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  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>, venaura@googlegroups.com
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] More robust plant growth around termite mounds.
  • Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 12:34:20 -0400


Soil fertility and climate change: An issue pack / Radio Scripts / Farm Radio International
http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/89-2script_en.asp

Two more success stories

The Gacheru Self-Help Group, a farmers’ group in central Kenya, has benefited by using a fertilizer made from local weeds. According to the farmers, the organic fertilizer solution works well and is far cheaper than inorganic fertilizers. The process for making the solution was developed by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and involves extracting juice from two local weeds, Desmodium and Tithonia. These weeds are high in nitrogen, which boosts crop yields, says farm manager Samuel Mugo. "They fight all manner of destructive weeds and give us high yields from our farms." The process is simple. The farmers thresh the weeds, then mix them with water in a drum. The solution is then ready to use.

Zambian farmers use termite soil to improve soil fertility: Zambian farmers traditionally used soil from termite mounds as a fertilizer. But when inorganic fertilizers became available at subsidized prices, this practice declined in popularity. When the subsidies were removed, many farmers resumed the practice.

A suitable termite mound is chosen and cleared of vegetation. Soil from the top of the mound is removed, but the base is left intact so that the colony is not destroyed. The soil is transported to the field and, before the rains begin, farmers work it into the topsoil with ploughs, hoes or shovels. Where farmers practice conservation farming, the soil is placed in planting pits.

The termite soil is applied once every three years. Maize harvests were 33 percent higher in fields with termite soil than in fields where inorganic fertilizers were used. Termite mound soils have lots of clay, which improves water storage. In southern Zambia, soils are normally poor at holding water, so using termite soil helps hold more water and improve crop yields. Termite soils also have high levels of calcium, phosphorus and organic matter, which all contribute to better crop yields and health.

Other useful practices for improving soil fertility include:

* Composting: Making compost involves combining fresh “green” plant materials which contain lots of nitrogen (for example, fresh leaves and kitchen food waste) with older “brown” materials such as crop residues which are high in carbon. These materials are mixed and then broken down – normally in a compost pit or compost pile – through aerobic decomposition (decomposition in the presence of oxygen) into a rich black soil. The decomposition is performed by micro-organisms, mostly bacteria, but also yeasts and fungi. The process of composting is simple and can be practiced by individuals in their homes, farmers on their land, and by people living in cities. There are many ways to create and use compost. To learn about various methods, see Farm Radio International scripts on compost at http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/fertilization.asp.
* Animal manure: Animal dung contributes to soil fertility by adding organic matter and nutrients, especially nitrogen. Livestock manure often includes plant materials such as the straw used for animal bedding. Livestock bedding is also useful because it has often absorbed animal dung and urine.
* Using rock phosphates: These are mined rocks which contain phosphate, and which are used to provide the mineral phosphorus, the P in N-P-K. Natural deposits of rock phosphates are found in Senegal, South Africa, Mali, Tanzania, Nigeria, Niger, and some other African countries. See further resources at http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/74-8script_en.asp and http://www.uoguelph.ca/~geology/rocks_for_crops/
* Agroforestry: Growing trees and shrubs together with crops reduces the loss of soil nutrients. Because trees and bushes usually have highly developed root systems, they can absorb and store many nutrients which are unavailable to crops with shallow root systems. In this way, trees and shrubs keep nutrients from being leached during periods when no other crops are being cultivated. After the leaves or cuttings fall to the ground, the nutrients once again become available to the crops as the leaves and cuttings decompose. Trees and shrubs can also form hedges that protect crops and soil from wind and from heavy rains which runoff over the surface of the soil. For example, in West Africa, Acacia species increase soil fertility by providing organic matter in its leaves, fixing nitrogen in the soil, capturing nutrients with its extensive root system, and shading cattle in the dry season (the cow dung enhances soil fertility).




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