Conservation Agriculture Affects Grain and Nutrient Yields of Maize ( Zea Mays L.) and Can Impact Food and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Autor:	Galani YJH; School of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom., Ligowe IS; Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, Lilongwe, Malawi., Kieffer M; Centre for Plant Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom., Kamalongo D; Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, Lilongwe, Malawi., Kambwiri AM; Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy, Blantyre, Malawi.; Civil Society Agriculture Network, Lilongwe, Malawi., Kuwali P; Civil Society Agriculture Network, Lilongwe, Malawi., Thierfelder C; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe., Dougill AJ; School of Earth and Environment, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom., Gong YY; School of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom., Orfila C; School of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Frontiers in nutrition [Front Nutr] 2022 Jan 26; Vol. 8, pp. 804663. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Jan 26 (Print Publication: 2021).
DOI:	10.3389/fnut.2021.804663
Abstrakt:	Maize is a major staple and plays an essential role in food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Conservation agriculture (CA), a climate-smart agriculture practise based on minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention, and crop diversification, has been widely advocated but without extensive research on the impact it may have on maize nutrient composition, and food and nutrition security. This study assessed the grain yield, macro- and micronutrient mineral content, and nutrient yield of eight maize varieties grown in Malawi, and how these are affected by CA practises over two seasons. The minerals were analysed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) coupled to optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and to mass spectroscopy (MS). Grain yield and Se content differed among the varieties, while C, N, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, and Zn were similar. The local variety Kanjerenjere showed lowest grain and nutrient yields. The open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) concentrated more minerals than the F1 hybrids, but the latter showed higher yields for both grain and nutrients. Typical consumption of the eight maize varieties could fully meet the protein and Mg dietary reference intake (DRIs) of Malawian children (1-3 years), as well as Mg and Mn needs of adult women (19-50 years), but their contribution to dietary requirements was low for Fe (39-41%) and K (13-21%). The trials showed that CA increased grain yield (1.2- to 1.8-fold) and Se content (1.1- to 1.7-fold), but that it had no effect on C, K, Mg, P, and Zn, and that N (1.1- to 1.2-fold), Mn (1.1- to 1.8-fold), and Fe (1.3- to 3.4-fold) were reduced. The high increase in grain yield under CA treatments resulted in increased yields of protein and Se, no effect on the yields of K, Mg, Mn, P, Zn, and reduced Fe yield. Conservation agriculture could contribute in reducing the risk of Se deficiency in Malawian women and children but exacerbates the risk of Fe deficiency. A combination of strategies will be needed to mitigate some of the foreseen effects of climate change on agriculture, and food and nutrition security, and improve nutrient intake. Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. (Copyright © 2022 Galani, Ligowe, Kieffer, Kamalongo, Kambwiri, Kuwali, Thierfelder, Dougill, Gong and Orfila.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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