Impact of Soil Fertility Improving Trees on Crop Productivity and Farmer Wealth in Zambia

Abstract

There has been low uptake of soil fertility improving tree technologies that have been promoted as alternatives to the costly inorganic fertiliser among the poor resource farmers of Sub Saharan Africa. This is surprising given that the majority of smallholder farmers cannot afford inorganic fertilisers. Are these technologies effective? Using data collected in 2013 from 1,231 households across six districts of Zambia, this study showed that the tree technologies increased maize productivity. However, increases in maize productivity were less than those obtained from controlled on-station and field experiments where the technologies could double or more than double maize productivity according to literature. The technologies capacity to marginally contribute to wealth creation was confirmed. Socioeconomic constraints including labour, information access, land and credit need to be tackled for the technologies to give maximum benefits. Research on fertiliser trees should therefore be redirected towards the discovery of such resource constraints saving technologies.

Effect of Agroforestry on community wellbeing in Kyannamukaaka Sub County, Masaka

“…Further, the leaves act as cover to conserve soil moisture and air, when rot they improve humas potential of the soil's organic matter content vital for crop prodcutivity (Sebukyu and Mosango, 2012). Results concur with Kuntashula (2017) who asserts that in Zimbabwe where tree-crop intercrop offers carbon sequestration, biodiversity convservation and wastershade protection. Importantly, the dominance of trees in cropland and pasture is a safeguard for socioecological values including nitrogen fixation, soil fertility improvement, wind breaks, high content plant proteins (fodder) and drought resilience among households (Kofi et al, 2003).…”

“…This comes as a result of the cover provided by the crops on the soil and control soil erosion and runoff. Further, Gliricidia sepium, Cajanus cajan, Sesbania sesban, Tephrosia vogelii and Faidherbia albida tree species nourish soil fertility (Kuntashula, 2017). Markedly, since the soil is covered, the rate of soil erosion and runoff are minimized hence the ability for the soil to support crop production.…”

“…In Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), agroforestry offered multiple roles for example; food provisions, and environmental stewardship, which were influential in mitigating climate change and its effects (Kuntashula, 2017). Amejo et al, (2018) affirm that even though smallholder farmers integrated livestock and crops on their land units in SSA, the practice is on smallholdings which hinders their multiple productivity.…”

“…However, in Zambia small scale farmers gained more from tree growing and animal rearing. As animals ate more and more fodder, more farm yard manure was produced to support soil health and fertility improvement hence increased agricultural production (Kuntashula, 2017). Morover, in Mali, grass and fodder plants grown provided more than enough feeds and the surplus was stocked for later seasons.…”