A.M. (Anneke) Fermont: “Cassava and soil fertility in intensifying smallholder farming systems of East Africa”

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22 Jun 2009 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr. K. Giller (Plant Production Systems)
Co Promotor: Dr. M.T. van Wijk, Dr. P.A. Tittonell (CIRAD, France)

 Cassava is an important crop in sub-Saharan Africa. It is often considered a food crop for poor farmers, but at least, in East Africa this perception is untrue. Due to increasing land pressure, the importance of cassava in the farming systems has increased as farmers believe that cassava improves soil fertility. This could be related to the relatively large above ground biomass production of cassava in comparison with maize on infertile soils and its positive contribution to soil organic carbon and nutrient recycling. This thesis shows that the gap between actual and attainable yields is large. Cassava production is much more strongly affected by soil fertility, drought and management than previously thought, and interactions between production constraints are of major importance. To improve cassava production by smallholder farmers, more focus must be placed on developing integrated management packages. Considering the rapid expansion of the land area planted with cassava over the past 20 years, improvement of cassava management will contribute to more sustainable land use, production and income.
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