Quesungual Poster (World Water Week)

A. Castro1, M. Rivera1, O. Ferreira1, J. Pavón2, E. García1, E. Amézquita3, M.

Ayarza3, E. Barrios4, M. Rondón5, N. Pauli6, M.E. Baltodano1, B. Mendoza7, L.A.

Wélchez8, N. Johnson9, J. Rubiano10, S. Cook10 and I.M. Rao1

(1) CIAT; (2) Instituto Nicaragüense de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Nicaragua; (3)Corporación

Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (CORPOICA), Colombia; (4)EMBRAPA, Brazil; (5)IDRC, Canada; (6)University of Western Australia; (7)Universidad Nacional de Agricultura (UNA), Nicaragua; (8) FAO-

Honduras; (9) ILRI, Kenya; (10)CPWF-Basin Focal Project Coordination, Colombia

Slash and burn (SB, Fig. 1) is a traditional form of agriculture practiced

by small-scale farmers in around 20% of the tropical land area (Dixon et

al., 2001). Despite the short-term benefits obtained from its use (i.e.

source of firewood, source of nutrients for crop development, and

reduction in incidence of pests and diseases), it is recognized as an

environmentally unfriendly practice that does not guarantee food

security and may lead to a rapid resource degradation. Unfortunately,

there are not many alternatives to SB agriculture, especially for small-

scale farmers usually forced to produce on marginal soils on sloping

lands.

In southwest Honduras, in the early 1990s experts from FAO identified

native farming practices and worked together with farmers to develop a

production system suitable to replace the SB system in that eco-region.

The Quesungual Slash and Mulch Agroforestry System (QSMAS, Fig. 2) is

a smallholder production system comprising a group of technologies for

the sustainable management of vegetation, soil, water and nutrients in

drought-prone areas of the sub-humid tropics. The system has been

adopted by 6,000 farmers in 7,000 hectares in Candelaria, Honduras,

due to its benefits including resilience even to extreme climatic events

such as El Niño in 1997 and hurricane Mitch in 1998 (FAO, 2005).

The main objective of this CPWF funded project was to define the key

driving forces and principles behind the social acceptance and the

biophysical resilience of QSMAS by determining the role of the

management components of the system and QSMAS’ capacity to sustain

crop production and alleviate water deficits on steeper slopes with high

risk of soil erosion. Research activities were conducted in Honduras

(reference site), Nicaragua and Colombia (validation sites) (Fig. 3), from

April 2005 to December 2008, to compare the following five land use

systems:

1= Slash-and-burn (traditional production system)

2, 3 and 4= QSMAS of <2, 5-7 and >10 years old, respectively

5= Secondary forest (reference land use system, only in Honduras)

SB and QSMAS were managed applying local practices to produce maize

(Z. mays) and common bean (P. vulgaris), with and without addition of

fertilizers. Fertilized treatments include 49 kg N + 55 kg P ha-1 at 8-10

days after planting (DAP) and 52 kg N ha-1 at ~30 DAP for maize; and 46

kg N + 51 kg P ha-1 at 8-10 DAP for common bean.

Here we present the research highlights that support the

recommendation of QSMAS as a validated eco-efficient option to

achieve multiple social, agricultural and environmental benefits in

rainfed systems of the sub-humid tropics in the face of climate change.

The knowledge generated in Honduras (Central America) by a CPWF

funded Project indicated that the Quesungual Slash and Mulch

Agroforestry System (QSMAS) can be a model production system for

implementing conservation agriculture principles to achieve sustainable food security and other

ecosystem services in drought-prone areas of hillsides in the sub-humid tropics in the face of land

degradation and climate change. As a suitable option to replace the slash and burn agriculture, QSMAS

can improve smallholder livelihoods through eco-efficient use and conservation of natural resources.

Participatory validation activities in Nicaragua and Colombia suggest that the principles embedded in

QSMAS can be readily accepted by resource-poor farmers and local authorities in similar agroecosystems.

