WilliamBanda/Malawi-Farming-Practices-Analysis

# Comparative Analysis of Deep Bed Farming vs Conventional Ridging in Malawi ## Project Overview This repository contains data and an analysis script from a quasi-experimental study comparing **Deep Bed Farming (DBF)** and **Conventional Ridging (CR)** systems in Malawian smallholder maize farms. Conducted in partnership with Tiyeni Organization, the research demonstrates DBF's potential to increase yields by 70% while improving soil health metrics. ## Repository Contents - `/data`: Cleaned datasets (CSV format) containing: - Plant population counts - Biomass measurements - Grain yield records - Soil quality indicators - `/analysis`: R scripts for: - Statistical comparison (DBF vs CR) - Yield correlation analysis - Visualization scripts for key metrics ## Key Findings - **70% yield increase**: DBF plots produced 8.5-9.0 Mt ha⁻¹ vs CR's 5.0 Mt ha⁻¹ [P ≤ 0.005] - Enhanced soil structure with 33% higher moisture retention in DBF systems - 28.6% greater plant establishment rates in DBF (450 vs 350 plants/10m²) - Complete biomass analysis showing 50% higher stalk production in DBF ## Usage To replicate the analysis: ## Data Collection Field data collected by Tiyeni Organization through: - Standardized plot measurements - Harvest weight records - Soil sampling at 0-30cm depth ## Acknowledgments This research was made possible by smallholder farmers participating in the study and Tiyeni's field staff. Please cite this work if using any materials.