Soil fertility in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of Punjab, Pakistan: The role of institutional factors and sustainable land management practices

• Published in: Agricultural systems Vol. 218; p. 103964
• Main Authors: Sheikh, Asjad Tariq, Chaudhary, Ashok Kumar, Mufti, Samaa, Davies, Stephen, Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Mixed crop-livestock farming systems; Soil health; Structural equation model; Sustainable land management; Mixed crop-livestock farming systems; Sustainable land management; Structural equation model; Soil health
• ISSN: 0308-521X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103964

Soil salinization is a significant environmental challenge prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions, causing adverse effects on crop yields and jeopardizing household food security. Previous research has examined the influence of institutional dynamics and the adoption of sustainable land management practices in bolstering agricultural output, and some have investigated the interplay among socioeconomic determinants, institutional frameworks, and the uptake of climate-resilient and sustainable methodologies, or the association between soil health and agricultural productivity. Yet, there has been a lack of studies that considered this relationship altogether and their role in enhancing soil fertility. We investigate the relationship among socioeconomic and institutional factors, adoption of sustainable land management practices, and the resulting changes in soil fertility between 2016 and 2019 within the context of mixed crop-livestock farms in the three irrigated agroecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan. A household survey was conducted in 2019 to complement soil attributes data collected by the Government of Punjab in 2016. Households that implemented sustainable land management practices between 2016 and 2019 were analysed to investigate the effect of various factors on soil fertility, including the adoption of sustainable land management practices and their influence on soil fertility dynamics. A structural equation model was employed to examine the relationship among exogenous variables, moderating variables, and endogenous variables, to explain their collective influence on soil fertility between the two periods. The key findings highlight the significant role of institutional factors, including access to formal information channels such as extension services, demonstration trials, and credit facilities, alongside secure land rights, in predicting the adoption of sustainable land management practices such as gypsum application, laser land leveling, farmyard manuring, and agroforestry. Furthermore, specific SLM practices, particularly agroforestry featuring intercropping with Acacia spp. and farmyard manure application, exhibited positive impacts on change in soil organic matter, albeit with agroforestry showing a negative influence on soil phosphorus levels. The adoption of gypsum and LLL displayed positive effects on soil phosphorus levels over time, contrasting with LLL's adverse impact on soil organic matter. Our findings suggest that soil fertility benefits from policies enacted through public-private partnerships that lead to improved access to sustainable land management information, reduced credit barriers, establishment of local soil testing facilities, and expedited land entitlement processes. These findings highlight the critical role of collaborative partnerships and institutional arrangements in enhancing agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Note: Soil attributes used in the study are electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). *A negative impact on EC means lower EC levels; a positive impact on EC means higher EC levels.EC & P SOM. [Display omitted] •A structural equation model was estimated to examine the impacts of sustainable land management practices on soil fertility changes.•Exposure to demonstration trials, field days, extension services, credit access, and land entitlement are key predictors of SLM practices.•SLM practices such as application of gypsum, laser land leveler, farmyard manuring, and agroforestry effectively reduced soil salinity.•SLM practices safeguard the environmental sustainability of farms.