Consortium for the Integrated Management of

Soils in Central America

(1) Establishment of a slash and burn

plot: cutting of forests and burning

of the resulting biomass

Nicaragua

and

Colombia:

Validation sites

Honduras:

Reference site

(3) Study sites

for QSMAS

(2) QSMAS plot for the

production of maize

Extrapolation Domain Analysis (EDA) for

QSMAS: bivariate map showing potential

areas for implementation of QSMAS across

the Pan tropical world.

*EDA performed combining Bayesian

(Bonham Carter et al. 1989; Bonham Carter

2002) and frequentist statistical models

(Jones et al. 2005).

Experience over three years of on-farm

participatory validation in Nicaragua

(Somotillo) and Colombia (Suárez) suggests

that QSMAS (or its principles) will be readily

accepted and adopted by smallholders in

similar agroecosystems (sub-humid tropics).

Farmer-to-farmer proved to be a useful

mechanism for QSMAS’ promotion and

dissemination.

Nicaragua (2005-06): QSMAS improved

net income (83%) compared to SB system.

Slash and Burn QSMAS

Gra

in y

ield

(t

ha-1

)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

Maize

Common beanDMS0.05= ns

DMS0.05= 0.43


Gra

in y

ield

(t

ha-1

)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

Maize


DMS0.05= 0.43

Maize


DMS0.05= 0.43


Gra

in y

ield

(t

ha-1

)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

Maize


DMS0.05= 0.43


Gra

in y

ield

(t

ha-1

)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

Maize


DMS0.05= 0.43

Maize


DMS0.05= 0.43LSD

LSD

In synthesis:

• Soil-plant-atmosphere continuum: Reduced runoff, erosion, water turbidity and

surface evaporation; and increased infiltration, soil water storage capacity and use of

green water.

• Soil quality: Improved aggregation, structure, biological activity, organic matter,

fertility and fertilizer use efficiency.

• Green house gases (GHG): Reduced global warming potential and improved C capture.

• Food security: Improved crop water productivity and yields at lower inputs of labor.

Estimated value of

environmental services

(Honduras, 2007):

considering: (i) Soil and water

(runoff, infiltration, water

holding capacity, and soil

losses) attributes; and (ii) C

capture (soil organic carbon)

US$ 2,240 per hectare

Productivity: QSMAS improves

crop water productivity

compared to SB.

Cro

p w

ate

r p

rod

uc

tiv

ity

(k

g m

-3)

0 .0

0 .1

0 .2

0 .3

0 .4

0 .5

0 .6

Slash &

Burn

QSMAS <2

QSMAS 5-7

QSMAS >10

Bean

Maize

LSD 0.05 = 0.14

LSD0.05 = 0.10

Cro

p w

ate

r p

rod

uc

tiv

ity

(k

g m

-3)

0 .0

0 .1

0 .2

0 .3

0 .4

0 .5

0 .6

Slash &

Burn

QSMAS <2

QSMAS 5-7

QSMAS >10

Bean

Maize

LSD 0.05 = 0.14

LSD0.05 = 0.10

Ava

ilab

le w

ate

r co

nte

nt

(m3

m-3

)

0 .00

0 .08

0 .10

0 .12

0 .14

LS D0 .05

= 0 .015

Soil water: QSMAS improves dry season adaptation of crops through

higher soil water availability together with reduced runoff and

increased infiltration compared to SB.

