Author/Authors :
KHATAM, AMIR Agriculture Department (Extension), Pakistan , KHAN, MUHAMMAD ZAFARULLAH University of Agriculture - Department of Agricultural Extension Education Communication, Pakistan
Abstract :
Soil productivity is the capacity of a soil to sustain plant growth. It has a direct relationship with crop yield of a given crop. Higher the soil productivity higher will be it’s per acre yield. Considering therefore, the importance of this very feature, a study was carried out in 2010 to determine the impact of Farmer Field School (FFS) on management of soil productivity. For this purpose, six districts from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi and Kohat were selected. Data were collected on various aspects of management of soil productivity from 240 randomly selected FFS farmers and 60 facilitators. Data were collected with a set of two pre tested interview schedules using survey technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics showing means and standard deviations. However, a paired t-test were applied for comparison of responses of FFS farmers and their facilitators. Removal of nutrients through crops was ranked 1st with mean value 3.15 and SD 3.75 followed by leaching and volatilization of nutrients which were ranked 2nd and 3rd with mean values 2.40, 0.64 and SD 2.10 and 1.05, respectively by farmer respondents. Whereas, facilitators of FFS ranked managing nutrients’ losses through crop removal also as 1st with mean value 3.42 and SD 3.60 but ranked Fixation and leaching of nutrients from soil as 2nd and 3rd with mean values 2,18, 1.30 and SD 1.35 and 1.65 respectively. Facilitators of FFS ranked decomposition of farm yard manure as 1st with mean value 3.77 and SD 0.67 followed by poultry waste and addition of farm yard manure with mean values 3.67, 3.68 along with SD 0.67 and 0.65, respectively as reported by facilitators of FFS. Farmer respondents ranked making furrows/boarders across slope as 1st with mean value 3.71 and SD 0.58 followed by leveling of land and using deep plough once a year which were ranked 2nd and 3rd with mean values 3.62, 3.59 along with SD 0.57 and 0.56, respectively by farmer respondents.
