Impact of livestock intensification and improved manure management on multi-level nitrogen use efficiency in mixed crop-livestock systems in central Senegal
Efficient use of nutrients is one of the major challenges of sustainable agricultural production. Nitrogen (N) in mixed crop-livestock systems is recycled in several stages, losses at each stage may be important. This study analyses N cycle in three different mixed crop-livestock systems in the former groundnut basin of Senegal. Apparent N flows were quantified in 5 real farms for a full year to compare a free-grazing extensive system (system1), with a traditional fattening intensive system (system2) and an improved intensive system (system3). Three types of efficiency have been calculated: N food Production Efficiency (NPE), N Recycling Efficiency (NRE) and N Full Efficiency (NFE). At the farm level, the NFE increased from system1 to system3 (from 38% to 89%, respectively). NPE was higher than the NRE in system1 (26% against 12%) and system2 (40% against 18%). In system3, NRE has been significantly increased by improved manure management. Consequently, livestock intensification has significant positive effects on both livestock and crop productivities especially if livestock intensification is coupled with improved manure management. Distinguishing the three different efficiencies put into question the classical vision of the low efficiency of tropical farming systems by underlying their high ability to recycle nutrients.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | conference_item biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
PPZS
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| Online Access: | http://agritrop.cirad.fr/604536/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/604536/1/ID604536.pdf |
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