Robert Brook

EFFECT OF VARYING MAIZE DENSITIES ON INTERCROPPED MAIZE AND SOYBEAN IN NEPAL

SUMMARY Maize and soybean are commonly intercropped in the drier zones of the western mid-hills in Nepal, but farmers report that productivity of soybean has been declining in recent years. Two researcher managed on-farm field experiments were conducted in the mid-hills environment of Nepal during 2001 and 2002, and one glasshouse experiment at the University of Wales, Bangor during 2003, to determine whether varying densities of maize and soybean influenced productivity of the system and to what extent soybean exhibited adaptation to shade. In neither season was maize yield affected by the presence of soybean, but grain yield of soybean was reduced in mixture by means of 59 and 53 % during 2001 and 2002 respectively. Biomass and grain yield of maize were greatest at 53 × 10 3 plants ha −1 and least at the lowest density, whilst conversely biomass and grain yield of soybean increased. With increasing maize density, rates of accumulation of dry matter and leaf area index also increased, the latter resulting in decreasing transmission of light to the intercropped soybean. Soybean exhibited no photosynthetic adaptation to shade, but the specific leaf area was greater in artificially shaded and intercropped plants. Land equivalent ratios of all intercrops were greater than unity (1.30 to 1.45), indicating higher efficiency of intercropping compared to sole crops. Given the low plasticity in response of the maize canopy to variations in density, it is suggested that soybean could be better grown under maize by increasing between-row spacing of maize from 0.75 to 1.0 m to improve light transmission to the understorey, resulting in higher overall productivity of the intercropping system, and also that soybean germplasm be screened for adaptation to shade.

Wastewater irrigation in Hubli-Dharwad, India: implications for health and livelihoods

The availability of permanent streams of sewage-contaminated wastewater emanating from the twin city of Hubli–Dharwad in India has enabled small-scale farmers to diversify their cropping practices. Close to the cities, farmers have adopted a year-round, intensive vegetable horticultural system. Not only do the nutrients in the wastewater increase crop yields, but this practice is particularly lucrative during the dry season when wholesale market prices rise between two- and six-fold. Further away from the cities, less intensive farming systems are used, but the wastewater still confers advantages in terms of early-season irrigation and increasing production from fruit trees in agroforestry systems. However, there are adverse health implications, including bacterial contamination of vegetables and intensive application of pesticides to combat the insect pests that infest these crops. Ways of managing these adverse effects are discussed.

IMPLICATIONS OF HILL FARMERS' AGRONOMIC PRACTICES IN NEPAL FOR CROP IMPROVEMENT IN MAIZE

SUMMARY An agro-ecological analysis of the maize component of an agroforestry system in the eastern mid-hills of Nepal was conducted in 1999. The aim of the study was to understand farmers’ current maize cultivation practices as a prerequisite to development of maize varieties that are better adapted to local conditions than the improved varieties currently on offer from conventional maize breeding programmes in Nepal. Practices of 50 smallholder farmers were surveyed in three villages, and the response of the maize crop was recorded. The study revealed great variability in agronomic practices, and in particular, farmers’ maize husbandry differed markedly from national recommendations for plant population, agronomic inputs and genotypes used. Farmers regularly employed practices that were not even officially recognised by the national research and extension services, such as thinning of maize for livestock fodder, growing the crop in association with trees for fodder, and relay cropping with finger millet, their priority being to optimize overall output of the farming system rather than maximizing maize productivity. Reasons for deviations from recommended practices are analysed and implications for maize crop improvement for heterogeneous conditions are discussed.

Participatory action planning in the peri-urban interface: the twin city experience, Hubli–Dharwad, India

This paper describes the process of participatory planning in five peri-urban villages in the Hubli–Dharwad twin city region. The objectives of the participatory planning project included enhancing the livelihoods of the poor and managing the natural resource base. The paper describes the characteristics of the villages involved and their specific peri-urban aspects; the tools used and the participatory planning process; the main issues which emerged from the process and their relevance to different groups (women, landowners, landless and lower castes). It also summarizes the main lessons learnt: what worked, the major problems and how these were addressed.

Microfinance for community development, poverty alleviation and natural resource management in peri-urban Hubli-Dharwad, India

This paper reports on the findings of a study of a microfinance and community mobilization initiative in six villages in the peri-urban zone of Hubli— Dharwad in Karnataka state, southern India, where a number of self-help groups established by two NGOs were studied over a three-year period (2001—2004). Despite deliberate targeting of the poor and very poor sectors, their representation in the self-help groups was found to be no different from their proportions in the populations of the villages. (Targeting of women was more successful, with 64 per cent of members being female.) However, the poor and very poor were more actively involved in microcredit than members of the other wealth classes. Over the life of the project, the poor moved above the state poverty level and their household savings increased by 647 per cent. More than 77 per cent of the funds mobilized through this programme were raised through self-help group subscriptions and a further 14 per cent came from linkages with banks. Findings point to the success of the NGO-mediated self-help group model of community mobilization and microfinance provision relative to other models.

A novel system of tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) husbandry for seed, vegetables and fuelwood

The implications of a novel system of seed production for tossa jute ( Corchorus olitorius ), involving late sowing and intercropping with vegetables, were studied in 1989 and 1990. The greatest jute seed yield was obtained from jute-radish intercropping, where radish yielded 12–13 t ha −1 roots and gave the highest average gross margin, although jute-amaranthus intercropping performed marginally better in 1989. This system of husbandry yielded 3–4 t ha −1 of jute stick for fuelwood, which is of great value to rural households, and proved to be a viable means of producing jute seed, vegetables and fuel.

Using stakeholder preferences to select native tree species for reforestation in Lebanon

Using a diverse assemblage of suitable species for reforestation is necessary to enhance biodiversity and ensure resilient forest ecosystems. However, selection of diverse native species for reforestation is difficult, requiring consideration of the preferences of different stakeholders. In this study we identify species to be included in reforestation of an ecologically important watershed in North Lebanon based on ratings produced by stakeholders from Lebanon’s public, private and academic sectors. Twenty-two tree species being produced in Lebanese nurseries were identified as ecologically suitable by experts. Stakeholders (n = 34) were asked to rate these 22 species according to conservation priority and ecological suitability in an online survey. Although there was a high degree of variability in ratings among respondents, those who identified as biodiversity-focused did not differ from those who identified as forestry-focused. Looking within the two foci, we found significant variability among forestry-focused respondents but not among biodiversity-focused respondents. Although there was no significant difference in ratings between biodiversity- and forestry-focussed respondents, the resultant rankings differed considerably. We also found significant variability in preferences within forestry-focussed but not biodiversity-focussed respondents. Weighting by respondents’ knowledge of species had little effect on rankings. The variability in preferences between stakeholders, including the considerable within-group variability we found among forestry-focused respondents, highlights the importance of soliciting preferences from multiple stakeholders when selecting species to be used in reforestation efforts.