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

1 0

2 0

3 0

4 0

DMS 0.05 = 6.2

DMS 0.05 = 6.6

Runoff

(mm

h-1

)In

filtra

tion

(mm

h-1

)

S lash and B u rn

Q S M A S

S econda ry F o rest

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

1 0

2 0

3 0

4 0

DMS 0.05 = 6.2

DMS 0.05 = 6.6

Runoff

(mm

h-1

)In

filtra

tion

(mm

h-1

)

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

1 0

2 0

3 0

4 0

DMS 0.05 = 6.2DMS 0.05 = 6.2

DMS 0.05 = 6.6DMS 0.05 = 6.6

Runoff

(mm

h-1

)In

filtra

tion

(mm

h-1

)

S lash and B u rn

Q S M A S


LSD

LSD

So

il l

os

s (

t h

a-1

)

0

1 0

2 0

3 0

4 0

5 0

6 0

7 0

8 0

2007 – LSD= ns

2006 – LSD= 1.08

2005 – LSD= 6.59

QSMASSecondary

Forest

Slash

and Burn

So

il l

os

s (

t h

a-1

)

0

1 0

2 0

3 0

4 0

5 0

6 0

7 0

8 0

2007 – LSD= ns

2006 – LSD= 1.08

2005 – LSD= 6.59

2007 – LSD= ns

2006 – LSD= 1.08

2005 – LSD= 6.59

QSMASSecondary

Forest

Slash

and Burn

Erosion: QSMAS protects soil by markedly

reducing soil losses (~7.5 times in two

years) compared to SB system.

Ch

an

ge

in

nu

trie

nt

sta

tus

(m

g k

g-1

)

-40

0

4 0

8 0

1 2 0

1 6 0

2 0 0

2 4 0

2 8 0

3 2 0

QSMAS Secondary

Forest

Slash

and Burn

T ota l N

A va ilab le P

Ch

an

ge

in

nu

trie

nt

sta

tus

(m

g k

g-1

)

-40

0

4 0

8 0

1 2 0

1 6 0

2 0 0

2 4 0

2 8 0

3 2 0

QSMAS Secondary

Forest

Slash

and Burn

T ota l N

A va ilab le P

Ch

an

ge

in

SO

M (

%)

-0 .9

-0 .8

-0 .7

-0 .6

-0 .5

-0 .4

-0 .3

-0 .2

-0 .1

0 .0

0 .1

0 .2

0 .3

0 .4

0 .5

S lash and B u rn

Q S M A S


QSMAS Secondary

Forest

Slash

and Burn

Ch

an

ge

in

SO

M (

%)

-0 .9

-0 .8

-0 .7

-0 .6

-0 .5

-0 .4

-0 .3

-0 .2

-0 .1

0 .0

0 .1

0 .2

0 .3

0 .4

0 .5

S lash and B u rn

Q S M A S


QSMAS Secondary

Forest

Slash

and Burn

Soil quality: QSMAS improves soil nutrient status and soil organic

matter (SOM) content (0-20 cm soil depth) compared to SB system

(after one year).

= SED

= SED

GHG emission: QSMAS reduces the risk (42%) for

global warming potential (GWP) compared to

slash and burn (SB) system (20 year scenario).

GW

P (

kg

CO

2 e

qu

iva

len

ts h

a-1

y-1

)

0

1 0 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 0

3 0 0 0 0

4 0 0 0 0

5 0 0 0 0

S lash and B u rn

Q S M A S


GW

P (

kg

CO

2 e

qu

iva

len

ts h

a-1

y-1

)

0

1 0 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 0

3 0 0 0 0

4 0 0 0 0

5 0 0 0 0

S lash and B u rn

Q S M A S


0 .0

0 .5

1 .0

1 .5

2 .0

2 .5

3 .0

0 .0

0 .5

1 .0

1 .5

2 .0

2 .5

3 .0

Cro

p y

ield

(t h

a-1)

-F LSD0 .05

= N S

2005

2006

2007

Average

LSD0 .05

= N S+ F

0 .0

0 .2

0 .4

0 .6

0 .8

1 .0

1 .2

LSD0 .05

= 0 .22

Cro

p y

ield

s (

t h

a-1)

0 .0

0 .2

0 .4

0 .6

0 .8

1 .0

1 .2

-F LSD0 .05

= N S

2005

2006

2007

Average

+ F

Honduras (2005-07): Average productivity of QSMAS is similar of

higher than in SB system (+F and -F = fertilizer and no

fertilizer, respectively).

