Publication Type
Journal Article
Journal Name
Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment
Publication Date
1-1-2027
Abstract
Agroecological approaches harnessing in-field biodiversity have been highlighted as a sustainable way to reduce yield gaps, but long-term assessments of their ability to buffer production from weather extremes and increasing interannual and intraseasonal climate variability are scarce. Here, we analyze a 12-year dataset from 642 control vs. push-pull maize field pairs in western Kenya, where long-term climate trends include increasing temperatures and intensifying drought and rainfall. In push-pull, maize is intercropped with a fodder legume that improves soil fertility, suppresses weeds, and deters pests, and is bordered with fodder grasses attracting and suppressing the pests. We assess interactions between push-pull and climate effects on yields, stemborer pest damage and densities of parasitic weeds during the long and short rainy seasons, and how these drive push-pull effects on yield. Push-pull maize yields were always higher than control yields, but varying climate conditions affected the two field types differently. During the long rainy seasons, differences between push-pull and control yields were higher in years with high temperatures. Yield benefits of push-pull were also higher in years when dry spells were longer early in the long rainy season. During the short rainy seasons, push-pull increased yields, particularly when accumulated seasonal rainfall was optimal, while still doubling yield under very low or very high precipitation. Interactions between push-pull and climate variables were partly mediated by pests and weeds. Our results show that smallholder maize production using push-pull not only increases yields but also buffers adverse effects of weather extremes that are already becoming more frequent and intense.
Keywords
Agroecology, Climate effects, Climate smart farming, Ecological intensification, Insect pests, Intercropping, Striga
Recommended Citation
Clough, Y., May, W., Luttermoser, T., Nyagol, D., Alexandridis, N., Chidawanyika, F., Jonsson, M., Midega, C., Poveda, K., & Khan, Z. (2027). Push-pull farming system helps insure smallholder maize production under climate change. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment, 413 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2026.110717
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.