Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of Benin

Autores
Djigbe, Bernus Z.; Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel; El Mujtar, Verónica Andrea; Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao
Año de publicación
2026
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Context: Agroecological transition in farming systems that integrate crops, trees, and livestock offers a promising strategy to enhance farm performance and increase soil carbon (C) inputs through improved management of manure, crop residues, and tree litterfall. In Benin's major Anacardium occidentale (cashew) production zones, such integrated systems remain underutilized due to various implementation challenges. Nevertheless, the diversity of farming practices in the region presents an opportunity to assess the benefits of agricultural integration at the farm level. Objective: This study evaluated how agroecological transition influences farm performance and soil carbon inputs in Benin's cashew-producing zones. Methods: A total of 206 farms were surveyed across four districts in central and northern Benin using the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE). Agroecological transition level and performance of two farm typologies were considered. The first one was a pre-defined typology based on structural characteristics of the farming systems (conventional, low integrated and integrated farming systems), and the second one was an identified typology by clustering analysis based on the scoring of the 10 Elements of Agroecology (clusters C1, C2 and C3). In both cases, the correlation of the Characterization of AgroEcological Transition (CAET) indices with the core criteria of performance (CCP) index and the soil carbon inputs (SCI) index were estimated. Results and conclusions: Among pre-defined typologies, integrated farming systems demonstrated higher CAET, CCP and SCI indices than conventional systems. Among identified typologies, farms in the cluster C3 achieved higher CAET, CCP and SCI indices. This cluster included 85%, 59% and 31.8% of farms from the integrated, low integrated and conventional farming systems respectively, revealing heterogeneity of agroecological transition level among farming types. Considering all farms, moderate levels of agroecological transition were observed (median total CAET = 47%), with higher farm CAET (50%) than social CAET (41%). Farm performance also showed moderate levels (CCP median index = 0; expected range: −5 to 5). Significance: These findings underscore the potential of agroecological transition to enhance the sustainability of farm productivity in Benin through improved agroecological performance and improved soil C inputs. Policies and interventions promoting such systems could support the region's transition to more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.
EEA Bariloche
Fil: Djigbe, Bernus Z. University of Parakou. Faculty of Agronomy. Integrated Production Systems Innovation Lab and Sustainable Land Management; Benín
Fil: Djigbe, Bernus Z. University of Parakou. Doctoral School of Agricultural and Water Science. Department of Management of Naturel Resources; Benín
Fil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. Institute of Cotton Research; Benín
Fil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. CIRAD, UPR AIDA; Benín
Fil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. AIDA-Université Montpellier-CIRAD; Francia
Fil: El Mujtar, Veronica Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); Argentina
Fil: El Mujtar, Veronica Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); Argentina
Fil: Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao. University of Parakou. Faculty of Agronomy. Integrated Production Systems Innovation Lab and Sustainable Land Management; Benín
Fil: Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao. University of Parakou. Faculty of Agronomy. Department of Science and Technics of Animal Production and Fisheries; Benín
Fuente
Agricultural Systems 234 : 104661. (April 2026)
Materia
Agroecología
Transición Agroecológica
Anacardo
Suelo
Carbono
Agroecology
Agroecological Transition
Cashews
Soil
Carbon
Benin
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/25234
Acceder
id INTADig_aef448dd0f8730c41ad33fa4eaac0462
oai_identifier_str oai:localhost:20.500.12123/25234
network_acronym_str INTADig
repository_id_str l
network_name_str INTA Digital (INTA)
spelling Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of BeninDjigbe, Bernus Z.Yemadje, Pierrot LionelEl Mujtar, Verónica AndreaDiogo, Rodrigue V. CaoAgroecologíaTransición AgroecológicaAnacardoSueloCarbonoAgroecologyAgroecological TransitionCashewsSoilCarbonBeninContext: Agroecological transition in farming systems that integrate crops, trees, and livestock offers a promising strategy to enhance farm performance and increase soil carbon (C) inputs through improved management of manure, crop residues, and tree litterfall. In Benin's major Anacardium occidentale (cashew) production zones, such integrated systems remain underutilized due to various implementation challenges. Nevertheless, the diversity of farming practices in the region presents an opportunity to assess the benefits of agricultural integration at the farm level. Objective: This study evaluated how agroecological transition influences farm performance and soil carbon inputs in Benin's cashew-producing zones. Methods: A total of 206 farms were surveyed across four districts in central and northern Benin using the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE). Agroecological transition level and performance of two farm typologies were considered. The first one was a pre-defined typology based on structural characteristics of the farming systems (conventional, low integrated and integrated farming systems), and the second one was an identified typology by clustering analysis based on the scoring of the 10 Elements of Agroecology (clusters C1, C2 and C3). In both cases, the correlation of the Characterization of AgroEcological Transition (CAET) indices with the core criteria of performance (CCP) index and the soil carbon inputs (SCI) index were estimated. Results and conclusions: Among pre-defined typologies, integrated farming systems demonstrated higher CAET, CCP and SCI indices than conventional systems. Among identified typologies, farms in the cluster C3 achieved higher CAET, CCP and SCI indices. This cluster included 85%, 59% and 31.8% of farms from the integrated, low integrated and conventional farming systems respectively, revealing heterogeneity of agroecological transition level among