SLM Database

Composting with on-farm organic solid waste management improves the soil sustainably and raises crop yields.

• Compiler: William Akwanyi
• 02/09/2023 1:58 p.m.

Cross-slope barriers in the form of vegetative strips are established on sloping lands to reduce runoff velocity and prevent soil loss, thereby contributing to the conservation of soil, water, and plant nutrients.

• Compiler: William Akwanyi
• 03/19/2023 6:53 p.m.

Retention ditches are channels aligned along the contour which are designed for surface runoff management. They improve water infiltration into the ground and prevent soil erosion.

• Compiler: William Akwanyi
• 03/07/2023 3:02 a.m.

Vermicomposting is an on-farm waste management strategy where worms are used for biodecomposition of wastes to produce a natural liquid fertilizer and pesticide.

• Compiler: William Akwanyi
• 03/14/2023 1:14 p.m.

Crop residue management consists of leaving crop residues on farmland after harvest. This reduces evaporation during the dry season. The decomposition of the residues contributes to improved soil fertility, while the underground biomass (roots) enhances soil structure. In the case of legumes, root nodules provide nitrogen for subsequent crops.

• Compiler: Harifidy RAKOTO RATSIMBA
• 10/24/2022 3:23 p.m.

A Rice Field with Poor Drainage (RMME) is a cultivated rice field enclosed by embankments, relying on an irregular water supply, and facing potential water scarcity risks at the onset, during, or towards the conclusion of the cropping cycle. Specific rice varieties are particularly well-suited to this type of rice …

• Compiler: Harifidy RAKOTO RATSIMBA
• 10/24/2022 3:27 p.m.

Contour farming involves cultivating the soil perpendicular to the slope, that is ploughing along the contour. This minimizes runoff-induced erosion.

• Compiler: Harifidy RAKOTO RATSIMBA
• 10/24/2022 3:31 p.m.

Liquid compost is produced by chopping and mixing animal dung and fresh plant matter, including plants with insect-repellent properties, in an aqueous medium. This liquid compost can be used as a substitute for mineral fertilizers and for pest control in crops. It can be used on all types of crops, …

• Compiler: Harifidy RAKOTO RATSIMBA
• 10/24/2022 3:35 p.m.

Grass strips are spaced at regular intervals along contour lines. These strips are not ploughed during soil preparation, and Brachiaria grass is used to form barriers to reduce water-induced erosion. Over time, the plots evolve naturally into terraces.

• Compiler: Harifidy RAKOTO RATSIMBA
• 10/24/2022 3:19 p.m.

Intercropping maize with legumes improves soil fertility and provides a rapid source of income for smallholders. Red cowpea, known locally as “lojy zazamena”, is the most widely used legume, but there are also other varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) that adapt well to the region's environmental conditions.

• Compiler: Harifidy RAKOTO RATSIMBA
• 10/24/2022 3:26 p.m.