Nas últimas décadas as mudanças climáticas foram evidenciadas pelo aumento da temperatura global, diminuição dos estoques de carbono terrestres, associados ao aumento nas emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE). A floresta Amazônica é o maior bioma tropical do mundo e desenvolve serviços ambientais estratégicos no planeta. Entretanto, há mais de duas décadas que o desmatamento na Amazônia impulsiona as emissões globais de GEE, diminuindo o armazenamento de carbono do solo com alterações na dinâmica nas populações microbianas e nos ciclos biogeoquimicos pela mudança de uso da terra. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar as alterações temporais dos atributos químicos do solo, quantificar as emissões de CO2, CH4 e N2O e verificar as alterações na estrutura bacteriana do solo após o corte e queima de vegetação nativa na Amazônia. O estudo foi desenvolvido em área de vegetação nativa no norte do estado de Rondônia, região sul da Amazônia no Brasil. A área de estudo consistiu-se de quatro hectares, onde foi realizado o corte e queima em 2,25 hectares. Foram realizadas amostragens para avaliação da fertilidade do solo e estoques de carbono (C) e nitrogenio (N) nas profundidades de 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-80 e 80-100 cm. As coletas foram realizadas em vegetação nativa e aos 2, 30, 60, 90, 120, 240 e 365 dias após corte e queima. Foram determinados os atributos pH, Al, H+Al, Ca, Mg, K, P, C, N e calculados os valores de soma de bases, CTC, V % e m %. As coletas para quantificar as emissões dos GEE foram realizadas simultaneamente na área de vegetação nativa e no hectare central da área de corte e queima aos 19, 31, 48, 61 e 81 dias após corte e 2 , 4, 6, 8, 15, 31, 45, 61, 88, 122, 153, 180, 240 e 350 dias após queima, com amostragens aos 0, 20, 40 e 60 minutos. Os atributos microbiológicos do solo foram avaliados pela técnica de T-RFLP com amostragens realizadas simultaneas nas duas áreas, aos 32 e 62 dias após o corte e aos 2, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, e 360 dias após queima da biomassa vegetal. Foi verificado rápido aumento da fertilidade do solo e diminuição da acidez e teores de Al+3 após a queima, entretanto esse efeito foi pouco persistente, retornando ao status inicial do solo após um ano. Houve redução de 30 % nos estoques de C e N do solo no final do estudo, evidenciando os efeitos deletérios da mudança do uso da terra nos atributos químicos do solo. Foi registrado redução de 50 % das emissões de CO2 equivalente após o corte, comparada à vegetação nativa e reduções nas emissões de GEE de 35 % após um ano de estudo. Verificou-se na camada superficial, alterações significativas na estrutura da comunidade bacateriana do solo em decorrência do impacto do fogo e das alterações nos atributos químicos em função da deposição superficial de cinzas no solo, entretanto não foi verificada alterações significativa nas camadas abaixo de 5 cm. Este estudo forneceu importantes informações para o entendimento dos impactos e as alterações causadas pelo processo de conversão florestal tropical pelo corte e queima de vegetação nativa na Amazônia. / In recent decades, climate change has been evidenced by the increase in global temperature and the decrease in terrestrial carbon stocks, associated with an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical biome in the world and develops strategic environmental services on the planet. However, for more than two decades, deforestation in Amazon has driven global GHG emissions, reducing soil carbon storage with changes in microbial populations dynamics and in biogeochemical cycles due to land use change. The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal alterations of soil chemical attributes, quantify CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions and verify changes in soil bacterial structure, due to the slash and burn of the native vegetation in Amazon. The study was developed in an area of native vegetation in the north of Rondônia state, southern region of Amazon in Brazil. The study area consisted of 4 hectares, where it was cut and burned in 2.25 hectares. Samples were collected to evaluate soil fertility and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks at the depths of 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40- 50, 50-60, 60-80 and 80-100 cm. These samples were collected in native vegetation at 2, 30, 60, 90, 120, 240 and 365 days after cutting and burning. The attributes pH, Al, H + Al, Ca, Mg, K, P, C, N were determined and the values of base sum, CEC, base saturation and aluminum saturation were calculated. The samples to quantify GHG emissions were carried out simultaneously in the native vegetation area and in the central hectare of the cutting and burning area at 19, 31, 48, 61 and 81 days after cutting and 2, 4, 6, 8, 15, 31, 45, 61, 88, 122, 153, 180, 240 and 350 days after burning, with samples at 0, 20, 40 and 60 minutes. The microbiological attributes of the soil were evaluated by T-RFLP technique with simultaneous samplings in the two areas, at 32 and 62 days after cutting and at 2, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 360 days after plant biomass burning. A rapid increase in soil fertility and a decrease in acidity and Al+3 contents after burning were verified, however this effect was not persistent, returning to the initial soil status after one year. There was a 30 % reduction in soil C and N stocks at the end of the study, evidencing the deleterious effects of land use change on soil chemical attributes. Also, a 50 % reduction in CO2 emissions after cutting, compared to native vegetation and, a 35 % reduction in GHG emissions after one year of study, were observed. We verified in the surface layer, significant alterations in the soil bacteria structure due to the fire impact and the changes in the chemical attributes, such as surface deposition of ashes. However, we did not verified significant changes in the layers lower than 5 cm. Our study provided important information for understanding the impacts and changes of the tropical forest conversion process by slash and burning native vegetation in Amazon.

