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Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2014

Market garden production systems in the periurban area of mahajanga: determinants of agricultural practices of organic fertilizer for technical innovation

Résumé

The development of urban agriculture as market gardening is essential because it can provide food and incomes for growing populations. But urban market gardening systems are hampered by various constraints, among which is difficult access to mineral and organic fertilizer inputs. Urban areas offer a diversity of organic resources that could be used in cropping systems: but before proposing and testing fertilizers in urban agriculture, it is necessary to have an accurate description of the farming systems and soil fertility management practices of farmers, as well as the agronomic characteristics of locally available organic resources. In Mahajanga, Madagascar, a study was carried out to characterize market gardening systems with a focus on fertilization practices and their alternatives with the town resources. Cultivation and fertilization management were recorded weekly on a sample of farms (n=12) during two years, and the results were then tested through a survey on a larger sample of farmers (n=30). The market gardens were usually located around a waterhole (close to lakes or in lowlands). After the rainy season, plots of leafy vegetables, 12-14 m(2) in size, were planted progressively following the rice crop and as flood waters dried up. Each farmer had only a small plot of land and had to crop intensively. Most farmers cultivated plants with short growing cycles (e.g., 21 days), predominately Brassicaceae. Concerning soil fertility management practices, organic inputs (manure) and mineral nitrogen (urea) were mainly used. The organic or mineral fertilizer was always spread on the soil surface after crops had been transplanted, and were renewed at each planting cycle or each cut of long-cycle leafy vegetables. It is expected that fertilizers ensure three functions: fertilizer, amendment and mulch. All these functions have to be taken into account to propose new organic fertilizers as municipal wastes compost to respond to the scarcity and high cost of manure and urea.
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Dates et versions

hal-02740377 , version 1 (02-06-2020)

Identifiants

  • HAL Id : hal-02740377 , version 1
  • PRODINRA : 411126
  • WOS : 000343861400023

Citer

Heriniaina Ramahefarison, Christine Aubry, D. Masse, L. R. Rabeharisoa. Market garden production systems in the periurban area of mahajanga: determinants of agricultural practices of organic fertilizer for technical innovation. International Symposium on Urban and Peri-Urban Horticulture in the, Sep 2010, Dakar, Senegal. pp.4. ⟨hal-02740377⟩
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