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THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL AND FARMER PERCEPTIONS OF HERBACEOUS LEGUME FALLOWS IN GHANA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2007

BEATRICE DARKO OBIRI ,
GEOFF BRIGHT ,
MORAG MCDONALD ,
JOHN AYISI JATANGO ,
JOSEPH COBBINA  and
FERGUS SINCLAIR
BEATRICE DARKO OBIRI
Affiliation:
Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 63, UST Kumasi, Ghana
GEOFF BRIGHT
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales Bangor, Bangor. Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
MORAG MCDONALD
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales Bangor, Bangor. Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
JOHN AYISI JATANGO
Affiliation:
Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Sunyani, Ghana
JOSEPH COBBINA
Affiliation:
Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 63, UST Kumasi, Ghana
FERGUS SINCLAIR
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales Bangor, Bangor. Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
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Abstract

A technology for improving the productivity of short fallows using herbaceous legumes as cover crops was evaluated with farmers in the forest and savannah transition zones of Ghana. Legumes were relayed in maize 5–8 weeks after planting maize, depending on the legume species. An economic analysis of the technology compared with natural fallow over two cropping seasons (2001–2002) showed that the legume fallows were more profitable under the scenarios tested. Farmer assessment of the biological performance of the technology revealed the benefits of weed suppression and soil moisture conservation potential of the legume biomass as well as an improvement in the yield of the succeeding maize crop. However, farmers realized that planting legumes at close spacing and weeding before and after relaying are essential in the development of an appreciable biomass cover. The technology is suitable for farmers of all strata, in several major ecological zones of Ghana, and for planting on land with poorly secured tenure. However, at least two years of tenancy is required for the landless to derive some benefits from the legume fallow.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , July 2007 , pp. 269 - 287
Copyright
2007 Cambridge University Press

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