Farmers’ Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management and Conservation in the Era of Digital Soil Information Systems in Southwest Nigeria

Sakiru O. Akinbode, Olusegun Folorunso, Taiwo S. Olutoberu, Florence A. Olowokere, Muftau Adebayo, Sodeeq O. Azeez, Sarafadeen G. Hammed and Mutiu A. Busari ()
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Sakiru O. Akinbode: Department of Economics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Nigeria
Olusegun Folorunso: Department of Computer Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Nigeria
Taiwo S. Olutoberu: Department of Soil Science and Land Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Nigeria
Florence A. Olowokere: Department of Soil Science and Land Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Nigeria
Muftau Adebayo: Safefood Africa Agroenterprise, Abeokuta 110123, Nigeria
Sodeeq O. Azeez: Department of Plant Physiology and Crop Production, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Nigeria
Sarafadeen G. Hammed: Department of Soil Science and Land Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Nigeria
Mutiu A. Busari: Department of Soil Science and Land Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Nigeria

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: This study assessed the perception and use of digital applications for soil fertility management and conservation strategies among small-scale crop farmers in southwest Nigeria. A total of 376 farmers were randomly selected across the six southwest states. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority of the farmers relied on perception and other non-scientific approaches such as the appearance of weeds and performance of crops in the previous season to assess soil fertility. Only 1.1% and 0.3% of the farmers assessed soil fertility through soil tests and digital applications, respectively. Most farmers adopted bush fallowing and the use of inorganic fertilizers to improve soil fertility. Although 4.8% of the farmers indicated that they had digital applications on their mobile phones, only 2.9% claimed to have used these. More than half (56.4%) of the farmers stated that a lack of awareness of the existence of digital applications and internet-enabled telephones were the reasons they have not been able to use digital applications. The majority of the farmers (97.3%) indicated their willingness to embrace the use of new farm decision digital applications which could provide more information, especially on soil fertility, if introduced. More extensive services focusing on older, less literate farmers and farmers who hitherto did not belong to any farmers’ association are advocated for in order to encourage the use of digital applications and soil fertility management and conservation practices.

Keywords: digital soil mapping; smallholder farmers; soil conservation; soil fertility; soil information systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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