Innovation platforms are fast becoming part of the mantra of agricultural research for development projects and programmes. Their basic tenet is that stakeholders depend on one another to achieve agricultural development outcomes, and hence need a space where they can learn, negotiate and coordinate to overcome challenges and capture opportunities through a facilitated innovation process. Although much has been written on how to implement and facilitate innovation platforms efficiently, few studies support ex-ante appraisal of when and for what purpose innovation platforms provide an appropriate mechanism for achieving development outcomes, and what kinds of human and financial resource investments and enabling environments are required. Without these insights, innovation platforms run the risk of being promoted as a panacea for all problems in the agricultural sector. This study makes clear that not all constraints will require innovation platforms and, if there is a simpler and cheaper alternative, that should be considered first. Based on the review of critical design principles and plausible outcomes of innovation platforms, this study provides a decision support tool for research, development and funding agencies that can enhance more critical thinking about the purposes and conditions under which innovation platforms can contribute to achieving agricultural development outcomes.

Simulation of yield response to water plays an increasingly important role in optimization of crop water productivity (WP) especially in prevalent drought in Africa. The present study is focused on a representative crop: bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), an ancient grain legume grown, cooked, processed and traded mainly by subsistence women farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Over four years (2002, 2006–2008), glasshouse experiments were conducted at the Tropical Crops Research Unit, University of Nottingham, UK under controlled environments with different landraces, temperatures (23 ± 5 °C, 28 ± 5 °C, 33 ± 5 °C) and soil moisture regimes (irrigated, early drought, late drought). Parallel to this, field experiments were conducted in Swaziland (2002/2003) and Botswana (2007/2008). Crop measurements of canopy cover (CC), biomass (B) and pod yield (Y) of selected experiments from glasshouse (2006 and 2007) and field (Botswana) were used to calibrate the FAO AquaCrop model. Subsequently, the model was validated against independent data sets from glasshouse (2002 and 2008) and field (Swaziland) for different landraces. AquaCrop simulations for CC, B and Y of different bambara groundnut landraces are in good agreement with observed data with R2 (CC-0.88; B-0.78; Y-0.72), but with significant underestimation for some landraces.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) farmers from diverse geographical areas in northern Cameroon selected breeding lines from on-station trials for their own fields and explained their reasons (criteria) for making the selections. The average selection intensity employed by farmers varied from 6 to 17% and was similar to that employed by plant breeders. Their selection criteria fell into three broad categories relating to yield, preference and quality, and labour, which were very consistent over years, locations and gender. Selection criteria were strongly influenced by market preferences, reflecting the increasing role of cowpea as a cash crop. Implications of these findings for breeding strategies and genetic resource conservation are discussed.

On a site in the Sudan Savanna, chemical properties of soils (except for phosphate) and the composition of cotton leaves were determined after fifteen annual treatments including dung, ammonium sulphate, single superphosphate and potassium chloride, in all combinations of three levels. In the soils dung increased C, N, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable Ca and Mg and pH, and decreased soluble Al and Mn; ammonium sulphate decreased pH, increased soluble Al and Mn, and decreased exchangeable Ca and Mg; potassium chloride had no obvious effects. In the plants dung increased P and reduced Mn; ammonium sulphate reduced Ca and Mg, and increased Mn; superphosphate increased P, Ca and Mg, and reduced K; potassium chloride increased K slightly. The most important results were the ability of ammonium sulphate to acidify the soil, as shown by soil properties and reflected in tissue composition, and the ability of dung to ameliorate these effects. Reduction of crop yield in the presence of adequate nutrient supply seems to have been due to excessive soil acidity.

Sustainability of cereal-based cropping systems remains crucial for food security in South Asia. However, productivity of cereal–cereal rotations has declined in the long run, demonstrating the need for a sustainable alternative. Base crop, that is, common crop in different crop rotations, productivity could be used as a sustainability indicator for the assessment of different long-term crop rotations. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of grain legume inclusion in lowland rice–wheat (R-W) and upland maize–wheat (M-W) rotation on system’s base crop (rice in lowland and wheat in upland crop rotations) productivity and sustainability and also in soil fertility. Mung bean (April–May) inclusion in R-W rotation increased rice grain yield by 10–14%. In upland, mung bean inclusion in M-W rotation increased wheat grain yield by 5–11%. Replacing wheat with chickpea in R-W rotation increased rice grain yield by 5–8%. Increased base crop productivity in legume inclusive rotations was attributed to significant improvement in panicle (rice) or spike (wheat) attributes. Increased soil organic carbon and available nitrogen and phosphorus in the legume inclusive rotations significantly influenced the base crop productivity in both the production systems. Among the crop rotations, R-W-Mb (in lowland) and M-W-Mb (in upland) rotations had the highest system productivity and net return. Therefore, intensification/diversification of cereal–cereal rotations with grain legume could improve soil fertility and sustain crop productivity.

