From slash and burn to ‘slash and mulch’
In semi-arid cropping regions of West Africa, fallow periods are getting shorter. As land becomes more scarce, farmers are not able to give their soils enough time to rest. This is leading to depletion of soil organic matter, severely threatening soil fertility and damaging soil structure. In the worst cases, crops hardly yield anything anymore. But this is not an option for family farmers. In Burkina Faso, some have found ways to restore their soils that have been dubbed ‘slash and mulch’. The improvement and spread of these techniques also proves the importance of partnerships between farmers and researchers in developing locally suited practices.
Volume: 31.1
ISSN: 2210-6499
Publisher: ILEIA, Center for Learning on Sustainable Agriculture
Author: Georges Félix
Organization: ILEIA, Center for Learning on Sustainable Agriculture
Year: 2015
Country/ies: Burkina Faso
Geographical coverage: Africa
Type: Case study
Full text available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280133397_From_slash-and-burn_to_'slash-and-mulch'
Content language: English