O enxofre é um dos nutrientes de planta que vem recebendo pouca atenção em estudos de fertilidade de solos, ficando relegado à poucas pesquisas no mundo. Os estudos enfocando o elemento têm indicado deficiências de enxofre nas culturas, em áreas com agricultura intensiva. Neste contexto, o trabalho desenvolvido em condições de casa-de-vegetação, no CENA/USP, em Piracicaba, SP, teve por objetivos: a) avaliar o aproveitamento pelas culturas de milho (Zea mays (L.)) e soja (Glycine max (L) Merrill) do enxofre aplicado ao solo na forma de sulfato (Na234SO4) (Experimento I); b) avaliar o aproveitamento pela cultura da alfafa (Mendicago sativa (L.)) (Experimento II) do S-fertilizante residual deixado no solo ao final do experimento I; c) avaliar a distribuição do S-fertilizante no sistema solo-planta nos experimentos I e II e sua recuperação global após cultivos sucessivos de milho ou soja e alfafa. A técnica isotópica com uso do isótopo estável 34S foi a ferramenta utilizada nas avaliações da distribuição do enxofre no sistema solo-planta. Os experimentos foram desenvolvidos em vasos sem drenagem contendo 7 kg de solo. Foram usados dois tipos de solos contrastantes, um argiloso (Nitossolo Vermelho eutrófico) e outro arenoso (Latossolo Vermelho distrófico típico). Os fatores de estudo do experimento I foram: 2 tipos de solo, duas culturas (milho e soja) e 2 marcações da fonte de S (Na2SO4): enriquecida ou empobrecida no 34S (em média: 9,0 ou 2,5 % em átomos de 34S respectivamente). No experimento II os fatores solo e fonte de S foram iguais ao do experimento I, sendo os demais fatores o efeito das culturas antecessoras (milho ou soja) e a planta extratora (alfafa). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Na colheita, foram separadas amostras de planta: raízes e parte aérea, sendo também amostrado o solo. Foram realizadas determinações de S-total e de abundância de 34S em amostras vegetais e de solo. No experimento I, a percentagem do S na planta derivado do fertilizante (%Sdff) foi em média de 40% para as culturas de milho e soja, indicando baixa mineralização do enxofre. A %Sdff na alfafa, cultivada em sucessão às culturas de milho e soja que receberam fertilização do solo, foi da ordem 40-50%, revelando a tendência do enxofre em permanecer no solo. A percentagem do S na planta derivado do fertilizante em cultivos consecutivos, no solo arenoso, foi maior na sucessão milho-alfafa (19%) que na soja-alfafa (6,6%). O efeito residual do S-fertilizante no solo foi 20% maior na sucessão soja-alfafa, podendo esse efeito indicar possíveis perdas do sistema solo-planta. O método de determinação de S-total em solos interferiu na recuperação do S-fertilizante no sistema solo-planta, principalmente no solo argiloso. / Sulfur is a plant nutrients which has been receiving little attention in studies of soil fertility, so it has been limited to a few researches in the world. Studies focusing this element have indicated sulfur deficiency in crops grown in intensive agriculture areas. In this context, this research was carried out in under greenhouse conditions at CENA/USP (Piracicaba - SP) with the objectives of evaluating: a) the use of the applied sulfur as sulfate (Na234SO4) by corn (Zea mays (L.)) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) crops (Experiment I); b) the use by alfalfa (Mendicago sativa (L.)) (Experiment II) of the residual fertilizer-S left in the soil at the end of the experiment I (Experiment II); c) the fertilizer-S distribution in the soil-plant system in the experiments I and II and its overall recovery after consecutive cultivations with corn or soybean and alfalfa. The isotopic technique with the stable isotope 34S was the tool used to evaluate the sulfur distribution in the soil-plant system. The experiments were carried out in pots without drainage containing 7 kg of soil. Two types of contrasting soils were used, a clay soil (Kandiudalfic Eutrodox) and a sandy (Rhodic Hapludox). The study factors of the experiment I were: two soil types, two crops (corn and soybean) and two labeled forms of the S source (Na2SO4): enriched or depleted in the 34S (on average: 9.0 and 2.5 atoms % of 34S respectively). In experiment II the soil and S source labeling were the same as in the experiment I, the same pots were grown with alfalfa. A randomized experimental design with four replicates was used. At harvest, the plant samples were separated in: roots and above ground, and the soil was. Determinations