Farmers’ perceptions and management of soil organic matter — a case study from West Africa

Quansah, Charles; Drechsel, Pay; Yirenkyi, B. B.; Asante-Mensah, S.

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-2172-1_19

Cited by 31 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In less populated regions, fallow range can exceed 5-10 years. Fallow periods are often only 2-3 years in parts of the Coastal Savanna and the Forest zones or 4-6 years in parts of the Guinea and Sudan Savanna zones (Quansah et al 1991(Quansah et al , 2001; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 1991). These short periods are considered insufficient to sustain soil productivity under intense cropping (Acquaye 1990;MOFA 1998).…”

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confidence: 99%

Agricultural land use efficiency and food crop production in Ghana

Quaye

Hall

Luzadis

2010

Environ Dev Sustain

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Despite the low productivity of the extensive agriculture system, Ghana recorded the largest reduction of undernourishment in the past two decades. We used biophysical analysis to determine the efficiency and potentials of the extensive system and its future sustainability. The results indicate that food production in Ghana has increased steadily over the past two decades and correlated highly with cropped area and population (R 2 \ 0.85 and 0.82), but not with fertilizer (R 2 = 0.06). Sufficient food production could be sustained in the short term. In the longer term, however, the food situation in Ghana appears precarious if population growth continues while land remains the same.

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confidence: 99%

Agricultural land use efficiency and food crop production in Ghana

Quaye

Hall

Luzadis

2010

Environ Dev Sustain

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“…Many resource-poor farmers are forced by their circumstances to consider SOM as a source of nutrients to be exploited. In south and central Ghana, farmers were found to be aware of differences in SOM in terms of changes in colour and, to a lesser extent, soil structure (Quansah and Drechsel 2000). The major role they perceive for SOM is in terms of nutrient supply, although they are aware of other roles for SOM, including soil structure and water-holding capacity, and indicated the value of OM in improving structure, and thus making weeding easier.…”

Section: Productivitymentioning

confidence: 98%

The role and function of organic matter in tropical soils

Craswell¹,

Lefroy²

2001

Managing Organic Matter in Tropical Soils: Scope and Limitations

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Soil organic matter (SOM) has many functions, the relative importance of which differ with soil type, climate, and land use. Commonly the most important function of OM in soil is as a reserve of the nitrogen and other nutrients required by plants, and ultimately by the human population. Other important functions include: the formation of stable aggregates and soil surface protection; maintenance of the vast array of biological functions, including the immobilization and release of nutrients; provision of ion exchange capacity; and storage of terrestrial carbon (C). This paper considers the quantity and quality of SOM of soils in the tropics, which are estimated to contain one quarter of the C in the global pool in terrestrial soils, and supports strongly the use of analytical methods to characterizing labile SOM to develop valuable insights into C dynamics. As in other regions, the transformation of tropical lands for agriculture exploits SOM, and in particular nutrient reserves. The process of exploitation is accelerated in the tropics by the necessity to increase agricultural production, largely through agricultural intensification, to overcome inadequate nutrition, to satisfy population growth, and to cope with the limited reserves of arable land. Poverty has an overriding influence on the exploitation and degradation processes. Areas at greatest risk of land degradation are the infertile acid soils of the tropics, which, invariably, are cultivated by the poor. Soil organic matter has a central role in sustainable land management, but perspectives on the roles of SOM differ widely between farmers, consumers, scientists and policy-makers. Some consider SOM as a source of nutrients to be exploited, whereas others can afford to utilize it as a key component in the management of the chemical, biological, and physical fertility of soils. Still others see SOM as a dumping ground for excess nutrients and toxins, or as a convenient store for fossil fuel emissions, particularly CO 2 , Farmers need sustainable land management systems that maintain OM and nutrient reserves. Nevertheless, many available practices, whether based on indigenous or scientific knowledge, do not meet social and economic criteria that govern farmer behaviour. Much scientific knowledge about the various roles of SOM does not reach farmers and other decision-makers in a form that can be used easily. The biggest challenge to researchers is to engage with clients to pinpoint gaps in knowledge and utilize new and existing information to devise decision support Systems tailored to their needs.

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“…Furthermore, there are several examples of researchers using farmer' knowledge of traditional cropping systems to guide scientific research and develop solutions that better fitted farmers' needs (e.g. Veldhuizen et al, 1997;Steiner, 1998;Quansah et al, 2001). Defoer et al (2000) have shown that within the framework of integrated soil fertility management, combining outcomes of participatory action research and quantitative analysis can be beneficial for all the stakeholders involved, including farmers, extension agents, researchers and policy makers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Using farmer knowledge to combat low productive spots in rice fields of a Sahelian irrigation scheme

et al. 2004

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In the oldest sections of Burkina Faso's largest irrigation scheme in the Sourou Valley (13 10 0 N, 03 30 0 W) rice (Oryza sativa L.) yields dropped from about 5 to 6 t ha À1 in the early 1990s, shortly after establishment of the scheme, to 2 to 4 t ha À1 from 1995 onwards. Farmers blamed this yield decline on the appearance of 2 to 20 m diameter low productive spots. According to farmers and field measurements, the low productive spots decreased yields by 25-50 per cent. The low productive spots are caused by Zn deficiency. Low Zn availability is related to the very low DTPA-extractable Zn content of the soil (0Á08-0Á46 mg kg À1 ), the alkaline-calcareous character of the soil, the non-application of Zn fertilizers, and a relatively large P fertilizer dose (21 kg P ha À1). Farmers were correct in relating the calcareous nature of the soil to the presence of the low productive spots. They were instrumental in identifying application of decomposed organic resources (e.g. rice straw at 5 t ha À1 ) as a short-term solution that increases yields by 1Á5 to 2Á0 t ha À1. Application of Zn fertilizer (10 kg Zn ha À1) in 29 farmer fields in the 2001 dry season eradicated the low productive spots and increased yields from 3Á4 to 6Á0 t ha À1. Although application of Zn fertilizer is strongly recommended, it is not yet available in Burkina Faso. Based on a comparison of fertilizer prices on the world market and the local market, we expect that the use of Zn fertilizers will be highly profitable (cost/value ratio)2). Despite the relatively recent introduction of irrigated rice cropping, most farmers showed a good understanding of cropping constraints and possible solutions. Both farmers and researchers mutually benefited from each other's knowledge and observations.

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Farmers’ perceptions and management of soil organic matter — a case study from West Africa

Cited by 31 publications

References 4 publications

Agricultural land use efficiency and food crop production in Ghana

Agricultural land use efficiency and food crop production in Ghana

The role and function of organic matter in tropical soils

Using farmer knowledge to combat low productive spots in rice fields of a Sahelian irrigation scheme

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