Knowledge Base

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

.:: Lao Knowledge Base on Conservation Agriculture ::.

Maize yield and profit increase under a no-tillage system and crop rotation with legumes in southern Xayabury province, Lao PDR Featured

Author(s)
Hoà Tran Quoc, Florent TIVET, Sompasith Senephansiri, Laty Keodouangsy, Thisadee Chounlamountry, Chanthasone Khamxaykhay, Lucien Séguy
Media Type
Workshop
Published in
Regional workshop on Conservation Agriculture, Phonsavanh, Xieng Khouang, Lao PDR
Publication Date
2008-10-28
To
2008-11-01
Sayaboury province is currently the main maize production area in the Lao PDR. Due to high demand for maize from local traders, most farmers grow maize in monocultures covering more than 42,000 ha in southern Sayaboury province, amounting to more than 80% of the total rainfed cultivated area. This market-oriented agriculture is also characterized by the expansion of intensive agriculture based on heavy mechanized tillage, the increasing use of herbicides and hybrid seeds. Although smallholders have rapidly generated large profits with maize production, and despite the fact that some fairly productive soils remain, they tend to be rather vulnerable due to the rapid depletion of the “natural capital” through this “mining” agriculture. In light of that, and since 2003, the Lao National Agro-Ecology Programme (PRONAE) has been developing and adapting direct seeding mulch-based cropping (DMC) systems, setting up several experimental sites and taking a participatory approach involving village communities and farmer groups. This study attempted to compare agronomic and economic performances between conventional tillage and DMC cropping systems. Look the presentation


Advanced Search