@article{fdi:010081135,
  title = {{B}iomass harvesting leads to soil acidification : a study of mixed crop-livestock farming systems in {M}adagascar},
  author = {{F}anjaniaina, {M}. {L}. and {D}elariviere, {J}. {L}. and {S}algado, {P}. and {T}illard, {E}. and {R}abeharisoa, {L}. and {B}ecquer, {T}hierry},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}oil acidification and declining fertility are widespread in sub-{S}aharan {A}frica. {N}utrient depletion is mainly related to nutrient mining driven by biomass removal without replenishment of nutrients through use of fertilisers. {C}oncomitant acidification is due to the high ash alkalinity of harvested biomass. {W}e determined the nutrient content and ash alkalinity of biomass of the main crops produced in smallholder mixed crop-livestock farming systems in the {M}alagasy {H}ighlands of {M}adagascar and calculated the soil acidification/alkalinisation occurring through biomass transfer. {S}amples of rice and forage were collected from 70 rice plots and 91 cultivated forage plots, and 70 manure samples were collected from farms. {N}utrient exports induced by crop harvesting resulted in annual losses of 57 kg nitrogen ({N}), 6 kg (phosphorus) {P} and 33 kg potassium ({K}) ha(-1) for rice (grain + straw), and 31-51 kg {N}, 8-9 kg {P} and 29-57 kg {K} ha(-1) for each forage cut ( with three cuts per year on average). {T}he ash alkalinity of samples, calculated as the difference between cation and anion contents, was 49-100 cmol(c) kg(-1) for forage crops, 31 cmol(c) kg(-1) for rice straw, and only 4 cmol(c) kg(-1) for rice grains. {B}iomass removal caused a loss of nutrients and an increase in soil acidity. {O}wing to low nutrient retention efficiency during the handling and storage of manure, the traditional input of manure at 5 t fresh matter ha(-1) is insufficient to balance nutrient and alkalinity losses in {M}alagasy mixed crop-livestock farming systems. {M}aintaining productive and sustainable mixed crop-livestock farming systems requires greater attention to ensuring a nutrient balance at both plot and farm levels.},
  keywords = {soil fertility ; nutrient exports ; ash alkalinity ; manure ; {M}adagascar ; {MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{C}rop and {P}asture {S}cience},
  volume = {72},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {236--244},
  ISSN = {1836-0947},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1071/cp20499},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010081135},
}