Table 4.
Classification of the farmers’ soil quality indicators.
Indicator % of farmers who named the indicator Farmers’ statements
Biological
Earthworms 97 “Where there is strong soil we can find earthworms”
Intrinsic soil characteristics
Soil colour 87 “The darker the soil, the better soil quality”
Chemical
Organic matter 57 “A good soil is a black soil, which has more fat (organic matter) in it.” “If the soil has fat it means a stronger soil, with more nutrients, so it is more fertile”
Physical
Friability 43 “A soft soil better allows the development of the roots”
“We can feel if the soil is hard or not by just walking”
Plant performance
Yield 67 “Good soil is one that produces a lot”
Spontaneous vegetation 63 “Good soil can be seen through its own vegetation. It has to be strong, vigorous, well developed, have beautiful green colour, fast growth.” “If there is vegetation, any crop can grow on that field”
Root development 53 “A plant that has more roots finds more food (nutrients)”
“If a soil permits the growth of the roots, this means a soft soil”
“Short roots: low yield”
Rice plant development 43 “The quality of a soil can be seen during rice plant development”
Rice plant colour 16 “The gold yellow of the rice flower and the dark green of the rice plant tell us that the soil is good, so the colour of the rice plant can give us information about how the soil is”
Number of rice tillers 16 “The higher the number of rice tillers, the better the soil”
Other
Healthy and good-looking cattle 10 “If a field has beautiful cattle (fat), it means strong natural vegetation from a good soil”