Abstract
A farm survey was carried out in 155 Ghanaian villages covering parts of the forest and savanna zones of West Africa to assess farmers' views on ‘soil organic matter’ (SOM) and its management. The results of a closed questionnaire accompanied by open discussions showed that most farmers are well aware of SOM and its importance for crop yields. In southern Ghana, farmers perceive SOM generally by its colour, while in northern Ghana, it is mostly assessed by the density and kind of vegetation. Farmers' perception of the properties of SOM was directed at its main functions as a primary provider of plant nutrients and its ability to conserve water. Other properties mentioned were the improvement of soil aeration and drainage, the loosening of soil structure as well as its impact on soil temperature. The major strategies farmers used in maintaining or augmenting SOM levels were: manure application, mulching with crop residues, slashing weeds without burning, composting, and shifting cultivation (natural fallow). Promoted technologies, such as green manuring, no tillage, or agroforestry were used only by a few of the farmers interviewed. The differences between farmers' views and strategies in the two zones as well as farmers' constraints in SOM management are discussed. It appears that the level of farmers' commitment to excellent soil management can vary with biophysical as well as socio-economic conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aalangdong OI, Kombiok JM & Salifu AZ (1999) Assessment of non-burning and organic-manuring practices. ILEIA newsletter 15(1/2): 47–48
Acquaye 6DK (1990) Towards development of sustainable agriculture in Africa. Reflections of a soil scientist. In:Zoebisch MA (ed) Proceedings of 11th Annual General Meeting of the Soil Science Society of Ghana, pp 19–28
Amanor KS (1993) Farmer experimentation and changing fallow ecology in the Krobo district of Ghana. In: De Boef W, Amanor K, Wellard K & Bebbington A (eds) Cultivating Knowledge, pp 35–43. London: CGN/ODI/WAU/IT publications
Amanor KS (1994) The New Frontier. Farmers' Response to Land Degradation: A West African Study. UNRISD, Geneva; 244 pp. London: ZED Books Ltd
Anane-Sakyi C (1996) Organic matter and soil fertility management in the North-Eastern zone of Ghana: In: Akita V, Schröder P & Bemile SK (eds) Proceedings on Organic and Sedentary Agriculture, pp 164–181. GTZ/MOFA, Accra
Anane-Sakyi C, Tanzubil PB, Kanton RAL, Terbobri P & Amiyure JA (1999) Evaluation of indigenous soil fertility maintenance practices in the interior savanna zone of Ghana. 16th annual general meeting of the Soil Science Society of Ghana at Tafo, 16-19 February 1999. Book of Abstracts, page 1
Asiamah RD, Senayah JK, Adjei-Gyapong T. & Spaargaren OC (1997) Ethno-pedological surveys in the semi-arid savanna zone of Northern Ghana. An ILEIA initiated project. Report 97/04. SRI, Kumasi, ISRIC, Wageningen, 38 pp
Asiedu EK, Ahenkorah Y, Drechsel P & Oteng JW (2000) Improving the productivity of Vertisols for small-holders on the Accra plains of Ghana. Proceedings of the Vertisol workshop, Harare, 11-14 May 1999. CABI-IBSRAM; forthcoming
De Boef W, Amanor K, Wellard K & Bebbington A (1993) Cultivating Knowledge. London: CGN/ODI/WAU/IT Publications, 206 pp
Dittoh S (1999) Sustainable soil fertility management: Lessons from action research. ILEIA newsletter 15(1/2): 51–52
Drechsel P & Gyiele L (1999) The economic assessment of soil nutrient depletion. Analytical issues for framework development. Issues in sustainable land management, no. 7. Bangkok: IBSRAM, 80 pp
Drechsel P & Quansah C (1998) Sustainable land management with alternative fertilizer. A successful approach of IBSRAM in Ghana. Proceedings of 16thWorld Congress of Soil Science (August, 1998, Montpellier, France). International Society of Soil Science/CIRAD, CD-ROM
FAO (1989) Project GHA/84/003 and GHA/86/004
FAO (1991) Ghana Land Resources Management Study. Report No: 103/91 CP-GHA.28. Rome: FAO
Graef F, Haigis J, Altmann B, Van Duivenbooden N & Stahr K (1999) Local knowledge and determinants on soil and crop management in the Sahel as a base for the bottom-up assessment of research needs. Paper presented at the Regional Workshop ‘Farmers and Scientists in a Changing Environment: Assessing Research in West Africa’ of the University of Hohenheim in Cotonou, Benin, 22-26 February 1999.
