CGSpaceA Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs
    View Item 
    •   CGSpace Home
    • International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
    • ILRI archive
    • View Item
       
    • CGSpace Home
    • International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
    • ILRI archive
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Soil fertility maintenance and food crop production in semi-arid West Africa: Is reliance on manure a sustainable strategy?

    Thumbnail
    
    Authors
    Williams, Timothy O.
    Powell, J.M.
    Fernández-Rivera, S.
    Date
    1995
    Language
    en
    Type
    Journal Article
    Accessibility
    Limited Access
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Share
    Citation
    Outlook on Agriculture;24(1): 43-47
    Permanent link to cite or share this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10568/29323
    Abstract/Description
    Animal manure is of vital importance in maintaining soil fertility in semiarid west Africa due to the low level of use of inorganic fertilizer. Using data from Niger however, it is shown that insufficient animals are available to provide the manure needed to sustain crop yields on a long-term basis. The limitations posed by animal numbers and feed and other countries in the region, manure alone will not provide the key to attaining sustainable yield levels. External inputs in the form of inorganic fertilizers are needed. However, the gap between present fertilizer use and the required level is wide. To ensure the availability and increased use of fertilizers at the farm level, appropriate public policies are needed to ease the constraints that have inhibited the widespread of fertilizers in semiarid west Africa. This paper examines the question at the household, village and national levels using data from Niger. Its aim is to assess the adequacy of available manure for food crop production, and to determine the role that manure and other soil amendments can play in the future intensification of agricultural production in semiarid West Africa. Unlike previous analyses based on research station trials, this paper uses on-farm data collected through surveys conducted between 1990 and 1992 at three locations in Niger.
    AGROVOC Keywords
    SEMIARID ZONES; SOIL FERTILITY; FARMYARD MANURE; FOOD CROPS; PLANT PRODUCTION; SUSTAINABILITY; YIELDS; LIVESTOCK NUMBERS
    Subjects
    LIVESTOCK; SOILS;
    Regions
    AFRICA; WEST AFRICA
    Collections
    • ILRI archive [4979]
    • ILRI articles in journals [4809]

    AboutPrivacy policySend Feedback
     

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Browse

    All of CGSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesBy AGROVOC keywordBy ILRI subjectBy CPWF subjectBy CCAFS subjectBy CIFOR subjectBy IWMI subjectBy RegionBy CountryBy SubregionBy CRP subjectBy River basinBy Output typeBy CTA subjectBy WLE subjectBy Bioversity subjectBy CIAT subjectBy CIP subjectBy animal breedBy CGIAR System subjectThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesBy AGROVOC keywordBy ILRI subjectBy CPWF subjectBy CCAFS subjectBy CIFOR subjectBy IWMI subjectBy RegionBy CountryBy SubregionBy CRP subjectBy River basinBy Output typeBy CTA subjectBy WLE subjectBy Bioversity subjectBy CIAT subjectBy CIP subjectBy animal breedBy CGIAR System subject

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    AboutPrivacy policySend Feedback