Determinants of maize stover utilization as feed, fuel and soil amendment in mixed crop-livestock systems, Ethiopia. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jaleta, Moti; Kassie, Menale; Erenstein, Olaf
• Is Part Of: Agricultural systems. Volume 134(2015)
• Page Start: 17
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Biomass use -- Crop residues -- Mixed system -- Crop-livestock -- Seemingly Unrelated Regression -- Ethiopia; Agricultural systems -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 338.16
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2014.08.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-521X

Abstract

Highlights: Extension advice on mulching enhances maize stover retained on farm plots. Livestock owned negatively affects the level of crop residue retained on farm plot. Competition between feed and mulch is severe in low maize potential areas. Volume of stover used as feed is higher for households growing only maize crop. Abstract: Crop residues have several uses in smallholder mixed crop-livestock systems. This paper examines determinants of households' maize stover use as livestock feed, fuel and soil amendment in maize-based systems in Ethiopia. In these systems maize stover is primarily used as feed (56% of biomass) and fuel (31%), with the feed use share negatively associated with maize production potential. We develop a Seemingly Unrelated Regression model to capture the interdependence of crop residue uses. Results show extension training on crop residue retention in the field results in more residue use for soil amendment and less for feed. Farmers with more livestock tend to use more residues for feed and less for soil mulch. Cropping pattern, farm size, agro-ecology and crop residue production also influence crop residue utilization. Conservation agriculture interventions have implications for crop residue use and need to consider access to information, cropping patterns, resources endowments and other socio-economic factors in their development and targeting.