Unsustainable Agricultural Practices as a Driver of Soil Degradation in Santa Sub-Division, North West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

This research sets out to investigate unsustainable agricultural practices as a driver of soil degradation in Santa sub-division, North West Region of Cameroon. The major types of agricultural practices studied were bush fallowing, slash-and-burn, shifting cultivation and bush fire. The study assessed the various agricultural activities that have occurred on the environment over time and space. The causes of unsustainable agriculture were identified to be overgrazing, deforestation, climate change and population growth. The study made use of primary and secondary data sources. Major primary data sources included field observation, interviews and administering of questionnaires. Data collected were presented in the form of tables, charts and pictures and subjected to interpretation. A soil test was equally carried out based on some chemical properties on selected sites in Santa sub- division. The findings revealed that unsustainable agricultural practices in this zone contributes to soil degradation. Climate change was seen to have a silver lining in the crop sector. Declining soil fertility and climate change were some of the major problems faced by farmers in Santa. Mixed crop farming, crop rotation, soil management practices and mulching were recommended to limit or stop soil degradation in Santa. Finally, it was recommended that farmers should incorporate more environmentally friendly trees into their farm lands since scattered trees on farmlands improve soil fertility more.