Karbo N, Bruce J & Otchere EO (1999) The role of livestock in sustaining soil fertility in northern Ghana. ILEIA newsletter 15(1/2): 49–50
Korem A (1996) Experience with organic farmers in Northern Ghana. In: Akita V, Schröder P and Bemile SK (eds) Proceedings on Organic and Sedentary Agriculture, pp 182–202. Accra: GTZ/MOFA
Millar D (1999) Farmers' paths of experimentation: the PTD process in northern Ghana. ILEIA newsletter 15(1/2): 43–45
Millar D, Ayariga R & Anamoh B (1996) Grandfather's way of doing: gender relations and the yaba-itgo system in Upper East Region, Ghana. In: Reij C, Scoones I and Toulmin C (eds) Sustaining the soil. Indigenous soil and water conservation in Africa, pp 117–125. London: Earthscan Publications
MOFA (1998) National Soil Fertility Management Action Plan. Accra: Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), 159 pp
Mulder I (2000) Farmers' perception of soil fertility in Benin. CREED working paper 28, IIED, London, UK
Nwafor JC (1979) Agricultural land use and associated problems in Rwanda. J. Tropical Geography 48: 58–65
Ofori CS (1996) A case study on sustainable indigenous land management in shallot farming in the Anloga District of Ghana. A report to the FAO Regional Office for Africa, Accra, Ghana
Prudencio CY (1993) Ring management of soils and crops in the west African semi-arid tropics: The case of the Mossi farming system in Burkina Faso. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 47: 237–264
Quansah C & Fosu A (1992) NORRIP II, agricultural project: Agricultural Sector Strategy paper. Northern Region Rural Integrated Project, Tamale, Ghana
Quansah C, Bonsu M, Mahama S, Batsa HP & Gana BK (1991) Preparatory work, land and water resources management study, Ghana Environmental Resources Management Project, MOFA, Accra, Ghana
Quansah C, Asare E, Safo EY, Ampontuah EO, Kyei-Baffour N & Bakang JA (1998a) The effect of poultry manure and mineral fertilizer on maize/cassava intercropping in peri-urban Kumasi, Ghana. In: Drechsel P and Gyiele L (eds) On-farm research on sustainable land management in sub-Saharan Africa: Approaches, experiences and lessons, pp 73–96. IBSRAM proceedings No. 19, Bangkok
Quansah C, Osei-Yeboah S & Osei-Bonsu P (1998b) Assessment of the implementation of village land development plans - Adaptive trials and demonstrations. Land and Water Management Unit, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana
Sarfo-Mensah P & Adam, M (1998) PRA analysis of land use changes in peri-urban Kumasi, Ghana. In: Drechsel P & Gyiele L (eds) On-farm research on sustainable land management in sub-Saharan Africa: Approaches, experiences, and lessons, pp 115–127. IBSRAM proceedings 19, Bangkok
Scoones I & Thompson J (1994) Beyond farmers first. IT publication, London: IIED, 301 pp
Sikana P (1993) How farmers and scientists see the soil - mismatched models.ILEIA Newsletter Vol. 9(1): 15–16
Steiner KG (1998) Using farmers' knowledge of soils in making research results more relevant to field practice: Experiences from Rwanda. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 69: 191–200
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Quansah, C., Drechsel, P., Yirenkyi, B. et al. Farmers' perceptions and management of soil organic matter – a case study from West Africa. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 61, 205–213 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013337421594
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013337421594