A field technique to screen pearl millet genotypes for their emergence and survival at high soil surface temperatures is described. Genetic variation in seedling emergence and survival is shown and it is argued that this variation is largely due to tolerance of high temperatures rather than tolerance of soil moisture deficit, although some interaction occurred. An index for ‘thermotolerance’ is defined and genotypes are ranked accordingly for this trait, which is shown to be highly heritable. The technique is repeatable and allows a large number of genotypes to be screened at the same time.

Soil fertility constraints to crop production have been recognized widely as a major obstacle to food security and agro-ecosystem sustainability in sub-Saharan West Africa. As such, they have led to a multitude of research projects and policy debates on how best they should be overcome. Conclusions, based on long-term multi-site experiments, are lacking with respect to a regional assessment of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizer effects, surface mulched crop residues, and legume rotations on total dry matter of cereals in this region. A mixed model time-trend analysis was used to investigate the effects of four nitrogen and phosphorus rates, annually applied crop residue dry matter at 500 and 2000 kg ha−1, and cereal-legume rotation versus continuous cereal cropping on the total dry matter of cereals and legumes. The multi-factorial experiment was conducted over four years at eight locations, with annual rainfall ranging from 510 to 1300 mm, in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Togo. With the exception of phosphorus, treatment effects on legume growth were marginal. At most locations, except for typical Sudanian sites with very low base saturation and high rainfall, phosphorus effects on cereal total dry matter were much lower with rock phosphate than with soluble phosphorus, unless the rock phosphate was combined with an annual seed-placement of 4 kg ha−1 phosphorus. Across all other treatments, nitrogen effects were negligible at 500 mm annual rainfall but at 900 mm, the highest nitrogen rate led to total dry matter increases of up to 77% and, at 1300 mm, to 183%. Mulch-induced increases in cereal total dry matter were larger with lower base saturation, reaching 45% on typical acid sandy Sahelian soils. Legume rotation effects tended to increase over time but were strongly species-dependent.

Household surveys are one of the most commonly used tools for generating insight into rural communities. Despite their prevalence, few studies comprehensively evaluate the quality of data derived from farm household surveys. We critically evaluated a series of standard reported values and indicators that are captured in multiple farm household surveys, and then quantified their credibility, consistency and, thus, their reliability. Surprisingly, even variables which might be considered ‘easy to estimate’ had instances of non-credible observations. In addition, measurements of maize yields and land owned were found to be less reliable than other stationary variables. This lack of reliability has implications for monitoring food security status, poverty status and the land productivity of households. Despite this rather bleak picture, our analysis also shows that if the same farm households are followed over time, the sample sizes needed to detect substantial changes are in the order of hundreds of surveys, and not in the thousands. Our research highlights the value of targeted and systematised household surveys and the importance of ongoing efforts to improve data quality. Improvements must be based on the foundations of robust survey design, transparency of experimental design and effective training. The quality and usability of such data can be further enhanced by improving coordination between agencies, incorporating mixed modes of data collection and continuing systematic validation programmes.

The Système International d'Unités (SI) provides a consistent and coherent set of units for specifying the magnitude of physical quantities. Use of SI is recommended by most scientific journals and in many, including Experimental Agriculture, it is now mandatory. Multiples and sub-multiples of units should be chosen to minimize the repetition of zeros before or after the decimal point. Several units related to SI (e.g. tonne and hectare) are convenient in speech as well as in writing but should be avoided in analysis to minimize the risk of numerical errors. Units common in agricultural science are discussed with special reference to the need for compromise between consistency and convenience.

The effects of root inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae) on the water relations and carbon dioxide assimilation rates of grapevine (Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon) plants are reported. Cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon were grafted onto eight different grapevine rootstocks and the composite plants were grown in pots. The potting media of half the pots of each rootstock were inoculated with Glomus mosseae. Half of each of the inoculated and the non-inoculated pots were subjected to five-day and eight-day drought periods. The control (non-stressed plants) was watered throughout the experiment three times per week to maintain pot media close to field capacity. Foliar growth, leaf phosphorus concentrations and drought tolerance were greater in the inoculated than in the non-inoculated plants. After five days of drought stress, predawn leaf water potentials ranged between −0.5 and −1.07 MPa in non-mycorrhizal vines and between −0.32 MPa and −0.61 MPa in mycorrhizal vines. Similarly, net carbon dioxide assimilation rates in five-day stressed plants ranged from 1.5 to 4.6 μmol m−2 s−1, and from 2.9 to 6.1 μmol m−2 s−1 respectively. Some drought-sensitive rootstocks (775P, 101–14Mgt and 5BB) infected with mycorrhizal fungi and subjected to drought for eight days showed much-improved drought resistance compared with non-infected rootstocks of the same varieties. In drought-stressed plants, differences between the various rootstocks were significant. For example, rootstocks 110R, 140Rug, 1103P and 44–53 M had the highest predawn leaf water potentials and photosynthetic rates after five days of drought, independent of the mycorrhizal infection. These findings show that colonization of the root system by mycorrhizal fungi, may improve the water status of non-irrigated vines.

