Redesigning traditional weed management practices in faba bean fields to optimize food‐feed production in the smallholder system

Duringthe main cropping season, Ethiopian farmers deliberately weed faba bean (Vicia L.) fields much later than recommended and use the herbage mass as feed. This study examined rationale behind farmers’ practices explored options to further improve productivity. The involved two experiments. first compared overall benefit from traditional management regime against frequent weeding recommendation. Sixty participated, each preparing plots. plots were randomly assigned either (one late weeding) or improved (two early management. second suitability of intercropping with oat (Avena sativa L.). It a 5 × 3 factorial experiment, three (traditional, improved, intercropping) five varieties repeated over yr. In experiment increased grain yield (2.49 vs. 2.12 Mg ha–1) traditional. But produced higher (P < .01) forage biomass (2.12 0.27 improved. analysis showed opportunity costs associated loss in not convincingly offset by economic gains yields. was again highest for lowest intercropping. Analysis returns revealed that provides greater practice. Farmers’ decisions have rational basis building on practicewith would allow optimize