Abstract
A study was conducted in some perennial crop-based farms in the humid forests of South West Cameroon, to better understand their soil fertility patterns and management and identify factors that contribute most to nutrient depletion trends in such multi-storey farmholdings. The main perennial crops were the para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and oil palm (Eleais guineensis) whose ages ranged from immature to very old (senescence). Data were collected over a two-year period (2007 and 2008) and modelled using the farm NUTrient MONitoring (NUTMON) tool. Results showed that the farming systems played key roles in the overall exploitation strategies. Plantain and cassava (annual crops) and cocoa (perennial) were the most associated crops, accounting for more than half of intercropped frequencies. Whereas nutrient flows within and between farm units were confirmed, the net loss in soil N, P and K nutrient balances differed with the main perennial crop - being highest for the oil palm and lowest for the rubber tree. The average nutrient balance of each farm was markedly negative for N but positive for P and K. Partial nutrient balance (ignoring biophysical flows like N-fixation, leaching and erosion) was positive for the three nutrients indicating therefore that the biophysical flows accounted more for N depletion. Nitrogen loss was mainly due to, leaching (~70%), volatilization (~20%), and exported crops and their residues.
Highlights
Crop production practices within peasant farm holdings in sub-Saharan Africa often progress at the expense of sustainable land use as farmers are primarily concerned about crop and animal production, for the forthcoming season
Whereas nutrient flows within and between farm units were confirmed, the net loss in soil N, P and K nutrient balances differed with the main perennial crop - being highest for the oil palm and lowest for the rubber tree
The specific objectives of this study were to evaluate variations of soil nutrient stocks at farm level, measure and estimate the major nutrient flows at farm level as a means to describe current farm nutrient management, to identify the key factors influencing land management in perennial crop-based farms in the humid forests of South West Cameroon in a bid to discover some of the underlying causes of soil fertility depletion
Summary
Crop production practices within peasant farm holdings in sub-Saharan Africa often progress at the expense of sustainable land use as farmers are primarily concerned about crop and animal production, for the forthcoming season. Long-term processes that adversely affect sustainability, such as decrease and eventual depletion of soil nutrient stocks, are less visible and receive a lower priority Most often, these soils are progressively being mined of their nutrients [1] whereas there is need to secure present productivity and ensure the sustainability of these farming systems. Soil fertility in sub-Saharan Africa is today regarded as a major survival issue, especially in peasant perennial crop-based systems in the humid forests of Cameroon This project was initially undertaken to ensure a better understanding and improvement of soil fertility in these cropping systems, to determine the possible role of integrated nutrient management in reversing present trends of nutrient depletion at each farm-level, and to integrate quantitative and qualitative assessment approaches in managing soil fertility
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
