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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Environmental Challenges to Liberian Agriculture |
Authors: | Broderick (Sr), Cyril E. Kiazolu, James L.S. |
Year: | 1999 |
Periodical: | Liberian Studies Journal |
Volume: | 24 |
Issue: | 2 |
Pages: | 53-65 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Liberia |
Subjects: | environment agricultural innovations Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Development and Technology |
Abstract: | Historical reports indicate that physical parameters in the environment make agricultural production in Liberia precarious. This paper first characterizes the Liberian environment, presenting data on soil characteristics, including pedology and edaphology, on above-ground atmospheric conditions, including incident solar radiation, on monthly precipitation, and on temperature. Major constraints identified are: too little sunshine during the rainy season, which is the major crop production season; high incidence of fungal, bacterial and insect pests; low soil fertility and erosion, and leaching of applied fertilizers during the rainy season. Proposed measures to counteract these constraints include 1) the construction of dams with water distribution devices to better utilize the high incident sunshine of the dry season in crop production; 2) the adaptation of improved products from biotechnology; and 3) increasing the use of computers, machines and other technologies that make agriculture a more mechanically and industrially efficient operation. Bibliogr. |