Maize yields increase...following application of organic 'biochar' fertilizer

Some of the farmers on their maize farms

THE application of a type of organic fertilizer introduced by soil scientists to smallholder farmers in the Northern Region has led to significant increases in the yields of maize.

Maize produced from the use of this organic fertilizer appeared much bigger as compared to those produced on farms where only chemical fertilizer were applied.

An international organisation, the Abokobi Society of Switzerland (ASS) is distributing this organic fertilizer to farmers in the Northern Region to help them improve the soils on their farmlands and consequently increase their yields.

It is produced through a combination of fine-grained charcoal, known as biochar, and organic waste, such as chicken manure, shea butter waste and household organic waste.

The ASS, in partnership with soil scientists at the University of Freie, Germany introduced this particular composition of organic compost after a number of field tests revealed positive results on crop yields.

Awudu Alhassan, a farmer who applied this organic compost on his maize farm at Kukuo Yepalsi in Tamale last year, said his yield per acre had increased considerably.

“Before I was introduced to the organic compost, I was getting between six and eight bags from my farm. Last year, when I first applied this compost, I got up to 10 bags after harvest,” he stated.

He further added: “initially, I was using four bags of chemical fertilizer on the farm, but when I was given the biochar, I only used a bag of Amonia alongside the biochar and the yields were better.”

A researcher from the Department of Earth Sciences of the Freie University, Ms Kathrin Roessler told the Daily Graphic that this form of organic compost improves the structure and fertility of soils and contributes to greater yields.

She explained that when the charcoal is mixed with the organic manure and applied on farms, it works to conserve the soil structure, preserve the nutrients, allow for aeration and promote the activities of micro-organisms in the soil.

Soils in the north are said to be poor in nutrients. Crop yields are low partly due to poor soil fertility

Field trials of the biochar started in 2010 on soils in southern Ghana and were later shifted to the north, where it proved to be effective.

The ASS is now working with DeCo, another agric-based organisation, to produce the biochar in large quantities and distribute it freely to farmers to increase their yields.

Last year, 2000 50kg bags of a mixture of biochar and organic manure were distributed to 20 farmers.

This year, the ASS has already begun the distribution of the organic fertilizer to 60 farmers in the Tamale metropolis and four districts: Karaga, Tolon, East Gonja and West Mamprusi.

Farmers loading sacks of the organic 'biochar' fertilizer

Mr Peter Billa, the Tamale Co-ordinator for the ASS Biochar Project said he was happy that though the project was being implemented on a small scale, it was making an impact on the lives of the farmers.

“Each of the farmers selected this year would receive 100 bags,” he stated.

Among the beneficiaries he mentioned, were five women who received awards during last year’s Best Farmer Awards organised by the Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of Agriculture.

“The ASS chose to give them some of this product to further boost their yield and motivate other hardworking women farmers,” he stated.

Some of the compost, he also noted, would be donated to the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to support the institution in its field tests on organic composting.

Low soil fertility, which is prevalent in Northern Ghana, affects crop yields and impacts negatively on farmers’ livelihoods and food security.

It is expected that initiatives like this would improve the fertility of soils in the north and consequently safeguard food production in the country.
(Also published in the Daily Graphic of June 14, 2013, p. 36)