The traditional bush burning prevalent in the rural communities which proceeds planting has been identified as counter-productive to improved crop yield.

A University don, Prof. Ndowa Lale of the University of Port Harcourt who disclosed this to our special correspondent in an exclusive interview recently in Port Harcourt said even though it had both good and bad sides, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

According to him given that the process softens the top soil and makes it easier for farmers, especially those who use crude implements to till the soil, most of the nutrients in the soil would have been killed through the burning process.

“The disadvantages are that when they burn, there are certain soil dwelling organisms like earth worm and some other organisms that help in the recycling of nutrients in the soil, if you burn them, you reduce soil fertility by burning”, he said.

Lale, who is a professor of Animal and Environmental Biology explained further that the organic content matter of the soil would be reduced thereby leading to negative impact “on the nutrients of life”.

In contrast, he said if after clearing the weeds and tweeds are allowed to mix and enter the soil especially during the wet season, the nutrients that are held in there would go into the soil and enrich it.

He adviced that farmers be encouraged to practice including as it helps natural organisms like earthworm and millipede among others in the recycling of organic matter in the soil which further enriches it.

He explained that bush burning has been sustained over the years by subsistence farmers largely due to convenience and economic reasons.

On the whole he said it was important that farmers just cut the bush and park the brush to enable them have space to plow and plant and it would increase yield if they don’t burn at least in the short run.