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Project properties |
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| Title | Understanding adoption of soil fertility practices in Andean smallholder communities. |
| Group | Soil Physics and Land Management group |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 24-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | Steven Fonte |
| Examiner(s) | Coen Ritsema |
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| Begin date | 2020/02/03 |
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| Description | The Andean highlands have been under cultivation for millennia, but growing demand for food, modernization, and climate change have led to agricultural intensification and soil degradation. Participatory research towards the planting of grass-legume mixtures (during fallow periods) in potato-based crop rotations appears to offer farmers the ability to enhance forage production for their livestock, while enhancing soil fertility restoration. However, little is known about what community or farmer attributes drive adoption of new soil fertility management practices. The objective of this research is therefore to understand how farmer livelihood strategies and other factors determine interest in participatory research and eventual adoption of new management strategies.
We seek a student who will be based in Huancayo, Peru and work together with local and international researchers to evaluate community trends and drivers of soil fertility management. The student needs to have at least a moderate level of Spanish language skills and be able to work effectively in a team. Competence in statistics, conducting surveys as well as strong writing skills are also desired. |
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