Tropical forages to enhance sustainable intensification of mixed systems in Central America and the Caribbean R. van der Hoek, M. Peters, M. Mena, R. Schultze-Kraft, A. Schmidt and I. Rao Tropical Forages r.vanderhoek@cgiar.org SPFCIC, San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 2012 www.ciat.cgiar.org Outline Setting Mixed systems Forages in mixed systems in Central-America CIAT work in mixed systems Drought-adapted forages Integration of legumes in mixed systems Agroforestry practices with forage components Forages for monogastrics Conclusions and perspectives 1
Setting Challenges population growth and climate change Unsustainable intensification of land use Severe land degradation as a consequence of inadequate management practices Increasing demand animal products Tropical Forage Program R&D Strategy Forage germplasm development Productivity and nutritive value High value forages to capture differentiated markets Eco-efficient agriculture Releases of stress adapted and productive forages Increased income and reduced labor Adaptation to biotic/abiotic stresses Seed production Management Processing Forages included into crop-livestock systems to realize livelihood and environmental benefits Increased smallholder competitiveness Reversing land degradation Mitigation of climate change 2
Three Priority Regions Latin America and the Caribbean Germplasm Development, High Value Opportunities, Livelihoods and Environment Focus countries: Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia, Haiti Southeast Asia Livelihoods, High Value Opportunities (Environment) Focus countries: Laos, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand Eastern, Central and Southern Africa High Value Opportunities, Livelihoods Focus countries: DR Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda Outline Setting Mixed systems Forages in mixed systems in Central-America CIAT work in mixed systems Drought-adapted forages Integration of legumes in mixed systems Agroforestry practices with forage components Forages for monogastrics Conclusions and perspectives 3
Agricultural systems in the world Areas dominated by landless production Mixed, irrigated Mixed, rainfed Grazing Other types Source: Steinfeld et al., 2006 Mixed systems Role of mixed systems Largest category of agricultural systems Combine crops and animals Animals provide added value and produce nutritious food Offer a good potential for ecologically and economically efficient agriculture, reducing risks and offering new opportunities 4
Mixed systems Mixed systems in Central American hillsides: some characteristics (Yoro, Honduras) Precipitation: 1000-1200 mm, 5-6 months dry season (Nov-Apr) Majority of farmers small-scale, largely subsistence Systems based on maize, beans, coffee, some monogastrics, some cattle ( double purpose ) Feed resources: naturalized pastures, crop residues Animal ownership, per household (units) 15 10 5 0 Cattle Pigs < 800 m 800-1200 m > 1200 m 6 4 2 0 Land tenure, per household (ha) Total Coffee < 800 m 800-1200 m > 1200 m Maize and bean yield (t/ha) 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Maize Bean < 800 m 800-1200 m > 1200 m Source: Van der Hoek, 2009 Outline Setting Mixed systems Forages in mixed systems in Central-America CIAT work in mixed systems Drought-adapted forages Integration of legumes in mixed systems Agroforestry practices with forage components Forages for monogastrics Conclusions and perspectives 5
Forages for mixed systems Multipurpose forages: essential interface between crop and animal component in mixed systems Wide range of options to improve environmental and socioeconomic sustainability in fragile environments Soil fertility Animal production Weed control Characteristics of forages for mixed systems - grasses Andropogon gayanus Niche Use Observation Wide range, well-drained soils, drought-adapted. Forages for mixed systems Grazing, cut-andcarry, cattle. Good seed production. Brachiaria brizantha (various cultivars incl. cvs. Marandú, Toledo) Wide range, well-drained soils, drought-adapted. Grazing, cut-andcarry, cattle. Good seed production. Brachiaria hybrids (cvs. Mulato, Caymán) Wide range, welldrained/ waterlogged soils, drought-adapted, medium-high soil fertility. Grazing, cut-andcarry, cattle. Trials with monogastrics. Low seed production, dependency on providers. Brachiaria humidicola Wide range, including soils with poor drainage. Grazing, cut-andcarry, cattle. Option for humid areas. Pennisetum sp. (Camerún, King Grass) Wide range, well-drained soils. Cut-and-carry, cattle. Energy source during dry season. 6
