Characterizing Cattle Corralling Practices for Sustainable Soil Fertility Management in Northern Benin

Abstract

Climate change is a global concern posing a multitude of challenges, including significant threats to agriculture, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The region’s reliance on rainfed agriculture and limited access to resources, such as mineral fertilizers, exacerbates soil fertility decline and reduces crop productivity. In this context, cattle corralling has emerged as a promising soil fertility management practice. This study assesses the benefits, challenges, and factors influencing the adoption of cattle corralling practices in maizebased farming systems in northern Benin. Data were collected through surveys from 392 smallholder farmers across three agroecological zones. Descriptive statistics, factorial analysis of correspondence, and ascending hierarchical classification were used to analyze cattle corralling typologies, while a binary logistic regression model examined adoption drivers. The results showed that 89% of farmers are familiar with the practice, and 71% have adopted it. Constraints include herd security (44%), water availability (33%), forage availability (27%), and cattle herd ownership (50%). Continuous overnightrotational corralling, discontinuous overnight-rotational corralling, and corralling contracts were identified. Key adoption factors include agroecological zone, education, ethnicity, access to credit and extension services, field-house distance, breeding strategy, and production objectives. These findings enhance understanding of corralling typologies and socioeconomic drivers, crucial for scaling up sustainable cattle corralling practices.