Innovations in soil and irrigation technologies to improve Senegalese vegetable production

种植供国内消费和出口的高价值蔬菜已被证明能产生实质性的积极社会经济影响，同时也有助于实现联合国可持续发展目标。农业向出口导向型生产的转变也可以改善小农农业社区的生计。然而，塞内加尔和撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）的可持续农业发展面临着许多基本的农艺、环境和经济挑战，包括需要采取更综合的水土管理方法，以建立对气候和水相关风险的抵御能力。微型或滴灌（DI）正在全球和整个南亚地区广泛推广，作为小农和商业农民提高产量和减少对气候变化脆弱性的一种手段。低施用量和低能源需求也为提高灌溉效率提供了很大的空间，但这取决于良好的田间管理。在容易干旱的土壤上管理DI作物是一项重大挑战——农民经常过度灌溉，导致大量排水损失和养分淋失。为了解决这些风险，SNF开发了一种创新的低成本聚合物，可以通过滴灌系统应用。在智利和美国进行的初步试验表明，浸出风险降低，根区灌溉改善，产量提高。这一创新有可能推动SSA种植蔬菜的小农和商业农场在水和养分利用效率方面发生“阶段性变化”。这个探索性项目的重点是“双重创新”——评估低成本的土壤调节剂，同时评估土壤健康状况，通过使用覆盖种植可以提高产量和经济回报。热带豆科植物Sunn Hemp是一种有价值的跨季覆盖作物，有助于捕获氮，对抗南部根结线虫（SSA的主要产量威胁），同时也增加了土壤有机碳。然而，孙麻对土壤水分和养分管理相关属性的有益影响尚不清楚。该项目将与我们在英国（Barfoots）和塞内加尔（SCL Diama）的合作伙伴合作，评估土壤调节剂和Sunn Hemp在土壤和作物管理实践方面的综合相互作用。该项目将对当地和出口市场种植的作物进行田间试验，包括甜玉米、四季豆、辣椒、洋葱和“尼贝”豆。小农户的传播将由当地的非政府组织（通用目的）领导。该项目还将参与正在进行的举措，以确保大量小农受益。

Cultivating high-value vegetables for both national consumption and export have been shown to generate substantive positive socio-economic impacts whilst also contributing to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The transformation of agriculture towards export-orientated production can also enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farming communities. However, sustainable agricultural development in Senegal and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces a number of fundamental agronomic, environmental and economic challenges including the need for more integrated approaches to soil and water management to build resilience to climate, water-related risks.Micro or drip irrigation (DI) is being widely promoted globally and across SSA as a means by which smallholders and commercial farmers can increase yields and reduce vulnerability to climate variability. The low application rates and low energy requirements also provide major scope for improvements in irrigation efficiency, but this is contingent on good in-field management. Managing DI crops on drought prone soils is a major challenge -- farmers often over-irrigate leading to high drainage losses and nutrient leaching. To address these risks, SNF has developed an innovative low-cost polymer that can be applied via the drip irrigation systems. Initial trials in Chile and the USA have shown reduced leaching risks, improved irrigation to the root zone and increased yields. This innovation has the potential to drive a 'step-change' in water and nutrient use efficiency for smallholders and commercial farms growing vegetables in SSA. This exploratory project focuses on a 'dual innovation' -- the evaluation of the low cost soil conditioner coupled with assessing soil health can be improved through the use of a cover cropping can increase yields and economic returns. The tropical legume Sunn Hemp is a valuable inter-season cover crop that helps trap nitrogen, is antagonistic to southern root-knot nematode (a major yield threat in SSA) whilst also increasing soil organic carbon. However, the beneficial effects of Sunn Hemp on soil attributes relevant to water and nutrient management remain unknown. Working with our partners in the UK (Barfoots) and Senegal (SCL Diama), this project will evaluate the combined interactions of the soil conditioner and Sunn Hemp on soil and crop management practices. The project will use field trials on crops grown for local and export markets including sweetcorn, green beans, chillies, onions and 'Niebe' beans. Smallholder dissemination will be led a local NGO (Universal Purpose). The project will also engage with ongoing initiatives to ensure substantial numbers of smallholder farmers are beneficially impacted.