Green manure cover cropping : Green manure cover cropping and carbon sequestration in Tanzanian small-holder agriculture.
Sjöberg, Oskar (2020)
Sjöberg, Oskar
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020051812114
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020051812114
Tiivistelmä
Small holder farmers in Tanzania face great challenges as the soil fertility decreases and they therefore consequently also experience a decrease in yields. The reasons for this can partly be traced back to climate change but also to a decline in nutrients and organic matter in the soil. The main research question of this study is if green manure cover cropping is an effective method for soil improvement and carbon sequestration? The thesis was commissioned by FIDA International.
To answer the research question a literature study, interviews with professionals and a survey done among local small holder farmers were conducted. As a part of the literature study, previous research on green manure cover crops, carbon sequestration and adaptation was analysed. The interviews with the three professionals were done by me on-site in Tanzania. The survey was conducted by a local man as structured interviews with 44 participants in the Arusha region.
In conclusion, green manure cover crops are an effective way to fight climate change and soil degradation. Long-term research should continue in a national Tanzanian context where the most important climate zones and soil types are included with the most important species and their combinations. In addition to the research, the mindsets of local small holder farmers and stakeholders should be affected for wider adaptation. This can be achieved through increased awareness and knowledge sharing through the use of lead- farmers and demonstration farms.
To answer the research question a literature study, interviews with professionals and a survey done among local small holder farmers were conducted. As a part of the literature study, previous research on green manure cover crops, carbon sequestration and adaptation was analysed. The interviews with the three professionals were done by me on-site in Tanzania. The survey was conducted by a local man as structured interviews with 44 participants in the Arusha region.
In conclusion, green manure cover crops are an effective way to fight climate change and soil degradation. Long-term research should continue in a national Tanzanian context where the most important climate zones and soil types are included with the most important species and their combinations. In addition to the research, the mindsets of local small holder farmers and stakeholders should be affected for wider adaptation. This can be achieved through increased awareness and knowledge sharing through the use of lead- farmers and demonstration farms.