Indigenous Soil Knowledge for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Sahel Zone of Niger, West Africa. 2. Indigenous Soil Classification System.

Keiichi Hayashi, Oluwarotimi O. Fashola, Tsugiyuki Masunaga, Toshiyuki Wakatsuki · 2000 · Tropics

Summary. Farmers in Niger's Sahel zone classify soils using color, texture, and fertility based on generations of experience. Scientists validated nine local soil types against laboratory analysis of soil properties. The indigenous classifications matched scientific findings—farmers correctly identified poor sandy soils and fertile clayey soils. This indigenous knowledge system provides a practical, rapid method for evaluating soil variation in semi-arid regions and supports sustainable agricultural development.

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@article{hayashi-2000-indigenous-soil-knowledge-sustainable-agricultural,
  title   = {Indigenous Soil Knowledge for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Sahel Zone of Niger, West Africa. 2. Indigenous Soil Classification System.},
  author  = {Keiichi Hayashi and Oluwarotimi O. Fashola and Tsugiyuki Masunaga and Toshiyuki Wakatsuki},
  journal = {Tropics},
  year    = {2000},
  doi     = {10.3759/tropics.9.259},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.9.259}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Indigenous Soil Knowledge for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Sahel Zone of Niger, West Africa. 2. Indigenous Soil Classification System.
AU  - Keiichi Hayashi
AU  - Oluwarotimi O. Fashola
AU  - Tsugiyuki Masunaga
AU  - Toshiyuki Wakatsuki
JO  - Tropics
PY  - 2000
DO  - 10.3759/tropics.9.259
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.9.259
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.3759/tropics.9.259

Countries

Niger

Categories

indigenous-innovation, food-systems, climate-and-environment

Added

2026-04-28