permaculture

[Steve Diver <steved@ncat.org>]

Tithonia Fertilises Tired Soil
New Vision (Kampala)
September 21, 2005
http://allafrica.com/stories/200509210133.html

By John Kasozi


Low soil fertility on small-hold farms is a fundamental
cause of hunger in sub-Saharan Africa.

These soils have become depleted of nutrients that they
do not produce enough food for growing populations.

The most obvious way to improve soil fertility is to buy
inorganic fertilisers to provide nitrogen, phosphorous
and potassium.

They are easy to handle and produce quick results.

Unfortunately, they are no longer an option for the
majority of African subsistence farmers.

Their cost and long term effects make it increasingly
important to re-examine green manure crops,
especially for the fragile farming systems in the tropics.

The senior trainer of St. Jude Family Projects, a
non-government organisation, Edwin Kirabo says
they have been tackling this problem aggressively
for some years and their efforts are paying off. He
said they were working closely with farmers.

"The affordable and recommended solution nowadays
is the application of Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican
sunflower), a leguminous shrub rich in nutrients. This
local hedge row plant enriches soils and increases
crop production, thus easing the pervasive hunger
that so many people would face today."

Tithonia boosts nitrogen in soils left to fallow after
cultivation, a practice called 'improved fallows.'

It also tackles the problem of phosphorous
deficiency, which is prevalent in many East African
highlands. It's a common side weed.

Green manure crops usually have a large mass of
foliage. It contains between 0.5 and 1% of nitrogen.
When incorporated into soil, legumes also improve
moisture and the level of humus.

When the two indigenous resources of phosphate
rock dust and tithonia are combined and put into
soils, the problem of phosphorous is solved according
to International Centre for Research in Agroforestry
(ICRAF) 1998-99 Paths to Prosperity.

"The crops are always green and healthy. Yields
improve twice, while sizes of the fruits double.
Beans and maize have also increased."

The results have been dramatic. Many farmers are
doubling their crop yields.

This is being experienced by about 7,000 farmers
in parts of Kenya and Zambia.

Tithonia also helps to prevent soil erosion and loss
of nutrients.

It allows different planting patterns and combinations
because it can serve in inter-cropping, improved
fallows, boundary plantings, contour strips and live
hedges.

They can be used as mulch, making green manure
or composting materials in addition to providing
firewood and animal feeds.

Tithonia decomposes fast and has a long residual
effect. It is used to make liquid or green manure
when combined with potato vines and Calliandra
calothyrsus leaves.

The leaves are first sliced in pieces and put in the
container with water.

Kirabo says the leaves are soaked for seven days.
Then, sieved and diluted depending on the amount
of concentration.

Tithonia and calliandra are rich in nitrogen fixation,
while de-leaved calliandra wood is used as firewood
and its ash is used as manure.



Sources:

allAfrica.com: Food, Agriculture and Rural News
http://allafrica.com/agriculture/

New Vision (Kampala)
Uganda's largest daily and Sunday newspaper
http://www.newvision.co.ug



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NOTE:  The article above states "Tithonia diversifolia
(Mexican sunflower), a leguminous shrub". 

However, horticultural sources place Tithonia diversifolia
in the Asteraceae (Aster or Sunflower) family.
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ALSO SEE:

Using Tithonia as an Organic Fertilizer
http://www.acts.or.ke/sacred/Report%20-%20Tithonia.pdf
_____ 10-page PDF

FROM:

SACRED Africa -- Sustainable Agriculture Centre for
Research and Development in Africa; Bungoma, Kenya
http://www.acts.or.ke/sacred/

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