scholarly journals Precision of farmer based fertility ratings and soil organic carbon for crop production on a Ferralsol

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1237-1261
Author(s):  
P. Musinguzi ◽  
P. Ebanyat ◽  
J. S. Tenywa ◽  
T. A. Basamba ◽  
M. M. Tenywa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Yield Gain ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract. Simple and affordable soil fertility ratings are essential, particularly for the resource-constrained farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in planning and implementing prudent interventions. A study was conducted on Ferralsols in Uganda, to evaluate farmer-field-based soil fertility assessment procedures, hereafter referred to as farmer' field experiences (FFE), for ease of use (simplicity) and precision, against more formal scientific quantitative ratings using soil organic carbon (SQR-SOC). A total of 30 fields were investigated and rated using both approaches, as low, medium and high in terms of soil fertility, with maize as the test crop. Based on maize yield, both rating techniques were fairly precise in delineating soil fertility classes, though the FFE approach showed mixed responses. Soil organic carbon in the top soil (0–15 cm) was exceptionally influential, explaining > 70% in yield variance. Each unit rise in SOC concentration resulted in 966–1223 kg ha−1 yield gain. The FFE approach was effective in identifying low fertility fields, which was coherent with the fields categorized as low (SOC < 1.2%). Beyond this level, its precision can be remarkably increased when supplemented with the SOC procedure.

scholarly journals Precision of farmer-based fertility ratings and soil organic carbon for crop production on a Ferralsol

Solid Earth ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 1063-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Musinguzi ◽  
P. Ebanyat ◽  
J. S. Tenywa ◽  
T. A. Basamba ◽  
M. M. Tenywa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Unit Increase ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract. Simple and affordable soil fertility ratings are essential, particularly for the resource-constrained farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), in planning and implementing prudent interventions. A study was conducted on Ferralsols in Uganda to evaluate farmer-based soil fertility assessment techniques, hereafter referred to as farmers' field experiences (FFE), for ease of use and precision, against more formal scientific quantitative ratings using soil organic carbon (SQR-SOC). A total of 30 fields were investigated and rated using both techniques, as low, medium and high in terms of soil fertility – with maize as the test crop. Both soil fertility rating techniques were fairly precise in delineating soil fertility classes, though the FFE was inefficient in distinguishing fields > 1.2 % SOC with medium and high fertility. Soil organic carbon, silt and clay were exceptionally influential, accounting for the highest percentage in grain yield of 50 % in the topsoil (0–15 cm) and 67 % for the mean concentrations from 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm. Each unit increase in SOC concentration resulted in 966 to 1223 kg ha−1 yield gain. The FFE technique was effective in identifying low-fertility fields, and this was coherent with the fields categorized as low (SOC < 1.2 %). Beyond this level, its precision can be remarkably increased when supplemented with the SQR-SOC technique.

scholarly journals Soil Nutrients and Maize Yields Responses to Agroforestry Tree Post-fallows Management in Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent G. Vyamana ◽  
Shabani A.O. Chamshama ◽  
Samora Macrice Andrew
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Degraded Land ◽  
Agricultural Technologies ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Continuous Maize ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Agriculture forms a backbone of many countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) thus has the potential to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, agriculture in the SSA is characterized by low production due to soil fertility depletion. Use of appropriate low input agricultural technologies may increase production and benefit smallholder farmers through increased productivity in already degraded land. A field experiment was established to assess tree coppice intercropping of Albizia harveyi and Albizia versicolor for soil fertility and maize yield improvements in Morogoro, Tanzania. Tree fallows of A. versicolor aged three years increased significantly soil organic Carbon, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium. Yields of maize grain, cobs and stover in maize fields intercropped with A. versicolor were significantly higher than those with A. harveyi. Fields with continuous maize cropping had the least yields of grain, cobs and stover. The studied agroforestry tree species are recommended for rotational woodlots and short rotation coppice systems to enhance agricultural productivity for achieving SDGs.

scholarly journals Continental-scale controls on soil organic carbon across sub-Saharan Africa

SOIL ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 305-332
Author(s):  
Sophie F. von Fromm ◽  
Alison M. Hoyt ◽  
Markus Lange ◽  
Gifty E. Acquah ◽  
Ermias Aynekulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Weathered Soils ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Extractable Metals ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract. Soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization and destabilization has been studied intensively. Yet, the factors which control SOC content across scales remain unclear. Earlier studies demonstrated that soil texture and geochemistry strongly affect SOC content. However, those findings primarily rely on data from temperate regions where soil mineralogy, weathering status and climatic conditions generally differ from tropical and subtropical regions. We investigated soil properties and climate variables influencing SOC concentrations across sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 1601 samples were analyzed, collected from two depths (0–20 and 20–50 cm) from 17 countries as part of the Africa Soil Information Service project (AfSIS). The data set spans arid to humid climates and includes soils with a wide range of pH values, weathering status, soil texture, exchangeable cations, extractable metals and land cover types. The most important SOC predictors were identified by linear mixed-effects models, regression trees and random forest models. Our results indicate that geochemical properties, mainly oxalate-extractable metals (Al and Fe) and exchangeable Ca, are equally important compared to climatic variables (mean annual temperature and aridity index). Together, they explain approximately two-thirds of SOC variation across sub-Saharan Africa. Oxalate-extractable metals were most important in wet regions with acidic and highly weathered soils, whereas exchangeable Ca was more important in alkaline and less weathered soils in drier regions. In contrast, land cover and soil texture were not significant SOC predictors on this large scale. Our findings indicate that key factors controlling SOC across sub-Saharan Africa are broadly similar to those in temperate regions, despite differences in soil development history.

