Farmers’ perceptions of soil: challenges and opportunities for sustainable agriculture

Soil is one of agriculture’s most important yet fragile resources. Without healthy and fertile soils, food production and environmental sustainability are at risk. However, how farmers perceive soil is crucial to understanding how they manage it and what practices they use to conserve it. This paper explores how farmers in different parts of the world view soil as a resource, what their main concerns are and what can be done to improve soil health.

Farmers’ perceptions of soil in the agricultural and environmental context

Farmers are the primary stewards of soil and their perceptions of this resource directly influence how they manage it. Globally, soil is seen primarily as the basis for agricultural productivity. This perception is deeply rooted in the idea that fertile soil is essential to ensure good crop yields, which in turn underpin agricultural economies and food security.

In Europe, for example, Romanian farmers value soil for its ability to maintain fertility and support microbial life – key elements for agricultural productivity (Petrescu-Mag et al., 2020). Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, although soil tests are widely used to plan fertilisation, there is a notable mistrust of certain tests, such as those for phosphorus, which are perceived as not adequately reflecting nutrient availability to plants (Farmers’ Perceptions of Soil Tests, 2020).

In Africa, perceptions vary according to local conditions. In Nigeria, farmers rely heavily on traditional methods to assess soil fertility, and despite the availability of digital technologies, their adoption remains limited (Farmers’ Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management, 2020). In Ghana and Tanzania, soil erosion and declining fertility are major concerns, with farmers observing how these issues directly affect agricultural productivity (Farmers’ Perception on Soil Erosion in Ghana, 2020; Farmers’ Perception of Soil Fertility Problems in Northern Tanzania, 2020).

In Asia, farmers in India perceive soil erosion as a major threat, especially during the monsoon season, which drastically reduces agricultural productivity. While conservation practices are known, they are not always effective due to resource constraints (Farmers’ Perceptions of Soil Erosion and Management Strategies in South Bengal, 2020).

Main concerns of farmers

According to the journal articles reviewed, farmers face many challenges related to soil health:

• Soil erosion: Soil erosion is a major problem worldwide. In regions such as Ghana and India, erosion reduces the topsoil layer, decreases fertility and increases the need for external inputs such as fertiliser to maintain crop yields.
• Declining fertility: Loss of essential nutrients and soil compaction are key concerns. In Romania and Tanzania, for example, farmers have identified declining soil fertility as a problem affecting crop productivity and plant health (Petrescu-Mag et al., 2020; Farmers’ Perception of Soil Fertility Problems in Northern Tanzania, 2020).
• Distrust of diagnostic technologies: Despite the availability of scientific tools to measure soil quality, such as in the Netherlands, some farmers distrust the accuracy of these tests, which can lead to poor soil management (Farmers’ Perceptions of Soil Tests, 2020).

How to improve soil health: Strategies and opportunities

A range of strategies, tailored to local conditions, need to be implemented to address soil health issues:

• Education and training: Improving access to education and training is essential. Farmers need to be equipped with the knowledge and tools to better understand soil science and adopt sustainable practices. This is particularly important in regions where traditional agricultural practices dominate and access to technology is limited (Farmers’ Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management, 2020).
• Adopt sustainable practices: Practices such as composting, crop rotation and terracing are effective in improving soil health and preventing erosion. In regions such as India and Tanzania, these practices can be promoted and supported through government policies and technical assistance programmes (Farmers’ Perceptions of Soil Erosion and Management Strategies in South Bengal, 2020; Farmers’ Perceptions of Soil Fertility Problems in Northern Tanzania, 2020).
• Building confidence in scientific tools: There is a need to bridge the gap between science and farmers’ perceptions. This can be achieved through agricultural extension programmes that not only provide soil diagnostic tools (as NOVASOIL project tool), but also educate farmers on how to interpret and apply them in their daily work (Farmers’ Perceptions of Soil Tests, 2020).
• Tailored agricultural policies: Policies need to be tailored to the needs and realities of farmers. This includes financial support for the adoption of sustainable technologies, subsidies for inputs such as compost, and the implementation of soil conservation programmes that are accessible and practical for farmers in different contexts.

Conclusion

Farmers’ perceptions of soil are a key factor influencing the sustainability of agriculture. Understanding these perceptions and responding to farmers’ concerns is essential to improve soil management and ensure a sustainable agricultural future. Through education, the adoption of sustainable practices and the implementation of appropriate policies, soil health can be improved to ensure that it remains a valuable resource for future generations.

References

• Petrescu-Mag, R. M., Petrescu, D. C., & Azadi, H. (2020). A social perspective on soil functions and quality improvement: Romanian farmers’ perceptions. Geoderma, 380, 114573.
• Farmers’ Perception of Soil Fertility Problems and Their Attitude Towards Integrated Soil Fertility Management for Coffee in Northern Tanzania. Agriculture, 14, 1182.
• Farmers’ Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management and Conservation in the Era of Digital Soil Information Systems in Southwest Nigeria. Soil Use and Management.
• Farmers’ Perceptions of Soil Tests: A Case Study in the Netherlands. Geoderma.
• Farmers’ Perceptions of Soil Erosion and Management Strategies in South Bengal in India. Investigaciones Geográficas.
• Farmers’ Perception on Soil Erosion in Ghana: Implication for Developing Sustainable Soil Management Strategy. PLOS ONE.
• Falcão, R. N. R., et al. (2024). Farmers’ perception of soil health: The use of quality data and its implication for farm management. Soil Use and Management.