Small-scale farming in drylands: New models for resilient practices of millet and sorghum cultivation

PLOS ONE • Vol/Iss. 18(2) • PLOS ONE • • Published In • Pages: 1-17 •
By Ruiz-Giralt, Abel, Biagetti, Stefano, Madella, Marco, Lancelotti, Carla

Abstract

Finger millet, pearl millet, and sorghum are important drought-tolerant crops used as primary staple crops in drylands. Despite their long history, they have received less attention in recent years and their production has decreased. New models show that annual precipitation is not the only factor affecting their agriculture, but other variables like growing cycle duration, soil water-holding capacity, and soil nutrient availability also play a crucial role, as evidenced by ethnographic data. The traditional cultivation practices of these crops can be a sustainable response to the increasing aridity levels worldwide and can contribute to the resilience of dryland agriculture.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
eHRAF World CulturesResearchers' ownCoded agricultural practices for target crops
WorldClimOther researchersEnvironmental variables
Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation DataOther researchersEnvironmental variables
Murdock, 1981Researchers' ownCoded agricultural practices for target crops
Lancelotti et al., 2019Researchers' ownCoded agricultural practices for target crops
Global Solar AtlasOther researchersEnvironmental variables
Global Aridity and PET databaseOther researchersEnvironmental variables
Global Soil Organic Carbon MapOther researchersEnvironmental variables
Global Soil Dataset for Earth System ModelsOther researchersEnvironmental variables

Hypotheses (4)

HypothesisSupported
Physio-climatic, soil composition, and spatial factors will predict crop selection.Mostly supported
Physio-climatic, soil composition, spatial, and growing season factors will predict the selection of finger millet for cultivation.Partially Supported
Physio-climatic, soil composition, spatial, and growing season factors will predict the selection of pearl millet for cultivation.Mostly supported
Physio-climatic, soil composition, spatial, and growing season factors will predict the selection of sorghum for cultivation.Partially Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: jacob.kalodner