farming types. Considering all farms, moderate levels of agroecological transition were observed (median total CAET = 47%), with higher farm CAET (50%) than social CAET (41%). Farm performance also showed moderate levels (CCP median index = 0; expected range: −5 to 5). Significance: These findings underscore the potential of agroecological transition to enhance the sustainability of farm productivity in Benin through improved agroecological performance and improved soil C inputs. Policies and interventions promoting such systems could support the region's transition to more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.EEA BarilocheFil: Djigbe, Bernus Z. University of Parakou. Faculty of Agronomy. Integrated Production Systems Innovation Lab and Sustainable Land Management; BenínFil: Djigbe, Bernus Z. University of Parakou. Doctoral School of Agricultural and Water Science. Department of Management of Naturel Resources; BenínFil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. Institute of Cotton Research; BenínFil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. CIRAD, UPR AIDA; BenínFil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. AIDA-Université Montpellier-CIRAD; FranciaFil: El Mujtar, Veronica Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); ArgentinaFil: El Mujtar, Veronica Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); ArgentinaFil: Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao. University of Parakou. Faculty of Agronomy. Integrated Production Systems Innovation Lab and Sustainable Land Management; BenínFil: Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao. University of Parakou. Faculty of Agronomy. Department of Science and Technics of Animal Production and Fisheries; BenínElsevier2026-02-19T12:15:25Z2026-02-19T12:15:25Z2026-04info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/25234https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X260002960308-521X1873-2267https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104661Agricultural Systems 234 : 104661. (April 2026)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología AgropecuariaengBenin .......... (nation) (World, Africa)1000160info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2026-02-26T11:47:42Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/25234instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2026-02-26 11:47:42.773INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of Benin
title Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of Benin
spellingShingle Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of Benin
Djigbe, Bernus Z.
Agroecología
Transición Agroecológica
Anacardo
Suelo
Carbono
Agroecology
Agroecological Transition
Cashews
Soil
Carbon
Benin
title_short Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of Benin
title_full Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of Benin
title_fullStr Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of Benin
title_full_unstemmed Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of Benin
title_sort Implications of agroecological transition on performance and soil carbon inputs in farms from highly productive cashew zones of Benin
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Djigbe, Bernus Z.
Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel
El Mujtar, Verónica Andrea
Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao
author Djigbe, Bernus Z.
author_facet Djigbe, Bernus Z.
Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel
El Mujtar, Verónica Andrea
Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao
author_role author
author2 Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel
El Mujtar, Verónica Andrea
Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Agroecología
Transición Agroecológica
Anacardo
Suelo
Carbono
Agroecology
Agroecological Transition
Cashews
Soil
Carbon
Benin
topic Agroecología
Transición Agroecológica
Anacardo
Suelo
Carbono
Agroecology
Agroecological Transition
Cashews
Soil
Carbon
Benin
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Context: Agroecological transition in farming systems that integrate crops, trees, and livestock offers a promising strategy to enhance farm performance and increase soil carbon (C) inputs through improved management of manure, crop residues, and tree litterfall. In Benin's major Anacardium occidentale (cashew) production zones, such integrated systems remain underutilized due to various implementation challenges. Nevertheless, the diversity of farming practices in the region presents an opportunity to assess the benefits of agricultural integration at the farm level. Objective: This study evaluated how agroecological transition influences farm performance and soil carbon inputs in Benin's cashew-producing zones. Methods: A total of 206 farms were surveyed across four districts in central and northern Benin using the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE). Agroecological transition level and performance of two farm typologies were considered. The first one was a pre-defined typology based on structural characteristics of the farming systems (conventional, low integrated and integrated farming systems), and the second one was an identified typology by clustering analysis based on the scoring of the 10 Elements of Agroecology (clusters C1, C2 and C3). In both cases, the correlation of the Characterization of AgroEcological Transition (CAET) indices with the core criteria of performance (CCP) index and the soil carbon inputs (SCI) index were estimated. Results and conclusions: Among pre-defined typologies, integrated farming systems demonstrated higher CAET, CCP and SCI indices than conventional systems. Among identified typologies, farms in the cluster C3 achieved higher CAET, CCP and SCI indices. This cluster included 85%, 59% and 31.8% of farms from the integrated, low integrated and conventional farming systems respectively, revealing heterogeneity of agroecological transition level among farming types. Considering all farms, moderate levels of agroecological transition were observed (median total CAET = 47%), with higher farm CAET (50%) than social CAET (41%). Farm performance also showed moderate levels (CCP median index = 0; expected range: −5 to 5). Significance: These findings underscore the potential of agroecological transition to enhance the sustainability of farm productivity in Benin through improved agroecological performance and improved soil C inputs. Policies and interventions promoting such systems could support the region's transition to more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.
