Summary
The UGA Soil, Plant, and Water Laboratory, in collaboration with the League of Hope, is in the process of establishing a soil testing laboratory in Haiti. Practical analytical methods including simple instrumentation were successfully tested on Haiti soils. The instruments and supplies will be shipped to Haiti as soon as the construction of laboratory building is completed and its technician has obtained training from UGA on instrument operation and maintenance, and the various analytical techniques.
Situation
Soil testing is an invaluable tool that helps farmers decide appropriate fertilizer application rates for maximum crop production. Unlike the farmers in developed countries, soil testing is not a regular practice in developing countries like Haiti. In most cases, soil testing laboratories are non-existent or, at best, distant from farms, thus making soil testing less accessible. Oftentimes, fees are prohibitively expensive and fertilizer recommendations are ineffective because of the absence of field calibration studies.
Haiti exemplifies a developing country whose economy is based on agriculture and yet their food supply is not enough to feed its people. More than 50% of their food needs come from foreign sources. A team of UGA agricultural experts visited Haiti and reported a dismal assessment of the country's agriculture. The team concluded that Haiti' lack of crop productivity was partly because of several factors including insufficient understanding of proper fertilization, insufficient soil conservation practices resulting in highly denuded crop lands, absence of or limited pest control, use of inferior crop varieties, and many more.
Response
Recognizing the critical role of soil testing in soil fertility and crop yields, the UGA Soil, Plant, and Water Laboratory (SPW) offered to provide technical expertise in establishing a soil testing facility to be installed at Zanmi Agricol near Corporant, Haiti. The UGA lab considered various existing analytical methods that would be suited to Haiti's soil and climatic conditions as well as the type of crops grown. These analytical methods were modified as needed. The UGA lab identified simple instrumentation (colorimeter, pH meter, weighing balance, soil grinder, and shaker), necessary supplies and procured them through funding from the League of Hope, an Atlanta-based NGO. Haiti soil samples provided by researchers from Virginia Tech., Oklahoma State University and the staff from League of Hope were analyzed using the modified analytical methods and simple instruments obtained for the project.
We chose measurement of soil pH, extractable phosphorus, and potassium because we determined that these elements, in addition to nitrogen, are most important for optimum soil fertility and crop yield. Detailed laboratory work ensued with careful attention to make the methods simple and straightforward, without sacrificing accuracy. The simple methods gave soil analysis results comparable to other sophisticated methods. All instruments, supplies, and chemicals are awaiting shipment to Haiti which will take place once the laboratory space becomes available and an agronomist from Haiti has undergone adequate training on equipment operation and maintenance and analytical techniques.
Impact
Testing of soil will indicate the soil's current fertility status and its ability to support optimum plant growth. The test methods chosen are used by at least 48 laboratories in the U.S., and some of them expressed willingness to share their soil test calibrations for making fertilizer recommendations. Soil test interpretations and recommendations will, therefore, be immediately available.
The proposed soil testing laboratory is anticipated to have a major impact on the improvement of Haiti's agriculture. The project was presented during the 2011 International Agronomy meetings in San Antonio, TX. Several researchers in the audience expressed interest in pursuing collaborative work and other NGOs wanted to tap UGA's expertise. A simple soil testing laboratory that can measure soil pH, extractable phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), and use the information for appropriate fertilizer recommendations to maximize crop yields will be the first of its kind in Haiti.
State Issue
Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability
Details
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Year:
2011
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Geographic Scope:
International
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County:
Clarke
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Program Areas:
- Agriculture & Natural Resources