The results of research on the water relations and irrigation needs of coconut are collated and summarized in an attempt to link fundamental studies on crop physiology to drought mitigation and irrigation practices. Background information on the centres of origin and production of coconut and on crop development processes is followed by reviews of plant water relations, crop water use and water productivity, including drought mitigation. The majority of the recent research published in the international literature has been conducted in Brazil, Kerala (South India) and Sri Lanka, and by CIRAD (France) in association with local research organizations in a number of countries, including the Ivory Coast. The unique vegetative structure of the palm (stem and leaves) together with the long interval between flower initiation and the harvesting of the mature fruit (44 months) mean that causal links between environmental factors (especially water) are difficult to establish. The stomata play an important role in controlling water loss, whilst the leaf water potential is a sensitive indicator of plant water status. Both stomatal conductance and leaf water potential are negatively correlated with the saturation deficit of the air. Although roots extend to depths >2 m and laterally >3 m, the density of roots is greatest in the top 0–1.0 m soil, and laterally within 1.0–1.5 m of the trunk. In general, dwarf cultivars are more susceptible to drought than tall ones. Methods of screening for drought tolerance based on physiological traits have been proposed. The best estimates of the actual water use (ETc) of mature palms indicate representative rates of about 3 mm d−1. Reported values for the crop coefficient (Kc) are variable but suggest that 0.7 is a reasonable estimate. Although the sensitivity of coconut to drought is well recognized, there is a limited amount of reliable data on actual yield responses to irrigation although annual yield increases (50%) of 20–40 nuts palm−1 (4–12 kg copra, cultivar dependent) have been reported. These are only realized in the third and subsequent years after the introduction of irrigation applied at a rate equivalent to about 2 mm d−1 (or 100 l palm−1 d−1) at intervals of up to one week. Irrigation increases female flower production and reduces premature nut fall. Basin irrigation, micro-sprinklers and drip irrigation are all suitable methods of applying water. Recommended methods of drought mitigation include the burial of husks in trenches adjacent to the plant, mulching and the application of common salt (chloride ions). An international approach to addressing the need for more information on water productivity is recommended.

Floodwater was characterized through field surveys over three years in rainfed lowland and deepwater rice areas of Eastern India. Measurements focused on dissolved O2 and CO2, pH and irradiance during flash floods in rice fields. Over locations and time, dissolved O2 concentrations ranged from zero to 0.28 mol m−3 (0–1.1 times air-saturated water at 30 °C) while dissolved CO2 ranged from 0.28 to 1.96 mol m−3 (31–217 times air-saturated water). Floodwater pH varied from 6.6 to 9.7. Irradiance decreased with depth in the water profile to an extent depending on turbidity. Turbidity varied greatly over locations and time. The significance of these measurements in assessing rice submergence tolerance is discussed.

Experiments comparing the effects of different legume intercrops on available soil nitrogen, bacterial activity and the yield of maize over two years showed that soyabean and blackgram were more suitable for this purpose than groundnut, substantially increasing NO3 and NH4 concentrations and populations of active bacteria in the maize rhizosphere. This increased maize yield by 15–20% and grain protein content by 20%.

Farmer field schools (FFSs) were conducted in southern India to reduce pesticide input and enhance sustainability of cotton production systems. This study was carried out to determine the additional benefits of FFSs in the social and economic arena, using the sustainable livelihoods (SL) concept to frame the evaluation. Farmers who had participated in the integrated pest management (IPM) FFSs perceived a range of impacts much beyond the adoption of IPM practices. The reduced cost of cultivation allowed for financial recovery from debt and the building of physical assets. IPMFFS households and production systems were perceived by the participants to have become more economically resilient than Non-IPMFFS control groups when faced with adversity. In the participants' view, IPMFFSs also led to enhanced individual and community social well-being, a benefit valued in particular by the women participants. The study tested a new application of the SL conceptual framework as a tool for evaluation.

