Global Soil Partnership

RECSOIL implementation in Togo

Project overview

Phase V – Baseline Assessment

Number of participating farmersProject area (hectares)Annual SOC sequestration potential (tCO2e)
45250146

Region (municipality): Alibi Canton

Main crops: Cashews, yam, maize, soybean and grazed savannah

Soil threats addressedSSM practices implemented
• Soil erosion
• Soil compaction
• Nutrient imbalances
• SOC/soil organic matter loss
• Biodiversity loss
• Soil organic cover (e.g. cover cropping and organic mulch)
• Crop diversification (e.g. crop rotation and intercropping)
• Organic matter additions (e.g. manure additions, green manure, compost application and residue management)
• Integrated nutrient management (e.g. fertilizer management, mineral fertilization and fertigation)
• Grazing management (e.g. improved pasture management, grazing exclusion and rotational grazing, and pastoralism)
• Integrated systems (e.g. agroforestry, sylvopastoral systems, syntropic agriculture, permaculture, agropisciculture and saline agriculture)
• Forest restoration and management (e.g. continuous cover forestry, afforestation, reforestation, natural regeneration and rehabilitation of forest soils after fire)

 

Number of samples taken Soil indicators analysed and standard operating procedures (SOPs) used
54 samples for laboratory analysis (27 sampling points)
  • Total carbon (C): dry combustion
  • Total nitrogen (N): Kjeldahl method
  • Soil respiration: titration
  • Bulk density: cylinder method
  • pH: pH meter
  • Electrical conductivity (EC): conductimeter
  • Cation exchange capacity (CEC): sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) – atomic adsorption
  • Sand
  • Silt
  • Clay

 

The following training sessions were conducted:

RECSOIL: Introduction to the process and main soil threats and Soil Doctors: Introduction to the programme and RECSOIL module were held virtually in French with seven participants,13 January 2023. Participants were trained on the RECSOIL tools and soil doctors implementation within RECSOIL. 

RECSOIL technical training: stratification of the project area, definition of sampling design and density and Soil Doctors: training of trainers were held in person (Lomé and Canton d’Alibi) in French with six participants, 19–21 February 2023. Participants were trained on how to take soil samples and conduct visual soil assessments (VSAs) according to the RECSOIL methodology.

Soil Doctors: training of trainers was held in person (Lomé and Canton d’Alibi) in French with 25 participants, 22–25 February 2023. Participants were trained on how to equip farmers with the capacity to assess and address soil threats present in their fields through the Global Soil Doctors Programme.

Laboratory methods for analyzing soil carbon and other soil properties was held in person in French with 15 participants, 23–29 July. Participants were trained on preprocessing, storage and measurement of SOC, bulk density and soil respiration rate according to the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) standard operation procedures (SOPs).

News

04/05/2023
The Recarbonization of Global Soils (RECSOIL) programme is taking a big step towards implementation in Africa, starting in Togo. By bringing together government, soil institutions, academia, farmers, producer organizations and other local...
23/08/2023
The personnel of the Soil Laboratory (SEVE) at the Togolese Agricultural Research Institute (ITRA) in Lomé experienced an intense week of capacity building sessions from 24 to 28 July 2023,...

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