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Soil Fertility Gradient Mapping at Village Level Through Participatory Rural Appraisal Approach

Md. Abu Saleque
Senior Scientific Officer
Soil Science Division, BRRI

M. Abdul Mazid Miah
Principal Scientific Officer
Soil Science Division, BRRI

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted at Habigang and Moulvibazar districts in twelve villages to develop village level soil fertility mapping with intimate participation of local farmers. In each village, 20 farmers were selected for participatory rural appraisal with the emphasis on soil fertility mapping. The indigenous diagnostic tools of farmers to soil fertility evaluation were; soil color, organic matter, soil texture, plough depth, footmark depth, water holding capacity and presence of earthworm. Farmers draw village map and field map and scientist facilitated to differentiate the field map into sub-fields. Nischintapur village (50 ha land) farmers delineated five grades of fertility. They unanimously decided that the soil Choar gool belongs to grade I. in Esobpur village (113 ha), farmers divided the fields in to 3 grades. In Majdehee village (142 ha), farmers also categorized three fertility levels. The soil samples were collected according to fertility gradient map from all of the 12 villages and analyzed for organic C, pH, total N, available P, exchangeable K and micronutrients. The laboratory soil analysis result showed a good agreement with the farmers’ judgments of soil fertility. Farmers’ indigenous knowledge on soil fertility evaluation may be used as capital to prepare village level soil fertility maps and develop site-specific improved nutrient management doses.

Keywords: Participatory rural appraisal, Soil fertility gradient, Village soil fertility map

Location: Habigang and Moulvibazar districts

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Non-commodity: Ecosystem mapping

Objectives:

To develop village level soil fertility mapping with intimate participation of local farmers.

Methodology:

The study was conducted at Habigang and Moulvibazar districts in twelve villages. In each village, 20 farmers were selected for participatory rural appraisal with the emphasis on soil fertility mapping. The indigenous diagnostic tools of farmers to soil fertility evaluation were; soil color, organic matter, soil texture, plough depth, footmark depth, water holding capacity and presence of earthworm. Farmers draw village map and field map and scientist facilitated to differentiate the field map into sub-fields. Each of the sub fields is composed of many individual plots. Farmers delineated sub field and put name of each sub field according to the fertility level. On the field map the participating farmers recognized that the fertility level of all the sub-plots were not the same although the area of each of the sub-field was about 20-30 ha and area of the entire field of a village was 100 to 200 ha. The Farmers divided the entire field into 3 to 5 classes of fertility and they marked the highest fertile soil as “I” and next one “II” and so on. The base map of the villages and soil fertility were validated by GPS data. The soil samples were collected from all of the 12 villages and analyzed for organic C, pH, total N, available P, exchangeable K and micronutrients.

Source of Information: Proceedings of the BRRI Annual Internal Review, 2002-2003

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.	Budget:
2.	Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Farmers are able to categorize their farm soil fertility status. Farmers’ indigenous knowledge on soil fertility evaluation may be used as capital to prepare village level soil fertility map.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings