmental gains (adaptive ability to climate change) for specific crops. The development of frameworks to guide the analysis of the nature and scope of factors affecting the contribution of these crops to food security and nutrition, as well as research on specific crops considering geographic distribution and institutional involvement, is also needed.The National Research Foundation of South Africa.http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fes3hj2024Animal and Wildlife SciencesPlant Production and Soil ScienceSDG-02:Zero Hunge

Barriers and coping mechanisms relating to agroforestry adoption by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate agroforestry adoption by smallholder farmers in Gutu District, Zimbabwe. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY.APPROACH: The methodology was based on field data collected through household questionnaires, key informant interviews and direct observations. FINDINGS: Major findings reveal that traditional agroforestry was common in the study area. There were no cases of innovative agroforestry other than dwindling remnants from a former trees-withpasture project. Majority of respondents were willing to adopt innovative agroforestry technologies to improve yields and income. Damage and destruction of plants by pests and animals due to lack of fences emerged as the major challenges to the adoption of agroforestry. Other challenges included seed availability and labour requirements. Possible coping strategies, identified through consulting farmers and other stakeholders, would include local initiatives and support from outside the community. Local and external efforts are required especially to secure inputs and raise awareness, knowledge and skills with respect to specific agroforestry technologies. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The paper presents pointers on the involvement of women in agroforestry and on the cultural significance of indigenous and exotic fruit trees. It provides practical lessons useful to extension or rural development workers in a localised set-up. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The case study gives an insight into the problems faced by peasant farmers and the requirements to make agroforestry successful. Practitioners in southern Africa could learn a great deal about issues relating to smallholder farmers from reading this paperhttp://www.tandfonline.com/loi/raee2

The effects of soluble humus acids and soil pre-heating on the adsorption and the availability of phosphate on tropical soils

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Lending Division - LD:D54016/85 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Sorção de fósforo em função do teor inicial e de sistemas de manejo de solos

A relação entre o P sorvido/P solução do solo pode ser influenciada pelo teor de P previamente sorvido e pelos sistemas de manejo. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar as modificações na capacidade de sorção máxima (Pmax) e na constante relacionada com a energia de ligação de P com os colóides (k) da isoterma de Langmuir, provocadas (a) pela inclusão do teor de P previamente sorvido (Ppre) e (b) por sistemas de manejo de solos. Coletaram-se, em maio de 1997, amostras de solo (Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico típico, Latossolo Vermelho distrófico típico e Argissolo Vermelho distrófico típico), em três camadas (0-2,5, 2,5-7,5 e 7,5-17,5 cm), de três experimentos instalados a partir de 1979, envolvendo os sistemas plantio direto e cultivo convencional com diferentes sucessões de cultura. O solo foi equilibrado com oito concentrações de P em solução de CaCl2 0,001 mol L-1. Após a agitação por 16 h, avaliou-se a concentração de P no sobrenadante. Os dados de P-sorvido e P-solução foram ajustados à equação de Langmuir, obtendo-se a Pmax e a k, considerando ou não o Ppre. A inclusão do Ppre no modelo de Langmuir aumenta, em média, 2,9 vezes o valor da k e não afeta a Pmax, no LVdf, e aumenta em todas as camadas, no LVd, e na camada superficial, no PVd. A Pmax é pouco influenciada pelos métodos de preparo do solo, sucessões de culturas e camadas amostradas

Organic residue, limestone, gypsum, and phosphorus adsorption by lowland soils Resíduo orgânico, calcário e gesso e a adsorção de fósforo por solos de várzea