Forages for mixed systems Characteristics of forages for mixed systems herbaceous legumes Canavalia brasiliensis Clitoria ternatea Lablab purpureus Stylosanthes guianensis Vigna unguiculata Niche Use Observations Integration in maize-bean systems during dry season. Wide range of soils. Subhumid, low-medium altitude. Small plots producing protein-rich feed. Medium-high fertility soils. Semi-arid, subhumid, low-medium altitude. Integration in maize-bean systems during dry season. Small plots producing proteinrich feed. Wide range of soils. Subhumid, low-medium-high altitude. Small plots producing protein-rich feed. Medium-high fertility soils. Semi-arid, subhumid, low-medium altitude. Integration in maize-bean systems during dry season. Small plots producing proteinrich feed. Wide range of soils. Semi-aridsubhumid, low-medium altitude. Green manure, improved crop residues, dry season feed (milk). Green manure, dry season feed (milk).monogastrics (pigs). Green manure, improved crop residues, dry season feed (milk). Monogastrics (pigs). Dry season feed. Protein bank. Monogastrics (pigs). Green manure, improved crop residues, dry season feed (milk). Monogastrics (pigs, poultry), Human food. Yield 2-4 t/ha Yield 2-4 t/ha Yield 2-4 t/ha Yield 5-10 t/ha Yield 1.5-3 t/ha Forages for mixed systems Characteristics of forages for mixed systems shrub legumes Niche Use Observations Cajanus cajan Wide range, well-drained soils. Cut-and-carry, grazing, cattle. Trials with monogastrics.human food. Cratylia argentea Leucaena leucocephala Well drained acidic soils, drought tolerant. Altitude until 1200 m. Well-drained, neutral-alkaline soils Cut-and-carry, grazing, cattle. Trials with monogastrics. Cut-and-carry, grazing, cattle. Trials with monogastrics. Semi-perennial. Rapid growth. Slow initial growth, intolerant to clay soils. High forage quality. Susceptible to Psyllids and ants. 7
Cratylia argentea Altitude: 0-1200 m Soils: ph 3.8-6.0, low fertility, welldrained Climate: tolerates drought (6-7 months dry season) Good nutritional value (CP 18-30%) Uses: cut-and-carry, grazing, dry season supplement, green manure, firewood Outline Setting Mixed systems Forages in mixed systems in Central-America CIAT work in mixed systems Drought-adapted forages Integration of legumes in mixed systems Agroforestry practices with forage components Forages for monogastrics Conclusions and perspectives 8
Forage research of CIAT and partners in Central- America and the Caribbean Goal Improve livelihoods of poor rural crop-livestock producers while contributing to eco-efficiency of production systems General objective explore the benefits of multipurpose forages for improving agricultural productivity while reducing the ecological footprint of crop-livestock systems Focus Divers animal species (ruminants and monogastrics) High value opportunities Livelihoods and environment Systems Scaling Drought adapted forages Drought vulnerable areas in Central- America < 4 months dry season 4-6 months dry season > 6 months dry season Vulnerable areas Source: FAO, 2002 9
Agronomic evaluations Data CIAT genebank On-station germplasm evaluation On-farm germplasm evaluation Drought adapted forages Participatory evaluations Drought adapted forages Grasses (Brachiaria Toledo, Mulato) Multipurpose legumes (Vigna, Lablab, Canavalia) Shrub legumes (Cratylia) Criteria, preferences 0.60 Preferences of participatory evaluations of grasses during periods of minimum and maximum precipitation B.b. 26110 0.40 P.m. 16031 0.20 A.g. Camerun 0.00-0.20 B.h. 36061 B.d. 6133-0.40 B.b. 16322 B.b. 26646 minprep maxprep 10
