Farmers' participation in the identification and evaluation of potential soil amendments in Kabale, Uganda
2003
Muzira, R.(Kabale farmers' groups, lClAT-Africa, Kampala-Uganda) | Sanginga, P.(Kabale farmers' groups, lClAT-Africa, Kampala-Uganda) | Sanginga, R.(Kabale farmers' groups, lClAT-Africa, Kampala-Uganda)
One of the most constraining factors in agricultural production in Africa is the widespread decline of soil fertility in smallholder farming systems, which has undennined intensive agricultural production. Efforts to combat soil fertility decline in ~mallholder farms necessitate involvement of farmers as active participants in the research process to increase adoption of the technologies. Through a facilitated process of participatory diagnosis and community action planning, soil fertility decline was identified as a major cause of crop yield decline in the highlands ofKabale district in southwestern Uganda. Farmyard manure, compost, wood ash and green manure were tested as potential options. Results showed that there were limitations to some options. Farmyard manure was of poor quality (0.3% Nand 0.2% K) compared to compost (2.4% Nand 2.8% K). Biomass of herbaceous and shrub legumes ranged from 0 - 9.9 and 2.5 .22.8 t/ha on fresh weight basis with Desmodium heterocarpon and Crotalaria paulina ranking highest, respectively. Beans that are used for food security and source of income in the households were used as test crop and grain yields varied significantly with soil inputs. Plant mortality due to root rot was highest with soil that had no soil inputs. During participatory variety selection community preferred RWR 1091 and K20 due to color and high demand in the market, which could lead to their acceptance. Soil fertility maintenance and improvement through integration of inorganic and organic fertilizers holds a major key to enhanced food production and household income.
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