Project info

Organic Resource Management for Soil Fertility – ORM4Soil

Title: Farmer-driven organic resource management to build soil fertility and improve food security

Funding: Swiss Programme for Research on global Issues for Development, a partnership of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

Project coordinator: Dr. Andreas Fließbach, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Switzerland

Project sites: Ghana, Kenya, Mali and Zambia

Duration: 2015-2021

URLwww.orm4soil.net

Outputs and Publications

Publications

2019

Spurk C., Asule P., Baah-Ofori R., Chikopela L., Diarra B., Koch C. (2019). The status of perception, information exposure and knowledge of soil fertility among small-scale farmers in Ghana, Kenya, Mali and Zambia. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, DOI: 10.1080/1389224X.2019.1656089

2018

Sousa F., Nicolay G., Spurk C., Adamtey N., Fliessbach A. (2018). Testing and adoption of bottom-up agricultural innovations to improve soil fertility in small holder farms in sub Saharan Africa: an interdisciplinary approach . Proceedings of the XXIII International Conference of the Society for Human Ecology (SHE), ISBN: 978-989-99782-6-3

Kiboi M., Ngetich K.F., Mugendi D.N., Muriuki A., Adamtey N., Fliessbach A. (2018). Microbial biomass and acid phosphomonoesterase activity in soils of the Central Highlands of Kenya. Geoderma Regional.

Chikopela L., Kalinda T.H., Kuntashula E., Nicolay G.L., Kalala D., Chishala B.H. (2018). Use of innovation platforms in addressing soil fertility challenges: experiences from rural Zambia. African Journal of Rural Development 3(1):597-615

Flyers and Brochures

 

Project flyer [English version] (3.9 MB)[Version Française] (3.9 MB)

MSc Thesis

2018

Kofituo R., 2018. Factors Influencing the Adoption of Local Organic Resources for Soil Fertility Improvement in Crop Production: a Case study of Ada West District of Ghana. University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. Abstract (404.1 KB)

Dodobi M., 2018. Decomposition and Mineralization of Some Organic Residues in two Contrasting Agro-Ecological Zones in Ghana. University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. Abstract (409.0 KB)

2016

Boansi, E. A., 2016. Dissemination of Information on Soil Fertility Management Strategies to Farmers: A Study of Farmers in Ada West and Kwaebibirem Districts in Ghana. University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.  Abstract (389.4 KB)

Samaké, A., 2016. Socio-Economic Determinants, Opportunities and Constraints of Adoption of Technological Innovations of SFM in the Rural Commune of Klela (Sikasso) and Meguétan (Koulikoro) in Mali. IPR/IFRA, Mali. Abstract

Touré, A., 2016. Contraintes de Communication et Adoption des Innovations Technologiques de Gestion de Fertilité des Sols dans les Communes de Méguétan (cercle de Koulikoro) et de Kléla (cercle de Sikasso), au Mali. IPR/IFRA, Mali. Abstract (411.2 KB) (in French)

2015

Langat, W.K., 2015. Assessing the effects of information and communication on the use of organic resource inputs to build soil fertility in the central highlands of Kenya. School of Journalism and Mass Communication. University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. Abstract (384.1 KB)

Conferences and Knowledge Transfer Events

Ng'ang'a B. (2019). A Spatial Multi-Criteria evaluation for selection of optimal locations for the use of organic resources in the Upper Tana region Kenya. 1st International Conference on Agroecology Transforming Agriculture & Food Systems in Africa, 18th June, Nairobi, Kenya (Oral presentation).

Sousa F. (2019). Effects of Gliricidia sepium agroforestry systems associated with maize, cotton and sorghum on soil productivity in Mali. 4th World Congress on Agroforestry, 20th May, Montpellier, France (Oral presentation).

Oduor N. (2018). Effect of selected soil management practices on soil hydrological properties in the Humic Nitisols and the Ferralsols in Kenya. 18th Workshop on Sustainable Horticultural Production in the Tropics (HAK), 26th to 30th November. Taita Taveta University, Kenya (Oral presentation).

Okoth N. (2018). Effect of selected soil management practices on soil hydrological properties in the Humic Nitisols and the Ferralsols of Kenya. 18th Workshop on Sustainable Horticultural Production in the Tropics (HAK), 26th to 30th November, Kenya (Oral presentation).