of total-S and abundance of 34S were accomplished in plant and soil samples. In the experiment I, the percentage sulfur in the plant derived from the fertilizer (Sdff%) was on average of 40% to corn and soybean, indicating low sulfur mineralization. The %Sdff in alfalfa grown after corn or soybean that received S fertilization reached 40-50%, showing the tendency for fertilizer-S to remain in the soil. The percentage sulfur in the plant derived from the fertilizer in consecutive cultivations, in the sandy soil, was higher in corn-alfalfa (19%) than in soybean-alfalfa (6.6%) succession. The fertilizer-S residual effect in the soil was 20% higher in soybean-alfalfa succession, so this result indicates possible losses from soil-plant system. The determination method of total-S content in the soil interfered with the fertilizer-S recovery in soil-plant system, mainly in the clay soil.

Summary In the Sudanian zone of West Africa like in the Borgou region of Benin, agricultural and livestock systems face more and more difficulties linked to climatic changes, the decrease in soil fertility and the degradation of natural grasslands. This leads to a decrease in agricultural yields and feeding resources for livestock. On another hand, the socio-economical conditions of the small-holders dont allow them to invest in mineral fertilisers to remedy to soil fertility decrease. The introduction of ley pastures in crop rotations may be an affordable solution to increase available feeds for livestock and to improve soil fertility. The first part of this work reviews the potentialities of various local and exotic grasses and legumes which could be cultivated in the Borgou region. The choice of these species take into consideration the pedo-climatic conditions of the region, their aptitude for production, their nutritive value and their contribution to soil fertility. In the second and third parts of the thesis, the results of experimental 3-year ley pastures using 4 grasses (Panicum maximum Jacq cv. C1, Andropogon gayanus Kunth with broad leaves, A. gayanus with narrow limbs and Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) and 6 légumineuses (Aeschynomene histrix Poir, Stylosanthes fruticosa (Retz.) Alson, Centrosema pubescens Benth., Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. utilis Wall. Ex Wight) Baker ex Burck, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit) and exploited without any supply in mineral fertilisers are described concerning their yields and nutritive values. The grasses productions varied between 2 200 and 4 600 forage units (UF, in French unites fourragères)/ha/year and between 170 and 450 kg digestible crude protein/ha/year according to species and years (P<0.05). The forage legumes produced between 1 400 and 4 800 kg dry matter (DM)/ha/year according to species and years (P<0.05) with crude protein contents ranging from 16 to 27 %. Except Na and Zn, the combination of these two forage groups can satisfy the ruminant needs in macro and micro-minerals. The fourth part of the manuscript presents a soil-fertility balance under the different ley pastures after 3 years of exploitation. At the end of this study, it appears that in the experimental conditions (cut-and-carry system without fertilisers) Andropogon gayanus with broad leaves and the ligneous legume species Cajanus cajan and Leucaena leucocephala ensure the highest DM yields and are the less exhausting for soil fertility due to deeper root systems enabling to bring up to the surface mineral elements from deep layers / Résumé Dans la région soudanienne de lAfrique de lOuest comme dans le Borgou au Bénin, les systèmes de production agricole et délevage connaissent de plus en plus de difficultés liées aux aléas climatiques, à lappauvrissement rapide des sols et à la dégradation des végétations naturelles. Il en résulte une baisse des rendements agricoles et des ressources alimentaires pour le bétail. Par ailleurs, les conditions socio-économiques des producteurs limitent leurs possibilités dachat d'engrais en vue de remédier à la baisse de fertilité des sols. Dans ce contexte lintroduction de jachères fourragères dans les rotations culturales constitue une solution pour augmenter les disponibilités alimentaires destinées au bétail et enrichir le sol. La première partie de ce travail présente un inventaire de graminées et de légumineuses locales ou exotiques qui peuvent être implantées dans le Borgou. Le choix de ces espèces