The contribution of livestock to soil fertility

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dc.creatorTarawali, Shirley A.
dc.creatorLarbi, Asamoah
dc.creatorFernández Rivera, S.
dc.creatorBationo, B. André
dc.date2001
dc.date2014-10-31T06:22:08Z
dc.date2014-10-31T06:22:08Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T17:15:16Z
dc.descriptionIn response to on-going agricultural intensification, crop-livestock systems are becoming more important in West African farming systems. The role of livestock in providing stability to such systems, particularly through their interaction with the soil environment is unquestionable. Worldwide, the value of livestock manure has been estimated to be equivalent to inorganic fertilizer valued up to U.S. $1.5 billion annually. Focusing on the dry savanna regions of West Africa, this chapter reviews research on the evolution of crop-livestock systems, and the contribution of livestock to soil fertility, outlines some present key research issues and discusses these .with regard to livestock-soil interactions in the future. In this context, the influence of ruminant livestock on soil chemical, physical, and biological properties, soil organic matter and nutrient contents, as well as strategies to maximize nutrient capture and utilization are considered. Livestock effects on soil physical properties are rarely negative, unless movement is restricted and the animal density becomes excessively high. Livestock also plays a role in cycling nutrients and in transporting them from rangeland to cropland. The influence of livestock on soil fertility is also mitigated by their diet and can be improved by introducing legumes or improving crop residue quantity/quality.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/51137
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/146820
dc.languageen
dc.publisherSSSA
dc.rightsLimited Access
dc.subjectlivestock
dc.subjectsoil fertility
dc.subjectmixed farming
dc.subjectnutrients
dc.subjectfarmyard manure
dc.subjecturine
dc.subjectsoil organic matter
dc.subjectchemical composition
dc.subjectcycling
dc.subjectsoil chemicophysical properties
dc.subjecterosion
dc.subjectsoil fauna
dc.titleThe contribution of livestock to soil fertility
dc.typeReport

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Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Pecuarias (ILRI)