Organic residue application is a low cost alternative to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers and correctives. In order to study the effect of organic residues, limestone and gypsum application on phosphorus adsorption by lowland soils, four experiments were carried out. A Mesic Organosol (OY), a Melanic Gleysol (MG), a Haplic Gleysol (GX), and a Fluvic Neosol (RU) were used in a completely randomized design and factorial scheme (3 x 2), with five replicates: three soil amendment practices (limestone, gypsum and no corrective) and two levels of organic residue (with and without corral manure). Soil samples were incubated for 60 days, with and without organic residue incorporation. After this period, we applied the corrective and incubated the soil for 30 days, then P and basic fertilization (macro and micronutrients) were applied and the soil was incubated for additional 60 days. Equilibrium phosphorus, maximum phosphate adsorption capacity, pH, exchangeable Al and phosphorus-buffering index were measured. Organic residue and limestone application increased soil pH and reduced exchangeable Al, decreasing P adsorption. Gypsum application did not increase the pH but reduced exchangeable Al and P adsorption.<br>A aplicação de resíduo orgânico é uma alternativa de baixo custo para reduzir a aplicação de fertilizantes inorgânicos e corretivos. Com objetivo de estudar a relação da aplicação de resíduo orgânico, calcário e gesso com adsorção de fósforo em solos de várzea conduziram-se simultaneamente quatro experimentos com os solos Organossolo Mésico (OY), Gleissolo Melânico (GM), Gleissolo Háplico (GX) e Neossolo Flúvico (RU). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3x2, com cinco repetições, sendo três práticas de correção do solo (calcário, gesso e sem corretivo) e dois níveis de resíduo orgânico com e sem esterco de curral curtido. Amostras dos solos foram incubadas por 60 dias com e sem incorporação do resíduo orgânico; após este período, por mais 30 dias com os corretivos e em seguida por 60 dias com o fósforo e uma adubação básica com macro e micronutrientes. Determinaram-se o fósforo remanescente, capacidade máxima de adsorção de fósforo, pH, Al trocável e índice tampão de fósforo. A aplicação de resíduo orgânico, calcário - pela elevação do pH e redução dos teores de Al trocável - e gesso - pela redução de Al trocável - reduzem a adsorção de fósforo nos solos de várzea estudados

Alterações no teor de fósforo no solo com aplicação de dejetos líquidos de suínos Soil phosphorus alteration by pig slurry application

Os dejetos líquidos de suínos servem como fonte de nutrientes às plantas, porém, quando o seu uso é inadequado, podem causar o acúmulo de P no solo, que posteriormente pode ser transferido para o meio aquático, causando eutrofização. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o potencial de risco de contaminação ambiental com o uso de dejeto líquido de suíno, mensurando as alterações ocorridas no teor de P no solo e nas isotermas de sorção. O trabalho foi realizado na Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, RS, em um Argissolo Vermelho distrófico arenico. Foram utilizadas as doses de 0, 40 e 80 m³ ha-1 de dejetos líquidos de suínos, distribuídos a lanço sobre a superfície antes da semeadura de cada espécie numa rotação de culturas. A aplicação de dejeto líquido de suínos na superfície do solo sob sistema plantio direto, aportando quantidades de P superiores àquelas exportadas pelas culturas, aumentou o P disponível do solo até 15 cm de profundidade. A saturação dos sítios de adsorção de fosfato do solo, avaliada pelos parâmetros de equação de Langmuir, é proporcional à dose de dejetos líquidos de suínos. A concentração de P na solução de equilíbrio P, a quantidade de P dessorvida com água e a constante que pode dar informação sobre a afinidade do fosfato com o solo da superfície foram alteradas pela aplicação de dejetos líquidos de suínos, indicando um favorecimento à dessorção de P caso estes sejam erodidos para mananciais de águas superficiais.<br>Pig slurry serves as plant nutrient source, but may cause phosphorus accumulation in the soil when used improperly, which later can be transferred to the aquatic environment causing eutrophication. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential risk of environmental contamination by continuous use of pig slurry, measuring alterations in phosphorus content in the soil and in the sorption isotherms. The study was carried out at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, in a Typic Hapludalf. The effects of applying 0, 40 and 80 m³ ha-1 pig slurry broadcast over the soil surface before sowing of each species in a crop rotation were studied. The pig slurry, applied on the soil surface under no tillage, contained phosphorus quantities superior to those exported by crops, which increased the available soil phosphorus to a depth of 15 cm. The saturation of the soil phosphate adsorption sites, as indicated by the parameters of the Langmuir equation, was proportional to the pig slurry rate. The pig slurry application altered the concentration of phosphorus in the equilibrium solution, the amount of phosphorus desorbed with water and the constant describing the affinity of phosphate for the substratum surface. The observed changes point to a risk of phosphorus desorption in case the sediments are transferred to surface water bodies