Assessment of farmers’ indigenous knowledge of soil quality management practices in Ghana: A case study of crop farmers in Ada West District

Abstract

The efforts to increase soil productivity has been field-based experiments with little information on farmers’ indigenous knowledge of soil quality acquired through experience. This study assessed farmers’ indigenous knowledge on soil quality and fertility management practices in the Ada West District of Ghana. Two hundred-and-twelve farmers from five communities (Yomlekope, Aditsirekope, Zuenor, Fantevikope and Asigbeykope) were interviewed using pre-tested questionnaire. Fifteen farmers were selected from each community identified and made to classify their soils into high, medium and low soil quality. Thirty-six soil samples were collected based on farmers’ categorization and analysed to determine some physicochemical prop erties to determine the differences in soil quality categories. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to select effec tive indicators as the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Results showed that 89% of farmers’ used soil amendments, out of which 71.1% combined organic and inorganic fertilizer, 19.6% applied only organic and 9.3% applied only inorganic fertilizers. The soil quality indicators used by farmers were based on visually observable indicators such as soil colour, presence of living organ isms, soil moisture, vigour plant growth, crop yield, soil texture, presence of plants and weeds, erosion and thickness of topsoil. Farmers’ soil quality categorization was contrary to the laboratory reports, although soils from perceived high quality soil were relatively higher than medium and low soils. In Principal Component 1 (PC1), electrical conductivity, available phosphorus, or ganic carbon, organic matter, calcium, and magnesium had a higher positive loading. In PC2, sand and silt had the highest fac tor loading, while clay and sodium had the highest factor loading for PC3 and PC4, respectively. Farmers have good knowledge of soil quality but did not know the rate of soil amendments to apply. It is suggested that farmers’ indigenous knowledge should be supplemented with scientific soil information. There is a need for more training and education on the application rates of soil amendments.