Author: Kathrin Franzluebbers
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Crops
Languages : en
Pages : 50
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Book Description
'Slash and burn agriculture'remains the major food production system in sub-Saharan Africa. However, in a major part of the region, where fallow periods have been shortened below a critical level, the system can no longer sustain crop yield due to decline in soil fertility. In order to allow continuos crop production, principles and practices that mimic natural fallow and enhance soil organic matter build-up need to be integrated into new cropping systems that replace shifting cultivation or 'slash and burn agriculture'. These include (a) returning of organic materials to the soil, (b) ensuring minimum disturbance of soil surface, and (c) use of multipurpose trees and perennials. At the time, inorganic fertilizers are also needed to maintain a positive nutriente balance of the agroecosystem. On the widespread sandy kaolinitic soils in sub-Sahara Africa, numerous published results have shows that without appropiate organic inputs, inorganic fertilizer alone cannot sustain crop yield and maintain soil fertility in the long run because of soil acideification, loss of soil organic matter and compaction. The adoption of management practices that integrate organic, chemical and biological inputs into economically and environmentally sound production systems is an essential step towards sustaining high crop yields and preventing land degradation in the region. In the humid forest region, where root crops and tree crops are ecologically more suitable, agroforestry systems, such as multistory homestead gardens, plantation/crop combinations, and alley cropping, appear to have a high potencial for maintaining soil organic matter at levels adequate for sustaining crop growth. In the subhumid and humid/subhumid transition zones, crop residue mulch, minimum tillage and leguminous cover crops are promising tecnologies for improving nutrient and water use efficiency and sustaining high yields of maize, sorghum and cowpea. In the semiarid regions, however, improvement of millet and sorghum yields is severely limited by the lack of organic inputs. The potencial for increasing and sustaining food crop production in the seminarid zone ultimately depends upon successful integration of crop, fodder and fuelwood production within a farming community.
Author: K. Franzluebbers
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 50
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Book Description
'Slash and burn agriculture'remains the major food production system in sub-Saharan Africa. However, in a major part of the region, where fallow periods have been shortened below a critical level, the system can no longer sustain crop yield due to decline in soil fertility. In order to allow continuos crop production, principles and practices that mimic natural fallow and enhance soil organic matter build-up need to be integrated into new cropping systems that replace shifting cultivation or 'slash and burn agriculture'. These include (a) returning of organic materials to the soil, (b) ensuring minimum disturbance of soil surface, and (c) use of multipurpose trees and perennials. At the time, inorganic fertilizers are also needed to maintain a positive nutriente balance of the agroecosystem. On the widespread sandy kaolinitic soils in sub-Sahara Africa, numerous published results have shows that without appropiate organic inputs, inorganic fertilizer alone cannot sustain crop yield and maintain soil fertility in the long run because of soil acideification, loss of soil organic matter and compaction. The adoption of management practices that integrate organic, chemical and biological inputs into economically and environmentally sound production systems is an essential step towards sustaining high crop yields and preventing land degradation in the region. In the humid forest region, where root crops and tree crops are ecologically more suitable, agroforestry systems, such as multistory homestead gardens, plantation/crop combinations, and alley cropping, appear to have a high potencial for maintaining soil organic matter at levels adequate for sustaining crop growth. In the subhumid and humid/subhumid transition zones, crop residue mulch, minimum tillage and leguminous cover crops are promising tecnologies for improving nutrient and water use efficiency and sustaining high yields of maize, sorghum and cowpea. In the semiarid regions, however, improvement of millet and sorghum yields is severely limited by the lack of organic inputs. The potencial for increasing and sustaining food crop production in the seminarid zone ultimately depends upon successful integration of crop, fodder and fuelwood production within a farming community.
Author: Bernard Vanlauwe
Publisher: CABI
ISBN: 9780851995762
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 352
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Book Description
This book contains 23 peer-reviewed papers presented during the 'International Symposium on Balanced Nutrient Management Systems' which was held between 9 and 12 October 2000 in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. This book is presented in seven sections (i) general introduction; (ii) variability on physical and socioeconomic factors and its consequences for selection of representative areas for integrated nutrient management (INM) research; (iii) soil processes determining nutrient dynamics, particularly N and P; (iv) interactions between organic and mineral nutrient sources; (v) improved utilization of rock phosphate; (vi) decision support systems to improve resource use at farm level: on-farm testing of improved technologies; and (vii) recommendations. The currently accepted INM approach advocates the use of organic resources and mineral fertilizer inputs to redress nutrient depletion and sustain crop production. It also ensures that development of nutrient management strategies is problem-driven and involves farmers that are the end-users of such technologies.
Author: Peter Gruhn, Francesco Goletti, and Montague Yudelman
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN: 0896296377
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 38
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Book Description
Author: André Bationo
Publisher: CIAT
ISBN: 9966240756
Category : Nutrient cycles
Languages : en
Pages : 632
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Book Description
Author: H. van Reuler
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Fertilizers
Languages : en
Pages : 248
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Book Description
Author: Andre Bationo
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1402057601
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 1051
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Book Description
Food insecurity is a fundamental challenge to human welfare and economic growth in Africa. Low agricultural production leads to low incomes, poor nutrition, vulnerability to risk and threat and lack of empowerment. This book offers a comprehensive synthesis of agricultural research and development experiences from sub-Saharan Africa. The text highlights practical lessons from the sub-Saharan Africa region.
Author: W. Graeme Donovan
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 9780821342367
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 76
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Book Description
World Bank Technical Paper No. 408. This report is a critical review of the technical, economic, and institutional constraints on improving soil fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the actions recommended to address them. Action plans prepared for Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Mali examine the demand for and supply of mineral fertilizers, the exploitation of local mineral resources, the prevention of soil erosion and increasing soil-water retention, and soil fertility management using organic technologies and management practices.
Author: Andre Bationo
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400715366
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 253
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Book Description
Legumes play an important role in the cropping systems of sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Legumes are an important source of nutrition to both humans and livestock by providing the much needed protein, minerals, fibre and vitamins. The sale of legumes seed, leaves and fibre generates income for the marginalized communities especially women. Cultivation of legumes is essential for the regeneration of nutrient-deficient soils. By biologically fixing nitrogen (BNF) in the soil, legumes provide a relatively low-cost method of replacing otherwise expensive inorganic nitrogen in the soil. This enhances soil fertility and boosts subsequent cereal crop yields. Production of legumes in SSA is however; hampered by a number of constraints among them low and declining soil fertility, low soil pH, high salinity, drought and flooding, poor access to improved germplasm, diseases, pests and weeds. Farmers need to learn how to overcome these constraints if the full benefits of legumes are to be gained. This book presents a synthesis of research work on legumes and draws attention to the importance of legumes in integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) and poverty alleviation in SSA.
Author: D. J. Greenland
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN: 9789251045633
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 70
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Book Description
This publication reviews issues related to land degradation, with focus on problems of soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights some successful experiences in the region, constraints and possible solutions specific to the major agro-ecological zones and the importance of the holistic and participatory approaches for soil productivity improvement. The need for action and collaborative efforts of all stakeholders, within the framework of ongoing initiatives, are emphasized. It is hoped that this document will contribute to increase awareness of senior specialists and policy-makers about the problems and alternative solutions towards enhanced and sustained soil productivity.
