Farmersâ€™ Use of Integrated Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Practices for Sustainable Crop Production: A Field-level Study in Bangladesh

M Golam Farouque,Hiroyuki Tekeya

doi:10.3844/ajabssp.2008.716.723

M Golam Farouque, Hiroyuki Tekeya

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2008.716.723

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Abstract

Problem statement: The most pressing problem for Bangladesh agriculture is the current state of gradual decreasing of soil fertility, stagnating crop yields and declining productivity in a range of food crops. According to crop production scientists, Integrated Soil Fertility (ISF) and Nutrient Management (NM) is an advanced approach that can serve as a remedy to improve crop yields and to preserve soil fertility in the long run. Approach: This study was therefore conducted to determine the extent of use ISF and NM practices by the farmers for their crop production in Bangladesh. Data were collected from 120 farmers (39 landless, 34 marginal, 19 small, 20 medium and 8 large farmers) from eight villages located in four districts in Bangladesh through face-to-face interviews from December 2005 to January 2006. Results: Most of the farmers were landless, marginal or small farm holders who rarely practiced soil fertility management means. Medium and large farmers did practice soil fertility management either occasionally or regularly. The use of organic manures by different categories of farmers indicated that medium and large farm holders were more careful about the use of cow dung, farmyard manure, crop residues, green manure and oil cakes as sources of organic manures than landless, marginal and small farm holders. Findings related to use of chemical fertilizers revealed that medium and large farmers often followed the recommended doses while landless, marginal and small farmers mostly applied chemical fertilizers based on their own assessment of soil conditions. Conclusion/Recommendations: Medium and large farmers are more prompt than landless, marginal and small farmers in terms of use of different components of ISF and NM practices for their crop production. The findings of this study might be helpful for the agricultural policy planners both from GOs and NGOs for developing effective crop production strategies considering soil fertility and plant nutrients aspects for landless, marginal and small farmers who constitutes about 74%of farming community in Bangladesh.

Highlights

The economy of Bangladesh is still dominated by agriculture, which supports the vast majority of its population
Experiments have shown that integrated soil fertility and nutrient management practices increase soil and crop productivity as well as biological activity when compared to use of chemical fertilizers alone
This study finds that the current use of chemical fertilizers by the farmers in the study area causes nutrient depletion and contributes to lower crop yields

Summary

Introduction

The economy of Bangladesh is still dominated by agriculture, which supports the vast majority of its population. In the 25 years, Bangladesh’s food requirements are expected to increase by at least 70%. Bangladesh will need a large boost in its ability to produce food for the teeming millions by using improved crop production technologies. Since there is little potential for the expansion of cultivated lands in Bangladesh, future agricultural productivity growth must come from integrated resource management approaches. Experiments have shown that integrated soil fertility and nutrient management practices increase soil and crop productivity as well as biological activity when compared to use of chemical fertilizers alone. Long-term trials of integrated soil fertility and nutrient management indicate that fertilizer input efficiency can be increased through: (i) management practices; (ii) the rational use of costly inputs; or (iii) the combination of both inputs and management practices.

Results

Discussion

Conclusion