Assessing the Role of Agroforestry in Soil Fertility Improvement in Mbelenka-Lebialem, Southwest Cameroon

Soils are the universal reservoirs through which living organisms get the resources for their livelihoods either directly like plants and indirectly like other organisms and animals. The ability of soils to serve as a universal reservoir depends on its fertility. Agroforestry practices have been seen to improve and conserve soil fertility. This research work carried out from the 10th of May 2015 to the 10th of November 2015 was aimed at assessing the role of agroforestry practices in the improvement of soil fertility in the study area. Information was collected using questionnaires, field surveys and the analysis of soil samples in the laboratory. The results obtained were subjected to regression and correlation analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). These results showed that the main agroforestry practices in this area include live fences and scattered trees on farmlands. It was also observed that farmers use indicators such as yields, softening of soil, wilting of the crops, rotten tubers, erosion and rains to determine soil fertility. There was no significant difference between various soil parameters (pH, acidity, CEC, ECEC, C/N, and exchangeable Al) in the two major agroforestry practices identified. There was equally no significant difference between the various soil elements and yields in the two major systems identified. The only element that showed a significant difference (P<5%) in the two systems and also for yields was phosphorous. Since only phosphorous significantly influenced yields in this area, a model was established to show that crop yields are dependent on phosphorous as indicated by the equation Yields = 1.77+ 0.03 P. Scattered trees on farm lands were recommended to farmers, the practice of improved fallow using a local fertilizing species identified as well as the use of Guatemala grass (Tripsacum laxum) and Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanoides) should be introduced on slopes to control erosion.

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Assessment of Factors that Limit Optimal Use of Organic Fertilizers in Subsistence Food Production in Vihiga County, Kenya

International Journal of Environment and Climate Change ◽

10.9734/ijecc/2021/v11i1130545 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 302-307

Author(s):

Mary J. Kipsat ◽

D. O. Osewe ◽

Mose Phoebe Bwari

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Organic Materials ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Primary Data ◽

High Yield ◽

Research Institutions ◽

Significant Difference ◽

High Yields

In the face of skyrocketing prices of inorganic fertilizers, organic materials are considered the alternative sources of fertilizers. Research institutions have over the years succeeded in demonstrating high yield responses to recommended usage of organic fertilizers. Furthermore, organic fertilizer (biofertilizers) is a vital component of sustainable agriculture. The sound management of organic fertilization must attempt to ensure both an enhanced and safeguarded environment. Most Farmers in Vihiga County have adopted use of organic fertilizers. Despite this, crop yields remain low in farmers’ fields due to low soil fertility and inability of farmers to optimally use organic fertilizers. Researchers often use optimal organic materials recording high yields in experimental and farm demonstration fields. Little or no research has been done to determine why farmers still record low yields despite a lot of extension outreaches to promote available organic matter technology packages in the study area. This paper reports findings of a study carried out to determine factors that limit optimal use of organic fertilizer by farmers in Vihiga County, Kenya. The objective of the study was to compare organic fertilizer usage in farmers’ field with optimal (recommended) rates to determine if the usage were significantly different. This was aimed at providing advice based on empirical evidence to farmers on whether there is need to improve usages of organic fertilizer and to determine if low intensity of organic fertilizer was a possible cause of recorded low yields in farmers’ fields. Purposive sampling was used to select farmers who were using organic fertilizer for soil fertility. A total of 120 farmers were selected to provide data needed for the study. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and data was analyzed using descriptive statistic (t-test). The results of the analysis indicated a significant difference in the usage between what farmers applied and what was recommended by research. Usages of organic fertilizer among the sampled farmers were much lower than the recommended levels explaining the low maize yields among farmers in the study area. The study rejected the hypothesis that the farmers’ usages of organic fertilizer was not statistically significant different from that recommended by research institutions. This is because average usage of organic fertilizer of 320.3 kg/ha was significantly below those recommended by researcher of 5ton/ha (at 99% usage. Farmers must follow appropriate promoted technology recommendations. The study recommended promotion of organic fertilizer. Farmers should be sensitized on the need to bridge the gap between the current and the recommended usage for them to realize the benefits of organic fertilizer.

