1. Diversified and sustainable agro‐ecosystems –
efficient management of resources and soil
fertility
Erik Karltun, Ingrid Öborn, Kristina Röing de Nowina,
Gert Nyberg
IMPACT SYNTHESIS

2. Cultivation period (years)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
TotalN(gkg-1
)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
y = 4 + 4.89e-0.18x
r = 0.98**
δ15
N
δ
15
N(‰)
Total N
Scientific
Partners
End users SLU

3. Some major research questions addressedScientific
• How do trees in the landscape affect watershed
hydrology?
• How do trees and crops compete for water and nutrients
in agro-forestry systems?
• Can integration of trees and crops, and often livestock,
contribute to enhance agricultural productivity and
resource utilization, and contribute to improved living
conditions for smallholders?
• Can soil fertiliy and crop management reduce Striga
infestation?
• What factors may determine farmer adoption of new
technologies?
• Can compost or charcoal be a complement to fertilizer to
enhance nutrient use efficiency?

4. Some quantitative outputScientific
Category Number
Peer-reviewed scientific papers 5
Peer-reviewed book chapters 2
Manuscripts under preparation 14
MSc and BSc theses 16
PhD students 4
Conference presentations and posters 25
Organized scientific conferences and workshops 3
End-user directed activities 6
Guest researchers visit to SLU 2
Post-doc 1
Directly involved senior researchers (SLU/Partners) 8/21
Directly involved students (Sweden/Partners) 17/7
Partner universities 4
Partner institutes 4
Partner organizations incl. NGOs 2

5. The major reason for SLU to engage in research in
Africa is not the research itself but to assist building
the capacity to do research…
…but by doing research together we build capacity:
- academic
- human
- technical
- institutional
Partners

6. The budget support for a PhD thesis provided by Addis
Ababa University is 6000 SEK
Partners

7. Some students supportedPartners

8. Tree-maize interaction at field scale
John Nyaga, PhD student, JKUAT/ICRAF
Partners

9. Workneh Bedada, PhD student, Wondo Genet/SLU
Compost-fertilizer interactions
Partners

10. Partners

11. Local impact yes – but how do we scale it up?
A university is not primarily a development organization
End users

12. • Capacity building – academic and societal
• Strong interest among students
• Part of a globalized world – new perspectives
SLU

13. Thank you!
UD
Co-funders
Partners
Farmers
SLU Global