Research for development activities support the recommendation of

QSMAS (or the application of its principles) as an option to achieve a

number of social, agricultural and environmental benefits in rainfed

systems of the sub-humid tropics.

Policy implications for achieving wider impacts include enabling:

•Regional–national-local goals to protect the sustainability of

agroecosystems while enhancing their functionality.

•Local agricultural and developmental extension systems.

•Incentives to communities to adopt more sustainable and

environmentally friendly production practices.

•Financial mechanisms to facilitate adoption of proposed changes.

•Physical infrastructure to sustain productivity gains.

•Benefit sharing mechanisms such as the payment for environmental

services (PES).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This project was partially funded by the Challenge Program on Water and Food of CGIAR. It was co-executed by the Integrated Management of Soil consortium (MIS) in Central America including INTA and UNA, Nicaragua; ESNACIFOR, UNA and FAO, Honduras; and CIAT - Honduras, Nicaragua and Colombia; Inter-institutional consortium for sustainable agriculture in hillsides (CIPASLA), Colombia; and National University of Colombia - Palmira. We thank E. Humphreys, M. Fisher, M. Rajasekharan, N. Asakawa, C. Benavides, G. Borrero, J.G. Cobo, L.F. Chávez, J. Galvis, M. del P. Hurtado, M. Quintero, J. Quintero, J. Ricaurte, V. Soto, M.T. Trejo, R. Vivas, A. Álvarez, O. Ayala, E. Melo and D. Vásquez for their contributions to this work.

Potential on the PES provided by QSMAS could enhance its acceptance in

countries with national objectives of protecting ecosystems in the face

of climate change. They may compensate:

•Reduced global warming potential (improved C capture and mitigation

of greenhouse gas fluxes)

•Increase of water quality and availability

•Conservation of biodiversity

•Increase of soil quality and resilience

•Recuperation of degrading soils

•Mitigation of impact related to natural disasters and/or climate change

QSMAS is an integrated land use management strategy embracing

principles of conservation agriculture that contribute to its

superior performance in terms of productivity, sustainability and

resilience.

QSMAS management practices leads towards efficient nutrient

cycling, improved crop water productivity, and increased and

sustained C assimilation and accumulation in a resilient production

system, thereby enhancing support for livelihoods in rural areas.

Under experimental conditions, QSMAS is equally effective as SB

system for the production of maize and more efficient to produce

common bean. The more dramatic effect is the increased

productivity of water in the later part of the bimodal rainy season,

when rainfall is usually irregular (dry spells on key stages of crop

development) or inadequate (shorter rainy season).

High natural variation in QSMAS plots (i.e. predominant vegetation,

soil properties) and marked differences on their management (e.g.

crop residues) demonstrates that the implementation of its

principles strongly relies on criteria of individual farmers that are

influenced by current and future needs of the householders.

Driving forces behind QSMAS adoption are multiple and articulated.

The success of the system in Honduras and Nicaragua is a reflection

of a community-based learning process in which local people and

extension service providers share ideas and learn together.

QSMAS benefits should be increased through intensification and

diversification with high value components (livestock and fruit crop

options).

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Improving farmers’ livelihoods in a changing world. FAO, Rome; FAO. 2005. El Sistema Agroforestal Quesungual: una

opción para el manejo de suelos en zonas secas de ladera. Sistema de Extensión Lempira, Honduras. 49p; JONES, PG,

DIAZ, W. and COCK JH. 2005. Homologue: A computer System for Identifying Similar Environments throughout the

Tropical World. Version Beta a.0. CIAT, Colombia.

QSMAS plot bordered by forests

regenerated as result of

elimination of slash and burn

QSMAS plot: soybean (Glycine max

L.) production managed by women

Landscape in the region of Honduras

where QSMAS is practiced

Nicaraguan farmers being trained

by Honduran farmers on the

establishment of QSMAS plots

Education

Quesungual Poster (World Water Week)