Abstract
In this study, we surveyed two districts of Zambia—Choma and Pemba. The aim of this study was to obtain the perspective of farmers on anthill soil utilization practices for key information that could contribute towards the development of an anthill soil based research agenda. The study employed both a qualitative and quantitative method approach to gather data from the respondents, which included farmers and key informants. Qualitative data was analyzed using the triangulation method and Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS), Nvivo version 10, while data generated from quantitative interviews with a smart phone Application (Open Data Kit) were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results revealed that the key hurdles to the utilization of anthill soil lay in agro-climatic, biophysical, technological, land and institutional constraints. Broadly, farmers reported poor rainfall patterns (95%), decreasing soil fertility (70%), limited farm products (69%), finance (66%), limited access to research and extension services (55%) and security of land tenure (48%) as major constraints. We therefore advocate for strengthenedinstitutional linkages between research and extension for information dissemination, which would aid in decision-making used to promote integrated soil fertility management for improved agriculture production and productivity of rural households.
Highlights
Food and Agriculture Organization and and Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (2015) assert that soils are fundamental to life on Earth, but human pressures on soil resources are reportedly reaching critical limits
We observe in this study that most of the smallholder farmers started using anthill soil in crop production three years ago (32%) and those with five years and more than 10 years ago usage of the resource stood at 36% and 14%, respectively (Figure 5)
This study evaluated the traditional soil fertility management practice with the use of anthill soil in maize cropping systems with farmer experiences in Choma and Pemba districts of Southern Zambia
Summary
Food and Agriculture Organization and and Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (2015) assert that soils are fundamental to life on Earth, but human pressures on soil resources are reportedly reaching critical limits. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is known that low soil fertility is one of the greatest biophysical constraints hindering agricultural production [2,3]. Soil fertility decline is linked to a diverse simultaneous degradation processes building on each other to produce a downward spiral in productivity and environmental quality. [4] reported that the integrated effects of tillage and sub optimal applications of nutrient and organic matter undoubtedly leads to a reduction in soil organic matter. This reduces the retention of essential plant nutrients, breaking down the physical structure of soil and in turn diminishing water infiltration and the water storage capacity of the soil. The degradation of soil fertility results in variant human and environmental problems among which low crop production, productivity and malnutrition serve as good examples
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