Minimum tillage reduces variability and economic risks in cotton-maize rotations in Northern Benin

Context: In sub-Saharan Africa, farmers are still perceiving minimum or no tillage to come at the expense of short-term economic profits. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of strip-till one-pass (ST) and direct seeding (DS) on crop yield and profitability within a cotton-maize rotation system, in comparison with conventional tillage (CT) and strip till plus hoeing and ridging (STHR), as a farmer adaptation of minimum tillage. Methods: An experiment was conducted in a split-plot design in 2022 and 2023 in northern Benin. Agronomic performance and economical profitability of cotton and maize were measured. Results: Yield penalties were observed in both years with ST and DS while STHR resulted in a 4–9 % increase in cotton yield with respect to CT. The highest number of bolls per cotton plant was observed with ST and DS. Compared to CT, STHR led to a 3–8 % increase in gross income and a 20–70 % increase in gross margin for cotton. Regarding maize, the STHR resulted in an increase in gross income and margin by 13 % and 27 %, respectively, in comparison to CT in 2022. In 2023, the later exhibited the highest gross income and margin. Conclusions: In our case, STHR appears to be reasonable compromise to minimize yield penalties while increasing profitability in an early transition to Conservation Agriculture. Implications or significance: Although STHR led to improved performance, it resulted in extensive soil disturbance in the subsequent year. Continued research efforts are needed to refine farmer-targeted CA practices in cotton-based cropping systems of Benin.