EEA Bariloche
Fil: Djigbe, Bernus Z. University of Parakou. Faculty of Agronomy. Integrated Production Systems Innovation Lab and Sustainable Land Management; Benín
Fil: Djigbe, Bernus Z. University of Parakou. Doctoral School of Agricultural and Water Science. Department of Management of Naturel Resources; Benín
Fil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. Institute of Cotton Research; Benín
Fil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. CIRAD, UPR AIDA; Benín
Fil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. AIDA-Université Montpellier-CIRAD; Francia
Fil: El Mujtar, Veronica Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); Argentina
Fil: El Mujtar, Veronica Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); Argentina
Fil: Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao. University of Parakou. Faculty of Agronomy. Integrated Production Systems Innovation Lab and Sustainable Land Management; Benín
Fil: Diogo, Rodrigue V. Cao. University of Parakou. Faculty of Agronomy. Department of Science and Technics of Animal Production and Fisheries; Benín
description Context: Agroecological transition in farming systems that integrate crops, trees, and livestock offers a promising strategy to enhance farm performance and increase soil carbon (C) inputs through improved management of manure, crop residues, and tree litterfall. In Benin's major Anacardium occidentale (cashew) production zones, such integrated systems remain underutilized due to various implementation challenges. Nevertheless, the diversity of farming practices in the region presents an opportunity to assess the benefits of agricultural integration at the farm level. Objective: This study evaluated how agroecological transition influences farm performance and soil carbon inputs in Benin's cashew-producing zones. Methods: A total of 206 farms were surveyed across four districts in central and northern Benin using the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE). Agroecological transition level and performance of two farm typologies were considered. The first one was a pre-defined typology based on structural characteristics of the farming systems (conventional, low integrated and integrated farming systems), and the second one was an identified typology by clustering analysis based on the scoring of the 10 Elements of Agroecology (clusters C1, C2 and C3). In both cases, the correlation of the Characterization of AgroEcological Transition (CAET) indices with the core criteria of performance (CCP) index and the soil carbon inputs (SCI) index were estimated. Results and conclusions: Among pre-defined typologies, integrated farming systems demonstrated higher CAET, CCP and SCI indices than conventional systems. Among identified typologies, farms in the cluster C3 achieved higher CAET, CCP and SCI indices. This cluster included 85%, 59% and 31.8% of farms from the integrated, low integrated and conventional farming systems respectively, revealing heterogeneity of agroecological transition level among farming types. Considering all farms, moderate levels of agroecological transition were observed (median total CAET = 47%), with higher farm CAET (50%) than social CAET (41%). Farm performance also showed moderate levels (CCP median index = 0; expected range: −5 to 5). Significance: These findings underscore the potential of agroecological transition to enhance the sustainability of farm productivity in Benin through improved agroecological performance and improved soil C inputs. Policies and interventions promoting such systems could support the region's transition to more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-02-19T12:15:25Z
2026-02-19T12:15:25Z
2026-04
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/25234
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X26000296
0308-521X
1873-2267
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104661
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/25234
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X26000296
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104661
identifier_str_mv 0308-521X
1873-2267
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.coverage.none.fl_str_mv Benin .......... (nation) (World, Africa)
1000160
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Agricultural Systems 234 : 104661. (April 2026)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
collection INTA Digital (INTA)
instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
_version_ 1858207933935910912
score 13.176822

Publicaciones similares