Assessment of use, attitudes, constraints and impact of cattle manure on maize farming by smallholder farmers in Njombe Tanzania
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Date
2015
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Abstract
Maize is the most important staple food and cash crop in Tanzania. Cattle manure has
become an important as a source of soil nutrients in situations where use of inorganic
fertilizer is not affordable. In view of the apparent decline in soil fertility, deliberate
efforts are required to promote utilization of cattle manure for crop production. The Main
Objective of the study was to assess the use, attitudes, constraints, and impacts of cattle
manure in maize farming in Njombe District. Specifically the study intended to (i)
describe farmers’ practices on the production, management and application of cattle
manure on their fields, (ii) To identify farmers attitude towards cattle manure (FYM), (iii)
To measure farmers attitude towards bio-slurry, (iv) To measure farmers attitude towards
inorganic fertilizer in crop production, (v) To identify constraints encountered by
farmers on cattle manure production, management and utilization at a farm level and
(vi) To determine the impacts on yield as a result of cattle manure use. Data were
collected by interviewing farmers using semi-structured questionnaires as the main tool.
The questionnaire comprised of closed and open ended questions. Descriptive, reliability,
and inferential analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Science
version 12 and 16 respectively as a tool for analysis. Results revealed that farmers have
positive attitudes on FYM, however, they hold negative attitude on bio-slurry and again
farmers who grow crops only have positive attitude on inorganic fertilizer. Constraints
identified were few cattle, lack of labour and high cost of labour as well as lack of manure
transport. Use of cattle manure (FYM and bio- slurry) shows more yield than non-use at
p≤0.05 level of significant. The majority of farmers preferred cattle manure to improved
soil fertility.
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Keywords
Maize farming, Tanzania, Smallhoder farmers, Farmers' attitude, Cattle manure utilisation, Njombe