Local and scientific methods of soil fertility assessment in the tropics: a review

ABSTRACT

Soil characteristics over time have been fundamentally influenced by farming practice especially where small and medium-scale farming and fallow system are predominant in the tropics. To provide a solution to the problem of soil nutrient degradation calls for scientific soil fertility assessment to complement local system. Determining the best of these methods calls for comparative study between the indigenous and scientific methods of soil assessment. It was also observed that using modern methods of soil assessment alone may not provide a realistic solution to the soil management problem. This study recommends periodic soil assessment and mapping for sustainable food production.

KEYWORDS:

• Assessment
• fertility
• indigenous
• nutrient
• scientific

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.