Agricultural production in the Sudano–Sahelian zone of west Africa is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate variability and climate change. The present study aimed to understand farmers’ perceptions of climate variability and change and to evaluate adaptation options together with farmers, including tactical management of planting date in combination with the use of mineral fertilizer. Farmers perceived an increase in annual rainfall variability, an increase in the occurrence of dry spells during the rainy season, and an increase in temperature. Overall, this is in line with the observed meteorological data. Drought tolerant, short maturing crop varieties and appropriate planting dates were the commonly preferred adaptation strategies to deal with climate variability. On-farm trials confirmed that planting delays significantly reduce crop yields. The use of mineral fertilizer is often promoted, but risky for smallholders: although larger fertilizer applications increased the yield of maize (Zea mays) and millet (Pennisetum glaucum) significantly, a gross margin analysis indicated that it did not lead to more profit for all farmers. We conclude that integrating management of nutrients and planting time with improved farmer access to timely weather information, especially on the onset of the rains, is critical to enhancing adaptive capacity to increased climate variability and change.

Procedures for better decision making in agricultural research are considered. Fanning Systems Adaptive Research (FSAR) has evolved to complement the more traditional research approach, allowing better decisions to be made on recommendations to fanners and on priorities for technical research. This is done through the identification of research results most relevant to the development of specific farming systems; the testing of these results by experiments in farmers' fields; and the identification of factors limiting productivity in local farming systems.

FSAR involves interdisciplinary cooperation between production agronomists, farm economists and, where appropriate, animal production scientists, in close cooperation with other production specialists and with farmers.

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. failed to nodulate with 94 of the 99 strains of Rhizobium tested, representing the seven recognized cross-inoculation groups of nodule bacteria. A group of legumes including L. leucocephala, Mimosa invisa Mart., M. pudica L., Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. and Sesbania spp. showed the properties of a cross-inoculation group of plants. Rhizobia isolated from these legumes were all fast-growers and nodulate L. leucocephala, often effectively, and also many other tropical legumes, including Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi ex Hassk., which are usually nodulated effectively with slow-growing root-nodule bacteria. The taxonomic significance of the results is discussed.

A series of researcher-managed wheat fertilizer trials was conducted on representative farmers' fields across northwest Syria between 1986 and 1990. Wheat grain and straw yields were strongly correlated with seasonal (October-May) rainfall, almost irrespective of soil fertility, crop sequence or fertilizer rate, with a highly significant response to nitrogen fertilizer which increased with increasing rainfall and decreasing initial soil mineral-nitrogen values. These results were summarized in regression equations which express yield in terms of fertilizer rates, seasonal rainfall and their interactions. The equations with applied nitrogen and seasonal rainfall were the most appropriate for determining fertilizer needs. Economic analysis indicated that all fertilizer treatment rates were profitable under existing price conditions and that fertilizer use would still be beneficial for a nitrogen price up to three times higher than that of the price of grain (weight for weight) with a seasonal rainfall of 250 mm, and up to six times higher with a seasonal rainfall of 450 mm.

Four contrasting varieties of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) were grown for ten months over two consecutive seasons in hillside Colombia with or without nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization. Sequential harvests were every two months. The two varieties well adapted to acid soils (CM 489-1 and CM 523-7) had higher yields and exhibited the strongest response to fertilization, highest solar radiation use efficiency, earlier canopy ground cover and higher leaf litter accumulation. The export of potassium, however, was no higher than in the other genotypes, mainly as a consequence of higher potassium use efficiency in the adapted varieties. Significant amounts of total calcium, magnesium and nitrogen accumulated in the whole plant were recycled in the leaf litter during growth. High-yielding varieties adapted to acid soils did not exacerbate soil fertility problems of cassava crops; rather, they were beneficial. Certain growth parameters could be used to select for varieties with low impact on soil fertility.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint to pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) growth on acid sandy soils of the West African Sahel. To develop cost-effective fertilization strategies for cash poor farmers, experiments with pearl millet were conducted in southwestern Niger. Treatments comprised single superphosphate hill-placed at rates of 1, 3, 5 or 7 kg P ha−1 factorially combined with broadcast P at a rate of 13 kg ha−1. Nitrogen was applied as calcium ammonium nitrate at rates of 30 and 45 kg ha−1. At low soil moisture, placement of single superphosphate in immediate proximity to the seed reduced seedling emergence. Despite these negative effects on germination, P placement resulted in much faster growth of millet seedlings than did broadcast P. With P application, potassium nutrition of millet was improved and seedling nitrogen uptake increased two- to three-fold, indicating that nitrogen was not limiting early millet growth. Averaged over the 1995 and 1996 cropping seasons, placed applications of 3, 5 and 7 kg P ha−1 led to 72%, 81% and 88% respectively, of the grain yield produced by broadcasting 13 kg P ha−1. Nitrogen application did not show major effects on grain yield unless P requirements were met. A simple economic analysis revealed that the profitability of P application, defined as additional income per unit of fertilizer, was highest for P placement at 3 and 5 kg ha−1.