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Soil Amendments to Re-establish Agricultural Production on Ex-tin Mined Area

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21166 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rizki Maftukhah ◽

Ngadisih Ngadisih ◽

Murtingrum Murtiningrum ◽

Axel Mentler ◽

Katharina Keiblinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Amendments ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Main Crop

AbstractMining is an important industrial sector in Bangka Island (Indonesia) where about 70% of this area is tin mining. The separation of tin via flotation of tin-containing soils results in acidic nutrient-poor soils with very low organic matter contents. Hence, ex-tin mined areas are highly and unsuitable for plant growth due to their un-fertility. To improve soil fertility soil amendments are of vital importance. This research aims to evaluate the impact of different soil amendments on agricultural production and basic soil parameters on the ex-tin mined area.The study was conducted on ex-tin mined area located in Bangka Regency, Indonesia (1o47&#8217;22.9085 S and 106o5&#8217;47.0461 E). Bangka Regency has a tropical climate with an average daily temperature of 27.2oC, precipitation during the growing season is 191.5 mm per month. The field trial was set up in July 2018 by a randomized complete block design with five different soil amendments and control plots for comparison, with a size of 2 x 2 m in four replicates. The treatments consist of the: (1) Control, (2) Lime, (3) Compost; (4) Charcoal and combinations of (5) Charcoal and Compost, and (6) Charcoal and sawdust. The soil was amended with t.ha-1 for the single amendments (treatments 2-4), and with rate 20 t.ha-1 for combined amendments (treatments 5 and 6). The plots are used to grow cassava (Manihot esculenta) for 12 months as the main crop and Centrocema pubescens as used as a cover crop grown twice for 6 months to avoid soil erosion. Soil samples were taken before and after harvest to analyze soil properties. Soil samples were analyzed for the following parameters: pH, Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), and Electric Conductivity (EC). Crop yields were determined by weighing the total harvest of each crop per plot. The cover crop was harvested in December 2018, and replanted, until the main crop Cassava was harvested (30 July 2019), where the cover crop yield was also evaluated. Cassava yields were separated into belowground and aboveground yields.Soil amendments showed positive effects on soil pH, DOC, and EC at harvest time. Lime treatment significantly improved soil pH and EC (7.40 and 72.30 &#181;S.cm-1 respectively), while DOC was significantly increased by compost treatment. Centrocema pubescens yields were significantly higher at the first harvest compared to the second one. The combined treatment with charcoal (10 t.ha-1) + Compost (t.ha-1) showed significantly the highest yield for both samplings. While another combined treatment, where, charcoal and sawdust was applied at 10 t.ha-1 each, showed the highest total cassava belowground biomass (5.44 ton.ha-1 ) as well as cassava aboveground biomass (3.06 ton.ha-1).Results of the present field experiment suggest that the application of soil amendments directly affected soil parameters. The effect on yields was positive but crop dependent, likely due to different nutrient requirements. Data on heavy metal uptake by plants regarding soil amendments will be presented. Soil amendments can provide the potential to improve food safety and security in the ex-tin mined area.Keywords: ex-tin mined, soil fertility, soil amendments, soil parameters, crop yields

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Farmers' Knowledge Is the Basis for Local Level Agro-Forestry Management: The Case of Lemo Woreda in Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.3389/fsufs.2021.739061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Yohannes Horamo ◽

Munyaradzi Chitakira ◽

Kowiyou Yessoufou

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Tree Species ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Local Level ◽

Forestry Management ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Questionnaire Surveys ◽

Development Workers ◽

Agro Forestry

This research was designed to investigate the hypothesis that farmers practising traditional agro-forestry which dates back for centuries have accumulated immense knowledge of agro-forestry, which can be captured and incorporated into formal development programmes to improve it. Farmers' knowledge must be documented, valued and integrated in order to maximise its importance for planning and decision-making. This research aimed to investigate and document farmers' knowledge of managing agro-forestry and the contribution to sustainable management of natural resources. Accordingly, questionnaire surveys were conducted in six villages from three peasant associations. In total, 73 households were selected for interview and the data collected were analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 26. The findings revealed tree species that contribute to crop yield improvement and the important role agro-forestry trees play with regard to soil fertility. Farmers' strategies to associate trees and shrubs in their farmlands were revealed. Tree species with a negative effect on crop yields were identified and recorded. Farmers reported and ranked in the order of importance, opportunities and constraints in the management of agro-forestry. Farmers' accumulated knowledge of tree–crop and tree–animal interactions, the role of trees in soil fertility, crop and livestock improvement, revealed in the study can significantly enhance the stainability of agriculture. If local knowledge is not documented, it remains largely inaccessible to development workers seeking solutions to locally defined problems.

