A closer look at African soils

Two new issues of the discussion paper series Managing Africa s Soils were released recently. The paper series is part of the NUTNET project (Networking on Soil Fertility Management; Improving Soil Fertility in Africa: Nutrient Networks and Stakeholder). The project brings together several research programmes working on soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa. No. 8. Participatory Research on Compost and Liquid Manure in Kenya (DD Onduru, GN Gachini, A De Jager, and J-M Diop. 1999. 28 pp.) In addition to the previous booklet, No. 8 provides a comparative analysis between two on-farm experiments in Kenya for improving soil fertility by applying compost and liquid manure in maize. One group of farmers used a participatory and low external input approach. The other group was formed by conventional farmers applying fertilisers. The study shows that farmers and researchers can come to an agreement on research design, assessment of potential technologies, and their tests. No. 9. In the Balance? Evaluating Soil Nutrient Budgets for an Agro-Pastoral Village of Southern Mali (J Ramish. 1999. 28 pp.) So much for the Kenyan soils. No. 9 of this booklet series focuses on soil fertility in Mali. It addresses the methodological complexity of using nutrient balances in studying farming systems. This booklet presents the results of a year-long study of three distinct farming systems in one agropastoral community. Their varying reliance on livestock, fallowing, and use of fertilisers account for different nutrient balances in each system. Although nutrient balances are useful in this type of study, assumptions about soil processes and spatial and temporal system boundaries give rise to some caution in using methodologies based on them. Managing Africa s Soils Series. ISSN 15603520 £4 6.50 per booklet (free to non-OECD). The Bookshop, IIED, 3 Endsleigh Street, London WC1H 0DD, UK. Fax: +44 171 388 2826 Email: bookshop@iied.orgNo. 8. Participatory Research on Compost and Liquid Manure in Kenya (DD Onduru, GN Gachini, A De Jager, and J-M Diop. 1999. 28 pp.) No. 9. In the Balance? Evaluating Soil Nutrient Budgets for an Agro-Pastoral Village of Southern Mali (J Ramish. 1999.