Abstract Climate variability and shocks threaten current systems of agricultural production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), leading to the promotion of soil, and water conservation measures to enhance the resilience of farming systems. This paper analyzes the factors influencing the probability and intensity of adoption of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices in Ghana, and identify the possible combinations of ISFM practices used by farmers based on their perceptions of climate variability and shocks. The empirical results revealed that demographic, farm-related variables, land quality, institutional factors, relative isolation, and recent experience of climate variability and shocks influence the probability and intensity of ISFM adoption. Perceptions of climate variability and shocks have a heterogeneous effect on the adoption of multiple ISFM practices. Farmers exposed to precipitation shocks are more likely to complement mulch with residue as an adaptive response to evapotranspiration while substitute mulch with mineral fertilizer. The results highlight the risk-averse decisions and mitigation strategies employed by farmers. Providing adequate and timely climate information to farmers will mitigate the biases related to the perception of climate variability and subsequently improve soil fertility choice. Strengthening the farmer-research-extension linkages coupled with communication of “better fit” ISFM practices will increase adoption.

中文翻译：

---

加纳北部小农对气候变化的看法和土壤肥力管理选择

摘要 气候变化和冲击威胁着撒哈拉以南非洲 (SSA) 当前的农业生产和粮食安全系统，导致促进水土保持措施以增强农业系统的复原力。本文分析了影响加纳采用综合土壤肥力管理 (ISFM) 做法的可能性和强度的因素，并根据农民对气候变异和冲击的看法确定了可能采用的 ISFM 做法组合。实证结果表明，人口统计、与农场相关的变量、土地质量、制度因素、相对隔离以及最近气候变异和冲击的经验都会影响采用 ISFM 的概率和强度。对气候变率和冲击的看法对采用多种 ISFM 做法具有不同的影响。遭受降水冲击的农民更有可能用残留物补充覆盖物，作为对蒸发蒸腾的适应性反应，同时用矿物肥料替代覆盖物。结果突出了农民采用的风险规避决策和缓解策略。向农民提供充分和及时的气候信息将减轻与气候变异感知相关的偏见，并随后改善土壤肥力选择。加强农民-研究-推广联系以及“更适合”的 ISFM 实践的交流将提高采用率。遭受降水冲击的农民更有可能用残留物补充覆盖物，作为对蒸发蒸腾的适应性反应，同时用矿物肥料替代覆盖物。结果突出了农民采用的风险规避决策和缓解策略。向农民提供充分和及时的气候信息将减轻与气候变异感知相关的偏见，并随后改善土壤肥力选择。加强农民-研究-推广联系以及“更适合”的 ISFM 实践的交流将提高采用率。遭受降水冲击的农民更有可能用残留物补充覆盖物，作为对蒸发蒸腾的适应性反应，同时用矿物肥料替代覆盖物。结果突出了农民采用的风险规避决策和缓解策略。向农民提供充分和及时的气候信息将减轻与气候变异感知相关的偏见，并随后改善土壤肥力选择。加强农民-研究-推广联系以及“更适合”的 ISFM 实践的交流将提高采用率。向农民提供充分和及时的气候信息将减轻与气候变异感知相关的偏见，并随后改善土壤肥力选择。加强农民-研究-推广联系以及“更适合”的 ISFM 实践的交流将提高采用率。向农民提供充分和及时的气候信息将减轻与气候变异感知相关的偏见，并随后改善土壤肥力选择。加强农民-研究-推广联系以及“更适合”的 ISFM 实践的交流将提高采用率。