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Conservation agriculture in Southern Africa: Advances in knowledge

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170513000550 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 328-348 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Christian Thierfelder ◽

Leonard Rusinamhodzi ◽

Amos R. Ngwira ◽

Walter Mupangwa ◽

Isaiah Nyagumbo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Southern Africa ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Water Infiltration ◽

Soil Parameters

AbstractThe increasing demand for food from limited available land, in light of declining soil fertility and future threats of climate variability and change have increased the need for more sustainable crop management systems. Conservation agriculture (CA) is based on the three principles of minimum soil disturbance, surface crop residue retention and crop rotations, and is one of the available options. In Southern Africa, CA has been intensively promoted for more than a decade to combat declining soil fertility and to stabilize crop yields. The objective of this review is to summarize recent advances in knowledge about the benefits of CA and highlight constraints to its widespread adoption within Southern Africa. Research results from Southern Africa showed that CA generally increased water infiltration, reduced soil erosion and run-off, thereby increasing available soil moisture and deeper drainage. Physical, chemical and biological soil parameters were also improved under CA in the medium to long term. CA increased crop productivity and also reduced on-farm labor, especially when direct seeding techniques and herbicides were used. As with other cropping systems, CA has constraints at both the field and farm level. Challenges to adoption in Southern Africa include the retention of sufficient crop residues, crop rotations, weed control, pest and diseases, farmer perception and economic limitations, including poorly developed markets. It was concluded that CA is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution and often needs significant adaptation and flexibility when implementing it across farming systems. However, CA may potentially reduce future soil fertility decline, the effects of seasonal dry-spells and may have a large impact on food security and farmers’ livelihoods if the challenges can be overcome.

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Effects of Full Straw Incorporation on Soil Fertility and Crop Yield in Rice-Wheat Rotation for Silty Clay Loamy Cropland

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9030133 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 133 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Xinlin Zhao ◽

Guoyin Yuan ◽

Huoyan Wang ◽

Dianjun Lu ◽

Xiaoqin Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Oryza Sativa L ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Silty Clay ◽

Available Nitrogen ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Straw Incorporation

This 2-year field experiment investigated the effects of full straw incorporation on soil fertility and crop yield in a rice-wheat (Oryza sativa L.–Triticum aestivum L.) rotation on sandy, loamy soil. Two treatments were tested: (i) straw removal (CK) and (ii) straw incorporation (STR). The STR significantly increased the wheat yield by an average of 58% compared with CK; however, no significant difference was found in the rice yield. Soil available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by more than 15% with STR compared to CK. The soil cation exchange capacity and organic carbon in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by 8% and 22%, for STR compared to CK, respectively. Straw incorporation significantly elevated the soil saturated water content but decreased the soil bulk density compared with CK. Soil aggregates >2 mm were significantly increased after straw return. STR also notably increased the soil urease, invertase, and catalase activities in the 0–15 cm soil layer by 11.4%, 41.0%, and 12.9%, respectively, and the soil microbial carbon and nitrogen contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer by 59% and 54%. Therefore, full straw incorporation could significantly improve soil fertility and maintain crop yields for the study area.

