Soil fertility management practices by farmers in oasis basins of southeastern Niger

Abstract

One of the challenges facing farmers in the oasis basins of southeastern Niger is undoubtedly maintaining soil fertility. This situation is all the more worrying because these basins are the main source of agricultural production and diversification in these regions with very limited agricultural potential. This study seeks to analyze soil fertility management practices used by farmers in the oasis basins of southeastern Niger. To this end, a survey was conducted among 90 farmers in these basins to analyze socioeconomic data and soil fertility management practices. The results show that the soil fertility management practices used by basin farmers include the use of manure, mineral fertilizers, and crop associations. There are no significant differences between soil fertility management practices and the yields of the main crops (maize, onion, cabbage, and cassava). According to farmers, crop associations help reduce fertilizer costs, allow for proper land management, and reduce irrigation time. For sustainable agriculture, farmers in oasis basins of southeastern Niger must ensure proper use of chemical fertilizers and their combination with organic fertilizers. Studies should be conducted in the area of crop associations to find the most advantageous combination for basin farmers.

Keywords: Basins, fertilization, agricultural yield, Niger