Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6.2 Selected management regimes/practices and their advantages in PLEC
demonstration sites in southern Ghana
Practices/regime
Major advantage
Minimal tillage and controlled use
Minimal disturbance of soil and biota
of fire for vegetation clearance
Mixed cropping, crop rotation, and
Maximize soil nutrient usage; maintain crop
mixed farming
biodiversity; spread risk of complete crop
loss; enhance a diversity of food types
and nutrition; favour soil regeneration
Traditional agroforestry: cultivating
Conserves trees; regenerates soil fertility
crops among trees left
in situ
through biomass litter. Some trees add to
productive capacity of soil by nitrogen
fixation
Proka
, a no-burn farming
Maintains soil fertility by conserving and
practice that involves mulching by
stimulating microbes and by humus
leaving slashed vegetation to
addition through the decomposing
decompose
in situ
vegetation; conserves plant propagates
including those in the soil by the
avoidance of fire
Bush fallow/land rotation
A means of regenerating soil fertility and
conserving plants in the wild
Usage of household refuse and
Sustains soil productivity
manure in home gardens and
compound farms
Use of
nyabatso
,
Neubouldia
The basically vertical rooting system of
laevis
, as live stake for yams
nyabatso
favours expansion of yam
tubers, while the canopy provides shade
and the leaf litter mulch and humus. It,
also, is suspected that
nyabatso
fixes
nitrogen
Staggered harvesting of crops
Ensures food availability over the long haul
Storage of crops, notably yams,
Enhances food security and secures seed
in situ
in the soil for future harvesting
stock
Conservation of forest in the
Conserves forest species; source of
backyard
medicinal plants at short notice; favours
apiculture, snail farming, and shade-
loving crops such as yams
Source: PLEC fieldwork since 1994
Cropping patterns
The dominant crop is cassava, followed by maize - both annual or seasonal food
crops. The cassava shows a wide variety of types, notably the following, identified
by their popular local names:
ankra
,
agbelitomo
,
katawire
,
abontem
,
asramnsia
,
tuaka
,
biafra
or
agege
,
trainwusiw
,
bankye nsantom
,
gbezey
,and
agbeliatsilakpa
.
The last two are recent introductions from Benin and Togo, which underscores
the importance of cross-border movements in agrodiversity. Other important
annual/seasonal crops include cocoyam and assorted yams. The widest variety of