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Reflections on Efforts Geared toward Improved Soil Fertility and Crop Yields in Kenya

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science ◽

10.9734/ijpss/2018/v26i430048 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Arusey Chebet ◽

Ruth Njoroge ◽

Wilson Ng’etich

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Research Work ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Soil Testing ◽

Research Network ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact

A successful strategy aimed at enhancing crop productivity relies on its ability to be implemented practically in the field (farmers’ field). Many research-based activities and promising soil fertility technologies are largely not adopted. This paper examines the impact of the agricultural research conducted at the University of Eldoret, agricultural institutes and the government of Kenya projects at a farm level on crop yields. Precisely, this paper narrows down to research done with an aim of exploring system approaches that address soil phosphorus and its effect on increasing crop yields in Western Kenya. Strategies like the collaboration of scientists and non scientists (transdisciplinary process) produced successful results. A qualified soil test with differentiated soil testing recommendations increases the yield by about 1.5 t dry maize ha-1. Participating in a transdisciplinary process provides an additional surplus of about 1 t dry maize ha-1 yield. Economically, this is a highly attractive result; given that soil testing costs around 20 USD, a surplus of 1 t dry maize returns approximately 330 USD. Although literature registers success stories of many research work, there is slow and limited adoption rate of the output by farmers. We suggest the development and expansion of transdisciplinary research and creation of Farmer Research Network to seek a one-size-fits-all solution for farmers to adopt technologies with proven success.

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Spring wheat productivity forecasting in the forest steppe zone of Volga by least squares method

Vestnik of Kazan state agrarin university ◽

10.12737/2167 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 92-98

Author(s):

Аввакумов ◽

Oleg Avvakumov

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Spring Wheat ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Moving Average ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Steppe Zone ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Forest Steppe ◽

Phosphorus And Potassium

The efficient use of arable land is based on the prediction of crop yields. In extensive farming system the productivity forecasting was carried out by scores of soil fertility, where the level of soil fertility was associated with soil type, and crop yields depended on the leading basic and sustained properties - humus content, cation-exchange capacity, particle size distribution. The system of intensive farming is based on the use of mineral and organic fertilizers. The leading factor in the formation of crop yield is the soil security by mobile soil nutrients on the background of optimal soil parameters. Nowadays, crop yield forecasting is made with the use of the available to plants macro nutrition content. The article presents the results of spring wheat yield prognosis in the Laishevo municipal district with the use of MatLab (matrix operations). The matrix was made according to the data over the last 43 years, it’s moving averages with steps of 11 and 22 years, the content of mobile phosphorus and potassium, determined by the method of Kirsanov. The predictive ability is confirmed by correlation analysis, for the actual number of crop coefficients of correlation with phosphorus and potassium are 0.52 and 0.61, respectively, for the moving average yields are equal to 0.94 and 0.95. A comparison of the actual spring wheat yield (УФ) with the calculated data (the model 1 and the model 2) shows the average deviation of 30%. Similar calculations for the derived series of the moving average of crop yield for the step length of 11 years gives a marked decrease in the deviation of 5-6 %. This convergence of data with the calculated У11 (the model 1 and the model 2, in the left part of the table) indicates for the elimination of weather factor for У11, which influences the overall level of productivity of spring wheat in the forest-steppe zone. The conclusion of the article is the inclusion of agro-climatic conditions (precipitation and temperature) for further calculation of crop yields forecasting.

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Role of Teachers in Building the Concept of Sustainable Development: Success or Failure

Journal of Applied Research and Multidisciplinary Studies ◽

10.32350/jarms/2020/0101/906 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ayaz Muhammad Khan ◽

Amber Jamshaid ◽

Tayyibah Roohi ◽

Amna Ramzan

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Primary School ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

School Teachers ◽

Primary School Teachers ◽

Primary Level ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Role Of Teachers ◽

Major Factors

Sustainable Development (SD) is a rich, challenging and thought-provoking construct in social sciences. The main purpose of this paper was to identify and explore the role played by primary school teachers in building up the idea of sustainable development (SD) among students. This paper was intended to identify that how a teacher can successfully execute the concept of SD by influencing students’ minds at the primary level. Quantitative survey technique were utilized for data collection. All the primary school teachers of Lahore division comprised the population of the study. Through multistage sampling technique, 352 primary school teachers were selected as participants of the study. A self-developed SD questionnaire incorporating four major factors (teachers’ awareness, pedagogy, curricular and co-curricular activities) with Cronbach’s alpha value = .93 was used to measure the role of teachers in building the sustainability concept among students at primary level. The results indicated a significant mean score difference among SD scores of teachers, sector wise (private and public). Furthermore, the results also reconnoitered the significant difference (p=.04) between the mean scores of female and male teachers in building up the SD concept in students’ minds.