Otieno E. (2018). Short-Term Assessment of Potential of Integrated Soil Fertility Management Technologies to Improve Soil Fertility in Tharaka-Nithi and Murang’a Counties, Kenya. 4th Dedan Kimathi University of Technology International Conference on Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 7th to 9th November, Nyeri, Kenya (Oral presentation).

Kofituo K. R. et al. (2018). Adoption of Local Organic Resources for Soil Fertility Improvement in Crop Production: Ghana. Tropentag 2018, 17th September 2018, Ghent, Belgium (Poster presentation).

Sousa F. et al. (2018). Dissemination and adoption of bottom-up agricultural innovations to improve soil fertility in Africa: An interdisciplinary approach. XXIII International Conference of the Society for Human Ecology, 9th July 2018, Lisbon, Portugal (Oral presentation).

Erick O. (2018). Integrated soil nutrient management technologies for improved maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in Murang’a and Tharaka-Nithi counties. 2nd University of Kabianga International Conference, 9th May, Kenya (Oral presentation).

Erick O. (2018). Characterizing Decomposability of Organic Inputs under Contrasting Tillage Systems in Farmer-Managed Conditions in the Central Highlands of Kenya. 12th Egerton University International Conference, 12th March, Kenya (Oral presentation).

Kiboi M. (2018). Soil biological properties response to selected soil fertility management strategies in the sub-humid region of Central Kenya. 12th Egerton University International Conference, 12th March, Kenya (Oral presentation).

Okoth N. (2018). Enhancing soil water productivity using selected soil management practices in the central highlands of Kenya. 12th Egerton University International Conference, 12th March, Kenya (Oral presentation).

Kiboi M. et al. (2017). Maize crop performance and water use efficiency as affected by soil fertility management techniques in the sub-humid regions of Kenya. Third International Conference on Global Food Security, 4th December 2017, Cape Town, South Africa (Oral presentation).

Kalala D. (2017). Sustainable Organic Agriculture - The climate smart alternative for Zambian Farmers. CePHAS (Strengthening Capacity in Environmental Physics, Hydrology and Statistics for Conservation Agriculture Research) project launch workshop. 21st November, Lusaka, Zambia (Oral presentation).

Okoth N. (2017). Characterizing rainfall pattern in the central highlands of Kenya using satellite estimated data. Fourth Eastern Africa Multidisciplinary Applied Research Conference, 15th November 2017, Nairobi, Kenya (Oral presentation).

Sousa F. (2017). Manejo de recursos orgânicos para aumento da fertilidade do solo - A experiencia do projeto ORM4Soil (Management of organic resources for the improvement of soil fertility - the experience of ORM4Soil project). Seminar at UNESP - Sao Paulo State University, 10 November 2017, Botucatu, Brazil (Oral presentation).

Kalala D. (2017). Sustainable Organic Agriculture - The alternative for African farmers. ReSAKSS (Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System) Annual General meeting, 27 October 2017, Maputo, Mozambique (Oral presentation).

Kiboi M. (2017). Soil Tillage and Fertility Management Effects on Maize Yield in Murang'a and Thraka-Nithi Counties. TropenTag, 20 September 2017, Bonn, Germany (Oral presentation).

Sousa F. (2016). Soils are alive - The contribution of organic resources to soil long-term fertility. Agriculture with Future, Today, 21 October 2016, Idanha-A-Nova, Portugal (Oral presentation).

Fliessbach A. (2016). Organic Resource Management for Soil Fertility. Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research (SFIAR), 14 March 2016, Brugg, Switzerland (Oral presentation).

Fliessbach A., Nicolay G., Sousa F. (2015). Sustaining our soils and societies: the challenge of doing transdisciplinary research. Global Soil Week, 21 April 2015, Berlin, Germany (Oral presentation).

Non-scientific Publications

Student Reporters (10/07/2017) - ORM4Soil students' experiences from the field (1.5 MB)

In this series, the ORM4Soil students report their field experiences and viewpoints. Covering some of their insights and personal perspectives in a collection of interdisciplinary stories, they provide a glimpse of what it means to be part of a diverse and international team focused on finding solutions to increase soil fertility build-up in Africa.