Better Land Husbandry
From Soil Conservation to Holistic Land Management
Jon Hellin: International Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), El Batan, Mexico
ISBN 978-1-57808-244-5; 2006; 288 pages, pb; US $ 66.60      Buy Now

This book is a timely contribution towards the debate on the most effective way to bring about sustainable farming in marginal areas. It offers a detailed analysis of the social, economic, and agro-ecological characteristic of both Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) and Better Land Husbandry (BLH) and an analysis of case studies of BLH from Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.

Contents :
. Introduction
Land and Soil Degradation; Soil Conservation Technologies; The Better Land Husbandry
Approach; Winning the Debate?

. From Soil Conservation to Better Land Husbandry: Social and Economic Components
The Conventional Soil Conservation Approach; Farmers’ Realities: Local, Complex, Diverse
and Dynamic; Farmer First; Unlocking the Complexity of Farmers’ Realities; Unraveling the
Complexity of Farmers’ Realities; The Obstacles to Better Land Management; Farmers’
Relationship with Extension Agents and Scientists; Tapping into Farmers’ Resourcefulness

. From Soil and Conservation to Better Land Husbandry: Agro-ecological Components
Questioning the Conventional Soil Conservation Approach; Soil Erosion Process; Crying Wolf: How Reliable are the Data on Soil Loss and the Effectiveness of Soil Conservation Technologies; Establishing a Trial Site in Honduras; Rainfall Characteristics at Santa Rosa; Soil Erosion, Water Loss and Maize Productivity Under Conventional Agriculture; The Effectiveness of Soil Conservation Technologies: Soil Erosion, Water Loss and Maize Productivity; Site Variation at Santa Rosa: Masking the Effectiveness of Soil Conservation Technologies; Results from Santa Rosa for Researchers and Farmers

. Better Land Husbandry: Towards the New Paradigm in Conserving Soil, Water and Productivity
Synopsis; New Perspectives on Soil Erosion and Land Degradation; Soil Quality; Maintaining and
Improving Soil Quality: From Theory to Practice; Lessons for Researchers and Development
Practitioners; Better Land Husbandry: Why has it taken so Long?

. Better Land Husbandry in Practice
A Thematic Approach; Impact of Soil Cover: Zero Tillage in South America; Impact of Soil Cover:
The Quezungual System in Western Honduras; Active Farmer Participation: World Neighbours in
Güinope, Honduras; Soil Moisture and Agricultural Yields; Hurricane Mitch: From Soil Erosion to
Landslides

. Better Land Husbandry in Perspective: The Policy Dimension
A New Paradigm in Land Management; The Future of Smallholder Farming; A New Professionalism;
From Production to Markets; Policy Issues; Better Land Husbandry and Future Research

. Appendix I - Impact Monitoring and Assessment