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Justification of the need to increase the fertility of reclaimed alluvial soils of JSC «Moskovskoe»

Melioration and Water Management ◽

10.32962/0235-2524-2019-5-44-48 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 44-48

Author(s):

Andrey ilinsky ◽

Alexander Nefedov ◽

Konstantin Evsenkin

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Anthropogenic Impacts ◽

Fertility Restoration ◽

Research Work ◽

Alluvial Soils ◽

Ecological Stability ◽

Reclaimed Land ◽

Adverse Weather

Global climatic changes, technogenic pollution by pollutants, violations of technologies of exploitation of reclaimed land lead to a decrease in fertility and soil degradation of agricultural land. Adverse weather conditions, resulting in a lack of adequate flood water, and economic difficulties in agriculture make it difficult to fill the deficit of organic matter and macronutrients in reclaimed alluvial soils. The monitoring of agrochemical properties of alluvial meadow medium-loamy soil of the stationary site (reclaimed lands of JSC «Moskovskoye» of Ryazan region), located in the floodplain of the Oka river, conducted by the Meshchersky branch of Vniigim, showed the presence and intensification of degradation changes in the soil. Thus, comparing the agrochemical indicators in the layer 0–20 cm, carried out in 1995, with the indicators of 2019, it should be noted a decrease in soil fertility. The decrease in soil quality was expressed in a decrease in the amount of mobile phosphorus by 37.6 %, mobile potassium by 53.3 %. Also, during this time there was a decrease in organic matter by 9.1 %, and an increase in soil acidity was 0.6 pH. As a result of such changes, soils lose ecological stability and become more vulnerable to adverse weather and negative anthropogenic impacts. In such a situation, advanced agricultural techniques should be actively used to obtain guaranteed, environmentally safe crop yields and restore the fertility of degraded reclaimed soils. In this regard, there is a need to develop innovative methods of fertility restoration of degraded alluvial soils in reclaimed lands using multi-component organic-mineral ameliorants. Meshchersky branch performs research work in addressing this issue.

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Effectiveness Of Toilet Training Education On Mother's Behavior And Toddler Age Toilet Training Ability (18-36 Months)

Jurnal Kesehatan Komunitas ◽

10.25311/keskom.vol5.iss2.288 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 49-55

Author(s):

Hafiko Andresni ◽

Zahtamal Zahtamal ◽

Winda Septiani ◽

Mitra Mitra ◽

Lita Lita

Keyword(s):

Sampling Technique ◽

T Test ◽

The Body ◽

Toilet Training ◽

Wilcoxon Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Maternal Knowledge ◽

Control Group Design ◽

Significant Difference

ABSTRACT Toilet training is an effort to train children to be able to control and urinate (BAK) and defecate (BAB). Toilet training is one of the main tasks of children at toddler age. Toilet training is one of the main tasks of children in toddler age which is very important to be done to create independence in children in controlling BAK and BAB and children know the parts of the body and their functions. Data in 2012 shows that ± 60% of parents do not teach toilet training to children from an early age. The aim of the study was to find out the effectiveness of toilet training education on maternal behavior and toilet skills in toddler age training (18-36 months). The study was conducted in July-August 2018. This type of quantitative research used the design of the Quasy pretest and posttest experiment with non-equivalent control group design. Samples were 36 mothers and 36 children with purposive sampling technique. Data analysis used Paired t test, Wilcoxon test, Man-Whitney test an Independent t test. The results showed that toilet training education through lecture methods, modules and maze games was more effective than toilet training education through lecture and leaflet methods on children's knowledge and abilities. Conversely, for the role of mothers in supervision there is no significant difference in effectiveness. Health education is recommended in health promotion programs to increase maternal knowledge, the role of mothers and the ability of toilet training children independently. Keywords: Toilet training, Lecture method, Module, Maze game, Leaflet, Knowledge, Role of mother, Children's ability.

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