tient compte des conditions pédo-climatiques de la région, de leur aptitude à la production, de leur valeur alimentaire et de leur contribution à la fertilité des sols. Dans les deuxième et troisième parties de la thèse, les résultats de jachères expérimentales de trois ans comprenant 4 graminées (Panicum maximum Jacq var. C1, Andropogon gayanus Kunth à larges feuilles, A. gayanus à fines feuilles et Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) et 6 légumineuses (Aeschynomene histrix Poir, Stylosanthes fruticosa (Retz.) Alson, Centrosema pubescens Benth., Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. utilis Wall. Ex Wight) Baker ex Burck, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. et Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit) et exploitées sans apports de fumure minérale sont décrits en ce qui concerne leurs rendements et leurs valeurs alimentaires. Les productions des graminées ont varié entre 2 200 et 4 600 unités fourragères/ha/an et 170 à 450 kg de protéines brutes digestibles/ha/an selon les espèces et les années (P<0,05). Les légumineuses ont produit entre 1 400 et 4 800 kg de matière sèche/ha/an selon les espèces et les années (P<0,05), avec des teneurs en protéines variant entre 16 et 27 %. A lexception du Na et du Zn, lutilisation combinée des fourrages de ces espèces peut satisfaire les besoins en minéraux et oligo-éléments des ruminants. La quatrième partie du manuscrit présente un bilan de fertilité des sols sous ces différentes cultures après 3 années de jachère. Au terme de cette étude, il apparaît que dans les conditions expérimentales (affouragement en vert sans fumure minérale) la graminée Andropogon gayanus à larges feuilles et les légumineuses arbustives Cajanus cajan et Leucaena leucocephala sont les plus productives et les moins épuisantes pour le sol, eu égard à leur enracinement profond, capable de ramener des éléments minéraux en surface.

Lagriculture et lélevage occupent plus de 80% de la population des zones semi-arides de lAfrique de lOuest. Ces populations en tirent lessentiel de leur alimentation et de leurs revenus. Lun des problèmes de cette agriculture est la pauvreté des sols. Dans les pays comme le Niger où prédominent les agroécosystèmes culture- élevage, le rôle du bétail dans le recyclage de la matière organique et des éléments minéraux azote, phosphore et potassium peut constituer un atout pour laugmentation de la production agricole et animale et assurer une sécurité alimentaire durable. Les bilans et flux de ces matières organiques et éléments minéraux ont été utilisés comme indicateurs détat qui caractérisent la durabilité des systèmes de production. Cette recherche porte sur lévaluation de ces flux et bilans organiques et minéraux aux échelles de l'exploitation agricole et du terroir dans le sud-ouest du Niger et la mise au point d'un indicateur de risque d'épuisement de la fertilité des terres des exploitations. L'étude porte sur trois terroirs agropastoraux de cette région couvrant une superficie de 500 km2 et sur un échantillon de 461 exploitations agropastorales. Les trois terroirs diffèrent essentiellement par leur pression agricole sur les terres, et par l'importance de l'élevage. Dans ces systèmes mixtes culture-élevage, la dualité de l'organisation spatiale qui les caractérise avec une gestion des cultures à l'échelle parcellaire centralisée à l'échelle de l'exploitation agricole et une gestion de l'élevage liée aux ressources pastorales communautaires de tout le terroir, fait que les modèles classiques de gestion sont confrontés à cette intégration d'échelles. Deux modèles ont été donc été utilisés pour lévaluation des flux et bilans partiels de N, P, K à des échelles différentes, celle de lexploitation agricole et celle des occupations de sol à léchelle du terroir. NUTMON, un modèle existant, est utilisé dans la détermination des flux à léchelle de lexploitation et de ses composants. La modélisation spatiale des flux à laide des systèmes dinformation géographique est opérée par articulation de NUTMON avec loutil NUTPAST développé dans cette thèse. Cet outil développé avec les systèmes d'information géographique prend en compte la dynamique spatio-temporelle de la végétation et du cheptel pour lévaluation de lingestion et de lexcrétion animale à léchelle de l'ensemble des occupations au sein d'un terroir. Un indicateur de risque intégré d'épuisement de la fertilité des terres a été conçu par exploitation à partir de variables