Management Strategies of Soil Fertility Status Among Cacao Farmers

The study described the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of cacao farmers assessed their perceptions on fertilizer management strategies and documented the indigenous strategies for determining the level of soil fertility. It also determined soil physical and chemical properties of cacao supporting farms with a view to establishing the soil fertility status and management strategies of cacao farms in selected areas of Southwestern Nigeria. Two communities namely Osunwoyin and Akindele in Osun and Oyo States respectively that participated in the Humidtropics Innovation Platforms established by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture and sponsored by Forum for Agricultural Research for Africa (FARA) were purposively selected for the study. Soil samples were collected on the farmers’ fields at different depth of 0-15 15-30 and 30-50 cm with the aid of an auger and further analyzed for physical and chemical properties.