| Over time, the Basotho developed a mixed crop and livestock land use system well adapted to the adverse environment. In the 20th century, land shortage increasingly placed what had been complementary parts of this system into competition. For a holistic analysis of land use systems in the lowlands of Lesotho, southern Africa, an isolated valley was selected for study between 1978-80. The research tool of participant observation was used, allowing annual cycle of rural activity to be observed while soil properties, meteorological parameters, and crop productivity were measured. Following this, a questionnaire was administered about household composition, livestock, crop management, yields, and recent changes in land quality.; Different geomorphic surfaces within the valley had different levels of plant nutrients, but all areas would probably respond to applied phosphorus. The area of residual soils were also deficient in bases, particularly calcium, and had toxic levels of aluminum and manganese as well as very low pH values.; Evidence of water moving downslope within the pediment soils on top of a dense clay layer parallel to the surface was obtained. This provided both a supply of water for plants between rainfalls and a mechanism for erosion gully growth and initiation. Because gullies reflect a changed hydrology, they will continue to develop.; The amount of land available to each household is small. It is unlikely that any amount of amendments will produce large surpluses. Farming households were investing in agriculture and making decisions based upon knowledge of constraints to production. Many of these constraints are not simple technical problems, but complex social and regional economic issues.; There are no further adjustments which can be made in the land use system which would allow any component of the system to flourish. |
