Field Comparison 30 Days after Establishing the Nursery
 
Africare technican Diaty points out the control plot associated with the SRI field of Asseydou Alhassane, in the village of Hara-Hara.
 
July 13, 2008
Time comparisons between SRI and Control start on the day when SRI seeds are soaked in water, and when seeds are sown in the control nursery. This is when germination begins.
 
Field performance of SRI is a highly complex outcome based on both small and large changes in crop, soil, water, and nutrient management practices as compared to conventional methods. We will not be able to attribute overall performance to a specific action, as we would do if carrying out a scientific test  to isolate and study single factors.
 
Our approach is to collect a minimal but comprehensive set of data for each of the fields, accompanied by observations and analysis from both technicians and farmers. Given the range of experience to be derived from working with 60 SRI and 60 control fields, we expect to learn a great deal about how to adapt SRI to local farming conditions, and beyond that to expand SRI in Timbuktu and other regions of Mali.
 
 
SRI Plot
Control Plot
Ibrahim Hamidou’s fields 31 days after nursery establishment: to the left SRI plot 16 days after planting, on the right the control plot 1 day after planting.
SRI Plot                                                               Control