Determination and Restoration of Soil Fertility by Local Farmers: The Case of Techiman Municipality of Ghana

The study was undertaken to find out how crop farmers in the Techiman municipality of Ghana determine and manage the fertility of their soils. Data were obtained through questionnaire and interview of one hundred and ten randomly selected farmers from the municipality between January and February, 2010. Frequency count, percentage and correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. The farmers have their own set of parameters handed over from one generation to the other which they use to determine the fertility of their soils without consultation with agriculture extension agents or soil research stations. Many of the farmers (70.91%) use crop yield in combination with other parameters as, colour of soil, vegetation cover, soil depth, soil organic matter, activities of soil organisms and looseness of soil to determine soil fertility. Most of the farmers (85%) had no training or education in soil fertility practices. Higher number of the farmers (37.27%) use inorganic fertilizers as a soil fertility restoration method. Other soil fertility methods as crop rotation and fallowing are also practiced by the farmers. The use of crop residues and animal manure to restore soil fertility is not popular among the farmers. The determination and management of soil fertility by the farmers have no significant ( at 5% significance level ) relationships with sex, age and education of the farmers. Sustainability of soils would be effective if farmers’ indigenous knowledge is woven with scientific ones in soil fertility and management practices.