Legume-based rotations have clear economic advantages over cereal monocropping in dry areas

Abstract

Current land use trends show an increasing preference for monocroppingmostly a consequence of policies and incentives aimed at enhancing the intensification of cereals. This shift has caused some to question whether legume-cereal rotations can remain economically viable options for farmers, particularly in the dry areas. In this paper, we present the results of an endogenous switching regression model which suggests, for the first time, that legume-cereal rotations have clear economic advantages over cereal monocropping. Rotations provide higher yields, gross margins, and consumption of wheat and faba beans. Most past economic analyses on rotation used data from experimental stations or small-sized farmer surveys covering only one season and variety. This study makes an important improvement by employing two-year data from a large sample of 1230 farm households and their 2643 fields cultivated with different varieties of wheat and faba beans in the wheat-based production system of Morocco. Assuming a biennial rotationthe fastest cycle possible in a rainfed dryland system, this paper is also the first to demonstrate that joint adoption of rotations and improved faba bean varieties leads to a two-year average gross margin that is US$537/ha (48%) higher than wheat monocropping. This is the highest economic benefit of all available cropping options. A striking result of the study is that, contrary to common expectations, adopters of rotation did not use lesser amounts of nitrogen fertilizer than those monocropping wheat, thereby undermining the ecological benefits of faba bean-wheat rotations. Given that current average applications are below marginal product-maximizing levels, higher marginal yields of nitrogen fertilizers after rotation help explain farmers' current behavior. Our results suggest that: 1) promoting improved legume varieties may enhance adoption of rotation; and 2) an economic rationale should be used as the main driver of the rotation agenda in the dry areas.

Socio‐economic impacts of zero and reduced tillage in wheat fields of the Moroccan drylands

“…Rotation results in a positive and significantly higher yield from the subsequent wheat crop, consistent with the ecological benefits of the faba‐bean–wheat rotation and the findings of Yigezu et al. (2019).…”

“…The use of improved varieties and certified seeds also leads to higher yields relative to the use of local (and old improved) varieties and uncertified seeds for both fields on which ZT is adopted and not adopted—showing clear advantages to the use of both improved varieties and certified seeds, consistent with the findings of Yigezu et al. (2019).…”

Benefits of Circular Agriculture for Cropping Systems and Soil Fertility in Oases

“…These rotations were designed for livestock requirements and because there is an economic use for the crops, but farmers may not necessarily consider soil fertility. Yigezu et al [56] reported that cereal-faba bean rotations provided yields 459 kg.ha −1 (48%) higher than those of monocropped wheat and increased the gross margin for the subsequent wheat crop by MAD1258.ha −1 (i.e., US$146.ha −1 ). The wheat-faba bean rotation increases agricultural income and food security of the household.…”

CGIAR modeling approaches for resource‐constrained scenarios: II. Models for analyzing socioeconomic factors to improve policy recommendations

“…The high returns to investment in wheat are well-documented (Lantican et al, 2016). Some studies also suggest combining this varietal replacement with changing crop water and fertilizer management (Komarek et al, 2017;La Rovere et al, 2014) or rotations (Yigezu et al, 2019).…”