Designing innovative combinations of techniques to improve the sustainability of cropping systems in poor countries is a major challenge. Here, we developed a prototyping methodology to design, assess and adapt a crop management system for a specific set of constraints. It was applied in Mali with the aim of designing innovative prototypes of cotton management systems to be further tested and adapted by farmers. The prototype aimed at shortening the cotton cycle to overlap the rainy season. The prototype is particularly suited for late sowing and for regions where rainfall is often insufficient. We propose a conceptual model that organizes technical interventions to shorten the cotton cycle. We developed a set of indicators to evaluate the relevance of each modified technical intervention, by comparison with current farmer practices. We evaluated the overall performances of the prototype by taking into account economic, environmental and social factors. The prototype was tested and adjusted in six trials between 2002 and 2004. Our results show that the cotton growth cycle was reduced by 15 days on average, mainly through the shortening of the flowering period. The combination of much higher stand density than currently applied in the region and application of the growth regulator mepiquat chloride produced a much higher number of bolls per hectare of +69%. The prototype produced higher seed-cotton yields, of +44% on average, and much higher gross margin than the standard cotton management system. The method was therefore successful in designing a new cotton management system that helps farmers to adapt to diverse cropping conditions.

中文翻译：

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基于实验的原型设计和评估西非棉花管理系统

设计创新的技术组合以改善贫困国家的种植系统的可持续性是一项重大挑战。在这里，我们开发了一种原型方法，以针对特定的限制条件设计，评估和调整作物管理系统。它在马里得到应用，旨在设计创新的棉花管理系统原型，供农民进一步测试和适应。该原型旨在缩短棉花周期以覆盖雨季。该原型特别适合后期播种和降雨不足的地区。我们提出了一个概念模型，该模型可以组织技术干预以缩短棉花周期。通过与当前的农民实践进行比较，我们制定了一套指标来评估每种改良技术干预措施的相关性。我们通过考虑经济，环境和社会因素来评估原型的整体性能。在2002年至2004年之间的六个试验中，对原型进行了测试和调整。我们的结果表明，棉花的生长周期平均缩短了15天，主要是通过缩短了开花期。比该地区目前使用的林分密度高得多，加上生长调节剂甲基哌草胺的施用，每公顷棉铃数量增加了+ 69％。与标准的棉花管理系统相比，该原型产生的籽棉产量更高，平均为+ 44％，且毛利率更高。因此，该方法成功地设计了一种新的棉花管理系统，该系统可以帮助农民适应各种种植条件。