Objectif African farmers operate under the deleterious effects of a rapidly degrading resource base, particularly from nutrient depletion and soil erosion. Soil organic matter plays a key role in crop sustainability primarily through its interactions with soil chemical and physical properties in relation to nutrient release, cation retention and maintenance of soil structure. By improved management of organic resources, soil erosion is reduced, soil fertility is more sustainable, farm productivity is increased and the quality of life of farmers is enhanced. The principal objective of this proposal is to develop and test an innovative methodology for modification and improvement of the indigenous soil fertility management practices of smallholder farmers in four countries in East and Southern Africa, by increasing the efficiency of use of organic and inorganic resources. Simultaneously, the project aims to enhance the capability of research institutions in these four countries to conduct farmer participatory research in resource management. The research approach involves three phases, which will be conducted in case-study sites in each of the four countries: Kenya, Tanzania, zambia, and zimbabwe. In the first phase, a multi-disciplinary team of social, soil, and biological scientists will work with farmers to identify research priorities, formulate hypotheses, and characterise available resources for their potential in alleviating the primary constraints limiting productivity in key components of the agroecosystems. In the second phase, soil biological process studies will be conducted on-station and on-farm to test strategies for modifications to indigenous soil fertilitv management practices to improve resource use efficiency. In the third phase, spatial models will be constructed in order to determine the applicability of extrapolation of improved management practices to wider areas. The project builds on the experimental approach, methodologies and African research network of the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility programme Champ scientifique social sciencessociologydemographyfertilitysocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivityagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and management Programme(s) FP3-STD 3 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the life sciences and technologies for developing countries, 1990-1994 Thème(s) Data not available Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinateur BBSRC Institute of Arable Crops Research Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Rothamsted Experimental Station AL5 2JQ Harpenden Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (7) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM) France Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 70-74 route d'Aulnay 93143 Bondy Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Kenya Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Nairobi Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Misamfu Research Station Zambie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Kasama Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Sokoine University of Agriculture Tanzanie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Morogoro Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID Espagne Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Isaac Peral 28040 MADRID Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN Danemark Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 83,Solvgade 83 H 1307 KOEBENHAVN K/COPENHAEGEN Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée University of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse MP 167 Harare Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée