October 21, 2015 at 03:53PM In Mali, fertilizing cotton crops also benefits the soil and food crops

As fallow is abandoned, the cropping systems of West Africa are becoming increasingly fragile. Unless fertilizers are used, yields are likely to fall. In Mali, researchers from CIRAD and the IER have studied grassland cropping systems in which cotton, sorghum and groundnut are grown in succession, to determine to what extent fertilizing cotton may impact on the productivity of other crops and soil fertility. The experiment, which lasted twenty-five years, highlighted the vital role played by cotton, but also raised questions as to the current potential of these types of cropping systems.

via CIRAD - Actualités / News http://ift.tt/1M8wrqP