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Evaluation of the Indigenous Use of the Weed Sida cordifolia L. in the Sahelian Zone of West Africa

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Title Evaluation of the Indigenous Use of the Weed Sida cordifolia L. in the Sahelian Zone of West Africa
 
Creator Hayashi, K
Hayashi, E T
Fatondji, D
 
Subject Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
 
Description Most farmers in Niger live below the poverty line and require low-capital intensification to improve
agricultural production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate local knowledge on less beneficial
weed for future use in managing the soil fertility of the Sahel region. Sida cordifolia was utilized in a
scientific procedure to verify how local farmers utilize this species and the nature of the important
roles behind this wild plant in terms of soil fertility management. The results of a questionnaire
showed that S. cordifolia was less frequently used than other wild plants found in the same area, but
that local farmers recognized this plant as one of the indicators of soil fertility in millet fields. The
results of soil analysis also revealed a significant coefficient of variance in certain parameters such as
total acidity and aluminum saturation of the soil, while multiple regression analysis showed the high
influence of total acidity and soil pH on plant height and dry matter weight, respectively. These results
indicate that the significant difference in plant growth of S. cordifolia was mainly due to soil acidity
rather than soil fertility. The application of organic matter is one effective approach to resolve this
problem and it was shown that the poor growth of S. cordifolia is a particularly useful marker to identify
patches where organic matter should be applied. Despite its simplicity, this technique is considered
particularly beneficial to allocate limited resources efficiently for sustainable, improved
production.
 
Publisher Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
 
Date 2013
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
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Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/7150/1/JARQ_47_4_389-396_2013.pdf
Hayashi, K and Hayashi, E T and Fatondji, D (2013) Evaluation of the Indigenous Use of the Weed Sida cordifolia L. in the Sahelian Zone of West Africa. Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly, 47 (4). pp. 389-396. ISSN 0021-3551