SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMANT FOR SUSTAINABLE LOWLAND RICE PRODUCTION IN GHANA FARMER’S PERSPECTIVES AND SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

Low soil fertility, particularly in the lowlands, has been identified as a major factor limiting rice yields in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A comparative study was therefore conducted in Ghana on soil fertility and farmers’ perspectives of soil fertility management in the two major rice growing agro-ecological zones: the Guinea Savanna (GS) and the Equatorial Forest (EF), to examine farmers’ perspectives on soil fertility, how farmers manage fertility, and to suggest proper soil fertility management for lowland rice farming. Principal component analysis was used to analyze farmers’ perspectives and soil fertility characteristics of the two zones. Results show that soils characteristics vary both within and between the two agro-ecological zones. While soils in the EF zone are relatively fertile, soils of both agro-ecological zones are infertile. The soils are low in organic matter and available phosphorus. Farmer’s perspectives on soil fertility management differed across the agro-ecological zones, and could be categorized into three major groups: (a) farmers having high motivation to improve soil fertility, and high awareness of soil drought; (b) farmers who have high motivation to improve soil fertility, but low awareness of the vulnerability to drought; and (c) farmers having weaker interest in soil fertility management, and preferring extensive management to proactive soil fertility management. On the basis of farmers’ perspectives, the utilization of local materials would be effective in soil fertility improvement or maintenance in both agro-ecological zones, due to its high applicability for farmers.