de viabilité biophysiques relatives à l'utilisation de l'espace communautaire et de variables socio-économiques en lien avec la propriété des terres et du cheptel. Les bilans partiels obtenus à l'échelle du terroir montrent globalement un équilibre entre les flux de gestion agricoles et de l'élevage à l'échelle des terres des exploitations, avec des valeurs de N,P,K moyens respectifs de 0.3 ± 0.6, 1.2 ±0.2, 0.9 ± 0.5 kg/ha.Ce bilan fait ressortir une grande disparité entre les exploitations qui montrent un bilan fortement positif chez les propriétaires de bétail et négatif chez les villageois ayant très peu de bétail. Les indicateurs de risque, basés sur les facteurs de pression sur les terres, les dotations en terres et bétail par habitant, laissent apparaître qu'en dépit d'une faible intensification par la fumure, la pression agricole sur les terres combinée à la faible dotation des exploitations agricoles en bétail est un facteur de risque d'épuisement relatif de la fertilité des sols très élevé à l'échelle des villages. Ce qui peut compromettre la durabilité de l'agriculture dans ces régions. Les problèmes d'utilisation des ressources communautaires au profit des seuls propriétaires de bétail posent le problème en termes de politique foncière dans ces agroécosystèmes. Avec la pression agricole actuelle, un autre mode d'intensification agricole est à rechercher avec une politique foncière d'accès aux ressources équitable.

The process of allocating necessary resources like clean water, fuel/energy and food have resulted in an unsustainable use of natural resources causing problems with Soil erosion, soil fertility, desertification, deforestation, eutrophication and global warming. The purpose of this study was to gain information on the functional design of a waste management system enabling the organic components of domestic waste to be processed as useful resources while at the same time allow them to be re-circulated. The main part of this study was carried out at the Kendu SDA Hospital in the Rachyonyo district in western Kenya. For the case of this study two main objectives where chosen. The first was to develop a principal technological solution using three classed “appropriate technologies” found suitable for the purpose namely biogas, ecological water treatment systems and slow sand filtration. The second was to further analyse each included technology to further develop their potential to fit the concept. Results from the pilot facilities where then to be retrieved from the actual component selection and construction process itself, with performance analysis left for future studies. The main purpose of the biogas system study has been to evaluate the original ideas of overall concept, details, materials and construction methods. The 1 m3 biogas system has improved significantly during the development process and is today not far from an implementation, i.e. construction on a slightly larger scale. The biogas system developed during the project has proven to have potential for digestion of both latrine and kitchen waste. Using the two as fuel for the process does not only remove a problem – it grants several benefits. The ecological waste water treatment system main objective was to design and construct a pilot SSF-wetland. Results show that the construction process for smaller scaled SSF systems is simple and does not require trained personnel or specialized equipment and that significant cost reduction can be made by using locally available materials. The slow sand filtration sub system concept is called PT SCX and though still in the stage of development proved to have great potential concerning both efficiency and sustainability. The PT SCX comprises the advantages of slow sand filtration with further development of individual system solutions. It was adapted to enable both integration to the IWESS solution and stand alone installations purifying even highly turbid surface water sources to drinking water quality. The result from the study confirms the suitability of the three included technologies, ecological waste water treatment, biogas and slow sand filtration to work in an integrated system called IWESS- Integrated Water Energy and Sanitation Solution. The combined subsystems can together with source separated sewage offer full resource recovery enabling recirculation of both nutrients and water. In addition the system can be designed as a net producer of renewable and emission free energy.

