The systematic integration of crops, shrubs and livestock (CSL)

The systematic integration of crops, shrubs and livestock (CSL)

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The systematic integration of crops, shrubs and livestock (CSL) is a promising strategy for the sustainable intensification of agrosystems. In the face of declining land fertility, irregular rainfall and low input use, several technologies within this approach have been identified to improve producers’ income in the Sahel. Thus, the SustainSahelproject is co-conducting with farmers a network of agronomic trials associating trees and shrubs to evaluate and document their impacts on crop development. In addition to integrating woody plants in the farmers’ plots, different organic fertilisation methods are applied for sustainable soil fertility management.

For the past two years, trials have been conducted with farmers in Senegal at three sites in three agro-ecological zones: Niakhar (groundnut basin zone), Ouarkhokh (silvopastoral zone) and Koussanar (eastern Senegal zone). Innovations are being carried out to co-design locally adaptable crop, shrub, and livestock (CSL) systems that could improve soil quality and productivity, food security and the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change.

The effects on crops of the presence of trees or shrubs in the farmers’ plots and of the amendments applied at the doses recommended by research are studied in the various SustainSahel project sites. These studies concern the agronomic parameters of the crops but also the biogeochemical functioning of the soil. These activities are co-conducted by involving other experts of the project consortium, such as socio-economics, modelling, and drone imagery during the different stages of crop development so that the results can benefit from a multi-factorial and multi-actor analysis. This approach allows for the dissemination of technologies adapted to the local context of the producers.

Thus, different agronomic trials with producers were undertaken in 2021 and 2022, in accordance with their agricultural calendars. 84 farmers’ fields were monitored by the project team (producers and technicians) and the agronomic parameters were assessed at harvest.

More Information: Sustain Sahel