scholarly journals Changes in Soil Prokaryotic Diversity in Response to Land-Use Changes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Soil Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Takamitsu Ohigashi ◽  
Michael Schloter ◽  
Stefanie Schulz ◽  
Kabenuka Munthali ◽  
Yoshitaka Uchida
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Soil Dna ◽  
Prokaryotic Diversity ◽  
Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most severely affected regions regarding soil degradation, a global issue with the loss of nutrients caused by inappropriate management, leading to low agricultural productivity. Here we asked the question of how soil prokaryotic communities are affected by shifts in land use management and subsequent losses in soil organic carbon. We sampled soils from three sites in Zambia which have neighboring natural and managed sites. After the measurement of soil properties, soil DNA was sequenced, targeting the 16S rRNA gene. As expected, total carbon in soil was decreased in the managed sites, with significant reductions of bacterial biomass. However, the diversity indices in the managed soils were higher than in natural soils. Particularly, the relative abundance of nitrifiers was increased in the managed soils, most likely as a result of fertilization. However also other bacteria, e.g., those which formed tight interactions with the cultivated crops including the genera Balneimonas, and Bacillus, were increased in the managed soils. In contrast bacteria belonging to the family Chloroflexi, which were high in abundance in the natural soil were outcompeted by other prokaryotes in the managed soils most likely as a result of changes in the amount of soil organic carbon. Overall, our results suggest that we need to discuss the trends of prokaryotic diversity separately from those for prokaryotic abundance. Even when bacterial abundances were decreased in the managed soils, nitrifiers’ relative abundance and diversity increased in our experiment, suggesting the possible alteration of the nitrogen cycle in managed soils in sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Building Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience through Soil Organic Carbon Restoration in Sub-Saharan Rural Communities: Challenges and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10966
Author(s):  
Alex Taylor ◽  
Maarten Wynants ◽  
Linus Munishi ◽  
Claire Kelly ◽  
Kelvin Mtei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Soil Function ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Soc Stocks

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is widely recognised as pivotal in soil function, exerting important controls on soil structure, moisture retention, nutrient cycling and biodiversity, which in turn underpins a range of provisioning, supporting and regulatory ecosystem services. SOC stocks in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are threatened by changes in land practice and climatic factors, which destabilises the soil system and resilience to continued climate change. Here, we provide a review of the role of SOC in overall soil health and the challenges and opportunities associated with maintaining and building SOC stocks in SSA. As an exemplar national case, we focus on Tanzania where we provide context under research for the “Jali Ardhi” (Care for the Land) Project. The review details (i) the role of SOC in soil systems; (ii) sustainable land management (SLM) techniques for maintaining and building SOC; (iii) barriers (environmental, economic and social) to SLM implementation; and (iv) opportunities for overcoming barriers to SLM adoption. We provide evidence for the importance of site-specific characterisation of the biophysicochemical and socio-economic context for effective climate adaptation. In particular, we highlight the importance of SOC pools for soil function and the need for practitioners to consider the type of biomass returns to the soil to achieve healthy, balanced systems. In line with the need for local-scale site characterisation we discuss the use of established survey protocols alongside opportunities to complement these with recent technologies, such as rapid in situ scanning tools and aerial surveys. We discuss how these tools can be used to improve soil health assessments and develop critical understanding of landscape connectivity and the management of shared resources under co-design strategies.

scholarly journals The effect of minimum tillage and animal manure on maize yields and soil organic carbon in sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 100340
Author(s):  
M.W. Githongo ◽  
M.N. Kiboi ◽  
F.K. Ngetich ◽  
C.M. Musafiri ◽  
A. Muriuki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
Maize Yields ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals What is the potential for biogas digesters to improve soil fertility and crop production in Sub-Saharan Africa?

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 58-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Smith ◽  
Assefa Abegaz ◽  
Robin B. Matthews ◽  
Madhu Subedi ◽  
Egil R. Orskov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Dead level contour technical design parameters required for sustainable crop production in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Gumbo ◽  
Menas Wuta ◽  
Isaiah Nyagumbo
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Sustainable Crop Production ◽  
Spacing Interval ◽  
Dry Spells ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly exposed to risks such as erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and frequent droughts that threaten sustainable crop production. This study assessed the effectiveness of dead level contours with innovations (DLC INN), dead level contours with infiltration pits (DLC INFIL), dead level contours with open channels (DLC OPEN) and standard graded contours (SGCs) in harvesting and storing water in the channel, improving crop conditions during the critical stages of maize growth on different soil textural groups in the Zvishavane District of Zimbabwe. The DLC INFIL, DLC OPEN and DLC INN outperformed the SGC under medium- and heavy-textured soils, with yields ranging between 1.7 and 2.36 t/ha compared to 0.9 t/ha for the SGC. For light textured soils, the DLC INN had the highest maize yield, averaging 0.8 t/ha. On heavy textured soils using DLC INN, DLC INFIL and DLC OPEN, smallholder farmers may use a spacing interval of 24–27 m. On medium textured soils, DLC INN and DLC INFIL can be used at a spacing interval of 18–21 m and 12 to 15 m with DLC OPEN. On light textured soils, farmers are advised to invest in DLC INN only, using a spacing interval of 12–15 m.

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