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

In sub-Saharan Africa, farmers are still perceiving minimum or no tillage to come at the expense of short-term economic profits. 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. 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. 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. In our case, STHR appears to be reasonable compromise to minimize yield penalties while increasing profitability in an early transition to Conservation Agriculture. 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. • Strip tillage with hoeing and ridging has higher maize and cotton yield than conventional tillage. • Strip-till with hoeing and ridging reduces economic risks in cotton-maize rotations. • Maize was more profitable than cotton under all the tillage systems. • After two years, direct seeding and strip tillage showed persistent yield penalties.