Drought adapted forages Evaluations with introduced germplasm Introduce drought adapted forages with high nutritive value allowing for dry season milk production Drought adapted grasses Grasses for cut-and-carry Protein banks Forage trees Agronomic aspects - production Management Seed production Commercialization Drought adapted forages The case of Emprasefor, Honduras Farmers group with strategic support from CIAT and local partners established and maintains a seed company based on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Toledo during 8 años Varying results caused by unforeseen climatic events in combination with low input use Strong recovery capacity Diversification into related activities like concentrate production Replicable with modest investment 11
Drought adapted forages Evaluations of conserved forages Silage of grasses/legumes Hay of grasses/legumes Promote dry-season conservation of forages while optimizing nutritive value Evaluacions based on mixed-cropping with cereals Improved crop residues Drought-adapted legumes in association with maize to increase quality of crop residues. Drought adapted forages 12
kg N per ha 15/06/2012 Integration of legumes in mixed systems Canavalia brasiliensis : a climate hardy covercrop Major attributes Its deep rooting ability contributes to efficient use of resources (nutrients and water) keeping the crop green throughout the dry season Fixes 20-50 kg N ha -1 until well into the dry season when integrated as green manure in the traditional maize-bean system Increases animal feed availability and quality leading to five kg day - 1 ha -1 more milk Feed biomass availability increases by a tonne per ha Perspectives Tolerant also to waterlogging conditions and shade Farmers are engaged in validation and seed production Submitted for cultivar release in Nicaragua 2012 (Colombia planned for 2013) Trade-offs. 80 Integration of legumes in mixed systems N balance with removal of canavalia 60 40 20 0-20 -40-60 FC GR LP PT site M/B M/C0% M/C50% M/C75% M/C100% C. brasiliensis represents a net N input at the plot level when used as green manure.. but cannot replace the mineral fertilizers. C. brasiliensis represents a net N output from the plot when removed to be used as forage. 13
Agroforestry practices with forage components Integration of livestock component into Quesungual slash and mulch agroforestry system with maize and beans as major crops (Nicaragua- Honduras) Forage components Brachiarias hybrid cv. Mulato II and B. brizantha cv. Marandú to increase animal production in combination with forage legumes (for animal feed and crop rotation) Shrub legumes (i.e., Cratylia argentea, Leucaena leucocephala) Tropical forage legumes for monogastric animals Context Over 70% of smallholder families keep monogastrics (swine and poultry) in backyard systems, with an important role for women and youth Constraints Current feed resources: cereal grains, household & crop residues, poorly available and/or expensive (concentrates) Low productivity, competition with human food Achievements Forage legumes for pigs can replace up to 30% of grain cereals. Silage offers additional advantages such as conservation for dry season use, easy transport and storage for marketing Outlook Emerging outcomes include small credit schemes with improved pigs, improved sanitation, opportunities for biogas (with partners) Results have attracted high interest from farmers and institutions, and the technology is being disseminated at a larger scale 14
Outline Setting Mixed systems Forages in mixed systems in Central-America CIAT work in mixed systems Drought-adapted forages Integration of legumes in mixed systems Agroforestry practices with forage components Forages for monogastrics Conclusions and perspectives Conclusions Wide range of eco-efficient forage options developed with and for small and medium farmers in mixed systems Applicability in real conditions Limited impacts in terms of reach and scale (especially legumes) 15
Challenges and perspectives Grasses and legumes for clay soils and humid areas Role of forages in restoration of degraded areas and mitigation of effects of climate change, in particular greenhouse gas emissions: carbon sequestering (including added value trough carbon schemes), reduction of methane emissions, biological nitrogen inhibition (BNI) Continued research into the effects of cover legumes trade-off analyses, e.g., soil fertility versus animal production Forage options for small and monogastric livestock species emphasizing livelihoods of women farmers Farmer seed production Capacity development Dissemination of technologies, adoption enhancement Thank you 16