Maize (Zea mays L.)–legume intercropping is common cropping system among smallholder farmers in West Africa. However, little is known about the income risk reduction associated with maize–legume strip cropping in West Africa. A 3-yr study was conducted in Upper West and Northern regions of Ghana to determine the effect of maize–legume strip cropping on productivity, income, and income risk using a randomized complete block design with five replications in each region. Seven treatments were used: sole crops of maize (M) cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] (C) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) (G), a combination of two rows of M and two rows of legumes (L) (2M:2C and 2M:2G), and two rows of M and four rows of L (2M:4C and 2M:4G). Maize–legume strip cropping options (2M:2L and 2M:4L) on the average saved 90–100% of agricultural land, significantly increased income by about threefold, and reduced risk of operating at a financial loss by 75% compared with sole cropping. Smallholder farmers, especially sole legume cropping farmers in the Guinea savanna of northern Ghana and similar agro-ecologies in West Africa, could adopt maize–legume strip cropping systems (2M:4L or 2M:2L) to mitigate production risk and increase financial return.

中文翻译：

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玉米-豆类带状作物种植对加纳北部农民的生产力，收入和收入风险的影响

玉米（Zea mays L。）-豆类间作是西非小农户的常见种植制度。然而，关于西非玉米-豆类作物种植带来的收入风险降低知之甚少。在加纳的上西部和北部地区进行了为期三年的研究，使用随机完整块设计（每个区域重复五次）确定玉米-豆类带状作物对生产力，收入和收入风险的影响。使用了七种处理方法：玉米cow豆[ Vigna unguiculata（L.）Walp。]（C）和花生（花生）L.）（G），两行M和两行豆类（L）（2M：2C和2M：2G）以及两行M和四行L（2M：4C和2M：4G）的组合）。与单一种植相比，玉米-豆科作物的条带种植选择（2M：2L和2M：4L）平均节省了90-100％的耕地，显着提高了收入约三倍，并且使遭受经济损失的风险降低了75％ 。小农户，特别是加纳北部几内亚热带草原上的唯一豆类作物种植者以及西非类似的农业生态系统，可以采用玉米豆类带状作物种植系统（2M：4L或2M：2L）来减轻生产风险并增加财务收益。