Knowledge and management of soil fertility by farmers in western Cameroon

Kome, Georges Kogge; Enang, Roger Kogge; Yerima, Bernard Palmer Kfuban

doi:10.1016/j.geodrs.2018.02.001

Cited by 35 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…interviewed farmers disagreed with this assessment and claimed that dark soils are less fertile than red ones. We also found that farmers' views of soil fertility indicators differed across the two production basins, which is in line with earlier findings (Ibrahima et al 2017;Kome et al 2018, Ndaka et al 2015. Therefore, we argue that farmers' perceptions of soil fertility are linked to the inherent characteristics of their surrounding environment and how they are understood.…”

Section: Farmers' Perceptions Of Soil Fertility Were Consistent With supporting

confidence: 92%

Farmers’ Perceptions as a Driver of Agricultural Practices: Understanding Soil Fertility Management Practices in Cocoa Agroforestry Systems in Cameroon

et al. 2020

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In Africa, cocoa yields are low, partly due to soil fertility constraints and poor management. While peoples’ knowledge, aspirations, and abilities are key factors explaining their behaviour, little is known about the rationales that underpin soil fertility management practices (SFMPs) of cocoa farmers. To address this gap, we conducted an exploratory survey in two contrasting regions in Cameroon where cocoa is an important crop: the humid forest and the forest-savannah transition zone. Some 30% of farmers in the transition zone as opposed to 13% in the humid forest expressed concerns about soil fertility. The most relevant soil fertility indicators for farmers were high cocoa yield, dark soil colour, ease of tillage, and floral composition. To enhance and maintain soil fertility, farmers used residues from weeding (100%), planting of trees (42%), mineral fertilisers (33%), compost (16%), and manure (13%). More farmers in the transition zone than the humid forest implemented SFMPs. Our findings suggest that soil fertility perceptions, access to inputs, local practices, and experience influence farmers’ use of SFMPs. The limited use of mineral fertilisers was explained by poor access whereas the use of organic fertilisers and tree planting were mostly constrained by lack of labour and knowledge. Farmers prioritised practices to increase yield and viewed SFMPs to be the least important management practices, although they believe high cocoa yield is an important indicator of soil fertility. To foster sustainable cocoa intensification, it is necessary to enhance farmers’ knowledge on SFMPs, increase access to inputs, and ensure returns on investment while considering farmers’ priorities and practices.

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Section: Farmers' Perceptions Of Soil Fertility Were Consistent With supporting

confidence: 92%

Farmers’ Perceptions as a Driver of Agricultural Practices: Understanding Soil Fertility Management Practices in Cocoa Agroforestry Systems in Cameroon

et al. 2020

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“…Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in handling the problems of soil fertility all over the world (e.g., Kome et al 2018;Jin et al 2019). In Egypt, several problems also have been recorded regarding the problem of soil fertility including (1) low levels of available micronutrients in Egyptian soils (e.g., coastal sandy, alkaline and sodic soils), (2) poor soil fertility (e.g., soils of deserts and coastal sandy lands), (3) improper nutrient management (in several areas), (4) low soil organic matter, (5) stress conditions (e.g., salinity, drought, waterlogging, pollution, etc.…”

Section: Common Stressed Environments In Kafr El-sheikh Soil Fertilitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stressful Environments and Sustainable Soil Management: A Case Study of Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

El-Ramady

Abowaly

Elbehiry

et al. 2019

EBSS

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S TRESSED environments have long been a question of great interest in a wide range of fields. So, many considerable literatures have grown up around this theme. In Egypt, there are several common problems related to the stressed environments. These stresses include decline of soil fertility, soil salinity and alkalinity, soil water logging, salt-affected soils, soil pollution, climate change, overpopulation growth, urban sprawl, land degradation, deterioration of natural resources, etc. More generally, national income will decline and will in turn result in the spread of social and political problems. Kafr El-Sheikh governorate can be considered one of the most important areas in Egypt, which calls "the governorate of the hope and the future" due to its location and wealths. Whereas, this governorate suffers from the most common stresses in Egypt including pollution, salinity, alkalinity and waterlogging. Great problems have been recorded in Kafr El-Sheikh related to stressed environments and suggested solutions also have been addressed. Therefore, a sustainable management should be adapted for overcoming these stressed environments in Kafr El-Sheikh.

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“…Similar to Laekemariam et al (2017) and Kome, Enang, and Yerima (2018), there seemed to be a relationship between farmer fertility assessment and farm practices such as crop management, resource allocation and time of planting as well as general cropping systems. Farmers acknowledged the ability of fertile soils to adequately support crop growth and that they require less manure compared to perceived infertile soils.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

Soil fertility assessment and management from the perspective of farmers in four villages of eastern South Africa

Buthelezi‐Dube

Hughes

Muchaonyerwa

et al. 2019

Soil Use and Management

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Understanding farmer perceptions of soil fertility is necessary for the development of appropriate assessment methods for sustainable agro‐ecosystems. This study investigated farmer perceptions of soil fertility and management in four villages of eastern South Africa. A questionnaire was administered to 50 farmers from each village to obtain a general overview of local soil knowledge as well as soil fertility perceptions and assessment. Ten farmers were then chosen from each village for in‐field walks and to gather in‐depth knowledge of local soil fertility concepts, soil‐crop associations and soil management. During in‐field walks, farmers were asked to identify fertile, moderately fertile and low soil fertility plots in their fields from which topsoil samples were taken for laboratory fertility analysis. Local soil fertility descriptors included crop performance and yield, soil texture, stoniness and consistence. Using these descriptors, farmers have developed specific soil use and management practices. There was generally poor agreement between farmer qualitative assessment and measured chemical fertility parameters. However, the study revealed that the generally ignored local qualitative soil knowledge of farmers could be linked to crop performance and potentially supports laboratory soil analysis in terms of its implication for smallholder agriculture in remote areas. The descriptors identified and overall assessment used by farmers in this study reflected considerable soil knowledge employed in daily decision‐making. Action learning and research that links local soil fertility descriptors to soil acidity and specific soil nutrient levels is thus recommended for effective identification of yield‐limiting factors for sustainable crop production in low‐input agriculture.

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Knowledge and management of soil fertility by farmers in western Cameroon

Cited by 35 publications

References 39 publications

Farmers’ Perceptions as a Driver of Agricultural Practices: Understanding Soil Fertility Management Practices in Cocoa Agroforestry Systems in Cameroon

Farmers’ Perceptions as a Driver of Agricultural Practices: Understanding Soil Fertility Management Practices in Cocoa Agroforestry Systems in Cameroon

Stressful Environments and Sustainable Soil Management: A Case Study of Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

Soil fertility assessment and management from the perspective of farmers in four villages of eastern South Africa

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