<p>The process of allocating necessary resources like clean water, fuel/energy and food have resulted in an unsustainable use of natural resources causing problems with Soil erosion, soil fertility, desertification, deforestation, eutrophication and global warming. The purpose of this study was to gain information on the functional design of a waste management system enabling the organic components of domestic waste to be processed as useful resources while at the same time allow them to be re-circulated. The main part of this study was carried out at the Kendu SDA Hospital in the Rachyonyo district in western Kenya. For the case of this study two main objectives where chosen. The first was to develop a principal technological solution using three classed “appropriate technologies” found suitable for the purpose namely biogas, ecological water treatment systems and slow sand filtration. The second was to further analyse each included technology to further develop their potential to fit the concept. Results from the pilot facilities where then to be retrieved from the actual component selection and construction process itself, with performance analysis left for future studies.</p><p>The main purpose of the biogas system study has been to evaluate the original ideas of overall concept, details, materials and construction methods. The 1 m3 biogas system has improved significantly during the development process and is today not far from an implementation, i.e. construction on a slightly larger scale. The biogas system developed during the project has proven to have potential for digestion of both latrine and kitchen waste. Using the two as fuel for the process does not only remove a problem – it grants several benefits.</p><p>The ecological waste water treatment system main objective was to design and construct a pilot SSF-wetland. Results show that the construction process for smaller scaled SSF systems is simple and does not require trained personnel or specialized equipment and that significant cost reduction can be made by using locally available materials.</p><p>The slow sand filtration sub system concept is called PT SCX and though still in the stage of development proved to have great potential concerning both efficiency and sustainability. The PT SCX comprises the advantages of slow sand filtration with further development of individual system solutions. It was adapted to enable both integration to the IWESS solution and stand alone installations purifying even highly turbid surface water sources to drinking water quality.</p><p>The result from the study confirms the suitability of the three included technologies, ecological waste water treatment, biogas and slow sand filtration to work in an integrated system called IWESS- Integrated Water Energy and Sanitation Solution. The combined subsystems can together with source separated sewage offer full resource recovery enabling recirculation of both nutrients and water. In addition the system can be designed as a net producer of renewable and emission free energy.</p>

No description available.

Land degradation and soil nutrient depletion have become serious threats to agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. Soil fertility depletion in smallholder areas has been cited as the fundamental biophysical cause of declining per-capita food production in Africa. Manure application is a well established and known practice, but not effectively used among South African smallholders. This study investigated the practice, constraints and perceptions of improving soil quality through manure application through a case study of three smallholder farmer groups. Three groups from rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (Mkhambatini, Mooi River and Richmond) were selected to participate in the study. Participatory methodologies were used to identify and clarify the study problem. Three participatory focus group discussions, one per area, were conducted with farmers at the study sites to discuss farming methods, experience and perceptions of manure use, manure management practices and constraints farmers experience with manure use. Force Field Analysis was used for each group to explore for forces against and in support for manure use. Random soil and manure samples were collected for laboratory analysis to determine fertility levels. Some farmers indicated that soil fertility was low. However, half the sample perceived the land to be productive to some extent. The study showed that 40 per cent of farmers reported improved soil fertility following the application of manure. Due to the limited availability of livestock manure, farmers prefer to use both livestock manure and commercial fertilisers. Furthermore, the study found that except for young farmers (20 per cent of the sample), farmers had not received formal training and very limited extension advice on composting and manure use and management. The study participants were aware of the consequences of declining soil fertility and were attempting to improve soil quality. However, low livestock numbers and poor management led to inadequate amounts of manure, and, limited access to information on manure and compost use. Unless better knowledge of optimal soil nutrient management practice is acquired by the farmers, soil fertility levels will continue to decline, further reducing production potential and rural household food security. Government needs to revisit extension support to meet the needs of smallholders and offer training on sound soil management, sustainable production methods, composting and livestock management. A handbook with graphic detail should be accompanied to provide smallholders with information and advice on how to manage soil fertility. / Thesis (M.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

Examines the character construction of the Hesiodic ‘farmer’ in the scholarship of Works and Days. Questions Hesiod’s intimacy of agricultural knowledge: was he a practical farmer or a non-farming poet? Using my farming experience I question the adequacy of the information in Works and Days for use as a farming manual. Lines 635-640 - Hesiod’s description of the climatic conditions of Ascra in respect to farming are set against soil properties (soil biochemistry as an evaluating tool) and agricultural responses (farming methods of other cultures) shows Hesiod to have little grasp of the farming methods each situation requires. Text comparatives: Fan Shêng-Chih Shu an ancient Chinese agricultural text detailed with attention to soil fertility. Supporting ancient texts: Cato on Agriculture, Columella on Agriculture, Theophrastus on Plants, Xenophon Oeconomics and Homer’s Odyssey for references to dung and soil fertility. The vague farming information suggests a non-personalized experience - the Hesiodic ‘farmer’ is probably not a practical farmer at all.

Diss. Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniv.