About the RUFORUM 2010 Biennal Conference
"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholders in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Natural Resource Management"
Assessment of soil and landform characteristics for implementation of conservation agriculture in West Usambara Mountains, Lushoto District, Tanzania
Abstract:
Developing strategies that promote conservation agriculture in
the West Usambara Mountains in Tanzania poses a particular
challenge. This research used empirical and qualitative method
to assess soil and landform characteristics in relation to
predominant five conservation agriculture practices on the
landscape. Chemical and physical properties of composite
samples (0-25cm) from terraces, miraba (a local technique),
raised beds, fallow and fields with no conservation were
determined. Results indicated that the differences in total
nitrogen, organic carbon, base saturation, available phosphorus,
CEC, and pH were statistically significant (p=0.05). In most
cases ‘miraba’ had better values of CEC, P (Bry) and total
nitrogen. Since construction of ‘miraba’ is far cheaper than
terraces, efforts should be put towards improving this technique.
Développer les stratégies qui favorisent l’agriculture de
conservation dans les montagnes occidentales d’Usambara en
Tanzanie pose un défi particulier. Cette recherche a employé
la méthode empirique et qualitative pour évaluer des
caractéristiques du sol et de la forme du relief par rapport aux
cinq prédominantes pratiques en matière d’agriculture de
conservation sur le paysage. Les propriétés chimiques et
physiques des échantillons composés (0-25cm) provenant des
terrasses, de miraba (une technique locale), des lits surélevés,
de jachère et des champs sans conservation ont été
déterminées. Les résultats ont indiqué que les différences en
azote total, carbone organique, saturation de base, phosphore
disponible, CCE et pH étaient statistiquement significatives
(p=0.05). Dans la plupart des cas, ‘’miraba ‘’ avait de meilleures
valeurs de CCE, du P (Bry) et de l’azote total. Puisque la
construction du ‘’miraba `’ est de loin moins cher que les terrasses, des efforts devraient être fournis pour améliorer cette
technique.
Language:
English
Date of publication:
2010
Country:
Region Focus:
East Africa
University/affiliation:
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Extent:
559-561
Notes:
