THE EFFECTS OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON SOIL PRODUCTIVITY AND NUTRIENT LEVELS IN KENYA.

摘要

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of African agricultural practices in Kenya on soil productivity. Emphasis is placed on discovering what effects cultivation would have on the nutrient levels of virgin soils in that country. It was found that fragmentation,female labor,and the attitude toward fertilization was actually more important than the more tangible physical considerations in understanding the basic characteristics of African agriculture. The deterioration of the physical condition of the soil through continuous cultivation perhaps is more responsible for a decreased productivity than is nutrient depletion. Only through sustained use of fertilizers can the productivity of Kenya soils be substantially increased. The economic future of the African farmer will depend upon his ability to obtain a higher income through the sale of cash crops. (Author)