Soil Fertility Decline in the Tropics

Download or read book Soil Fertility Decline in the Tropics written by Alfred E. Hartemink and published by CABI. This book was released on 2003 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: * Wide coverage of soils and perennial cropping systems in the tropics * Synthesis of decades of research * Challenges assumptions on the benefits of plantations for soil fertility It is generally assumed that soil fertility decline is widespread in the tropics and that this is largely associated with annual cropping and subsistence farming. In contrast, perennial plant cover (as in plantation agriculture) provides better protection for the soil. This book reviews these concepts, focusing on soil chemical changes under different land-use systems in the tropics. These include perennial crops, annual crops and forest plantations. Two case studies, on sisal plantations in Tanzania and sugar cane in Papua New Guinea, are presented for detailed analysis. The author demonstrates that soil fertility decline is also a problem on plantations.