September 29, 2013 – October 3, 2013, Havana,
Cuba
LAUNCH OF THE GLOBAL SOIL PARTNERSHIP IN CENTRAL AMERICA
AND THE CARIBBEAN
STATUS, PRIORITIES AND NEEDS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOIL
MANAGEMENT IN GUYANA
Dr. Oudho Homenauth,Chief Executive Officer,National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute,Ministry of Agriculture,Guyana.
September 30, 2013
Map of Guyana
With Physiographic Regions
Area: 214,970 km2
90-95% of population lives within the coastal
belt of 8,000 km
Coastal Plain
Hilly Sand and Clay Region
Highland Region
Interior Savannahs
•Area – 214, 970 km2 (19.7 million hectare)
•Forested – 16 million hectare ( ~80%)
•Permanent Pasture – 1.2 million hectare
•Agricultural lands – 1.7 million hectare
•Arable – 0.5 million hectare
•~30-35% cultivated
•About 25% of arable land is irrigated
(115,000 ha)
Agriculture in Guyana
Backbone of Agriculture Economy
Contribute 30% to GDP (~45% of total export earnings)
70% of the population employed directly in agriculture and in
related activities
Sugar – 67,000 hectare
Rice – 80,000 ha (double cropped)
Coconut – 25,000 ha
Fruits and vegetables ~ 20,000 ha
In Guyana, we recognise that the sustainable management of
agricultural soils is necessary to enhance food and nutrition
security as well as meet the food demands of present and future
generation.
Essential for the long-term sustainability & commercial viability
of agriculture.
Climate change (excessive rainfall and
drought and sea level rise)
Low PH
Low soil fertility
Need for more mechanisation
(dwindling labour force)
High costs of inputs (lime and fertilizer)
Yield potentials not being realised
Main Challenges to Agriculture
Soil Management Strategies being
Utilised/Promoted
Flooded Rice Cultivation
Upland Rice Production
Crop Rotation ( Rice & Beans, Legumes
and Other Vegetables)
Liming
Mulching
Use of Organic Manures
Cow manure (far left), chicken litter (middle pile) and leaf
litter (far right) collected on site prior to establishing
composting piles.
Homogenizing mix 1 containing leaf, chips, and chicken litter.
Pineapple farm site prepared using slash and burn - notice
burnt tree stumps and char/ash on the ground. Captain Yvonne
Pearson in picture.
Shaded Cultivation
Micro-irrigation
Flood fallowing (Sugar) – improves physical properties and
fertility status of soils
Reclamation of more soilsAcacia and pasture grass on Mine-spoils
Mangrove Restoration
Over Topping
January 2011 – Site prior to planting
October 2012 - 22 months after planting
Site Reference R4-CMS-M001-000-JAN-2011
Location Chateau Margot/Success, East Coast Demerara
Region Region #4
Species Planted Avicennia germinas (Black mangroves)
Total seedlings planted 20,529
Planting Date (date commenced)
16 December 2010
Length of seashore planted 284 m (841m protected due to natural regeneration)
Survival 85% (extensive natural regeneration)
Depth planted 60 m
September 2013- 33 months after planting
After Construction December 2012
July 2013 - 6 Months after construction
Spartina grass plated to support natural regeneration
Site Reference R4-VIC-M001-000-DEC-2012
Location Victoria, East Coast Demerara
Region Region #4
Structure Geotextile Breakwater
Length 100m (2 50m structures)Diameter 2.5m; Height 2m
Purpose Designed to reduce wave energy
Expected results Reduction in wave energy and accretion of sediments in the area of foreshore between the breakwaters and existing sea defence structure. Subsequent re-establishment of mangroves
Length of shoreline protected
216m
Project Status Completed December 2012
August 2013 – 8 months after construction
PRIORITIES AND NEEDS FOR SUSTAINABLE
MANAGEMENT
Development of Integrated Nutrient Management Systems.
Detailed soil mapping and soil physical and chemical analyses –
updating land capability classification and soil database
Use of GIS technologies and satellite imagery
Emphasis should be placed on the use of micronutrients
Use of biochar on low fertility soils
Use of agroforestry systems in low fertility soils
Development of appropriate land use strategies for fragile soils.
Development of a rational basis for fertilizers using/soil and/or plant chemical tests. This should include studies on technology packages of added fertilizer.
Examination of the role of irrigation for continuous crop production.
Studies should be conducted on the amelioration of adverse soil physical conditions, periodic deep tillage may be used to loosen compact subsoils; refinement in tillage requirements and techniques including minimum/zero tillage should be investigated.
Thank You!
End of Presentation…