Validation of a field decision aid protocol for soil management

Informed decision-making is useful for improved and sustainable soil productivity management by smallholder farmers in Uganda so as to alleviate food insecurity and poverty. Comprehensive tools that can be used by the service providers to capture the realities of the complexity of the farmer environment and to aid farmers make appropriate soil management decisions in a timely and cost-effective manner, are however lacking. A multi-disciplinary team of researchers from Makerere University, MAAIF and NARO initiated a pilot study in 2001 to develop and validate the soil management decision aid protocol. The multi-stage (exploratory, confirmatory, problem synthesis and management option) decision protocol was compiled into a user-guide consisting of harmonized biophysical, social and economic methodologies locally and systematically synthesized to enhance decision making on technically sound and economically feasible intervention options for soil productivity management without necessarily undertaking laboratory soil analysis. Testing and validation of the physical, chemical, biological methodologies of the decision protocol applied in three (3) fields (banana, maize-high vigour and maize-stunted) during a 5-day field training for field extension workers were done using laboratory techniques. Socio-economic methodologies were participatorily evaluated by 11 trainees. Findings revealed very good correspondence of the results for soil texture, organic matter, pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. Following the soil management decision aid protocol enhances development of multiple skills required in addressing soil degradation problems in a holistic manner combining biophysical and socio-economics and inevitably results in transformation of the extension approach and methods of service delivery. It is simple, cost effective and accurate ultimately empowers farmers to make choice from a basket of alternative options. Fine tuning work is continuing to manufacture the soil test kits locally and to tailor soil management protocol to agro ecological zones/cropping systems.