Soil Fertility Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

2017 ◽  
pp. 205-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cargele Masso ◽  
Generose Nziguheba ◽  
James Mutegi ◽  
Corinne Galy-Lacaux ◽  
John Wendt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Sub Saharan

Manure and Soil Fertility Management in Sub-Humid and Semi-Arid Farming Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa: Experiences from Kenya

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.D. Onduru ◽  
P. Snijders ◽  
F.N. Muchena ◽  
B. Wouters ◽  
A. De Jager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Semi Arid

Integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa.

2017 ◽  
pp. 25-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Nalivata ◽  
C. Kibunja ◽  
J. Mutegi ◽  
F. Tetteh ◽  
B. Tarfa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Integrated Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Sub Saharan

Soil and Soil Fertility Management Research in Sub-Saharan Africa

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henk Mutsaers ◽  
Danny Coyne ◽  
Stefan Hauser ◽  
Jeroen Huising ◽  
Alpha Kamara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa: unravelling local adaptation

SOIL ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 491-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Vanlauwe ◽  
K. Descheemaeker ◽  
K. E. Giller ◽  
J. Huising ◽  
R. Merckx ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Local Adaptation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Integrated Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract. Intensification of smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is necessary to address rural poverty and natural resource degradation. Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is a means to enhance crop productivity while maximizing the agronomic efficiency (AE) of applied inputs, and can thus contribute to sustainable intensification. ISFM consists of a set of best practices, preferably used in combination, including the use of appropriate germplasm, the appropriate use of fertilizer and of organic resources, and good agronomic practices. The large variability in soil fertility conditions within smallholder farms is also recognized within ISFM, including soils with constraints beyond those addressed by fertilizer and organic inputs. The variable biophysical environments that characterize smallholder farming systems have profound effects on crop productivity and AE, and targeted application of agro-inputs and management practices is necessary to enhance AE. Further, management decisions depend on the farmer's resource endowments and production objectives. In this paper we discuss the "local adaptation" component of ISFM and how this can be conceptualized within an ISFM framework, backstopped by analysis of AE at plot and farm level. At plot level, a set of four constraints to maximum AE is discussed in relation to "local adaptation": soil acidity, secondary nutrient and micronutrient (SMN) deficiencies, physical constraints, and drought stress. In each of these cases, examples are presented whereby amendments and/or practices addressing these have a significantly positive impact on fertilizer AE, including mechanistic principles underlying these effects. While the impact of such amendments and/or practices is easily understood for some practices (e.g. the application of SMNs where these are limiting), for others, more complex processes influence AE (e.g. water harvesting under varying rainfall conditions). At farm scale, adjusting fertilizer applications to within-farm soil fertility gradients has the potential to increase AE compared with blanket recommendations, in particular where fertility gradients are strong. In the final section, "local adaption" is discussed in relation to scale issues and decision support tools are evaluated as a means to create a better understanding of complexity at farm level and to communicate appropriate scenarios for allocating agro-inputs and management practices within heterogeneous farming environments.

scholarly journals Integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa: unravelling local adaptation

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1239-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Vanlauwe ◽  
K. Descheemaeker ◽  
K. E. Giller ◽  
J. Huising ◽  
R. Merckx ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Local Adaptation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Integrated Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract. Intensification of smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is necessary to address rural poverty and natural resource degradation. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is a means to enhance crop productivity while maximizing the agronomic efficiency (AE) of applied inputs, and can thus contribute to sustainable intensification. ISFM consists of a set of best practices, preferably used in combination, including the use of appropriate germplasm, the appropriate use of fertilizer and of organic resources, and good agronomic practices. The large variability in soil fertility conditions within smallholder farms is also recognised within ISFM, including soils with constraints beyond those addressed by fertilizer and organic inputs. The variable biophysical environments that characterize smallholder farming systems have profound effects on crop productivity and AE and targeted application of limited agro-inputs and management practices is necessary to enhance AE. Further, management decisions depend on the farmer's resource endowments and production objectives. In this paper we discuss the "local adaptation" component of ISFM and how this can be conceptualized within an ISFM framework, backstopped by analysis of AE at plot and farm level. At plot level, a set of four constraints to maximum AE is discussed in relation to "local adaptation": soil acidity, secondary nutrient and micro-nutrient (SMN) deficiencies, physical constraints, and drought stress. In each of these cases, examples are presented whereby amendments and/or practices addressing these have a significantly positive impact on fertilizer AE, including mechanistic principles underlying these effects. While the impact of such amendments and/or practices is easily understood for some practices (e.g., the application of SMNs where these are limiting), for others, more complex interactions with fertilizer AE can be identified (e.g., water harvesting under varying rainfall conditions). At farm scale, adjusting fertilizer applications within-farm soil fertility gradients has the potential to increase AE compared with blanket recommendations, in particular where fertility gradients are strong. In the final section, "local adaption" is discussed in relation to scale issues and decision support tools are evaluated as a means to create a better understanding of complexity at farm level and to communicate best scenarios for allocating agro-inputs and management practices within heterogeneous farming environments.

scholarly journals Soil Fertility Management, a Tool for Sustainable Disease and Weed Control in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review

2017 ◽  
pp. 18-24
Author(s):  
A. M.Saddiq, A. Ibrahim ◽  
M. Y. Jada ◽  
A. M. Tahir ◽  
I. Umar
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Sustainable Environment ◽  
Synthetic Chemicals ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Is Integration

Agro-ecosystem health is built on habitat manipulation and fertility enhancement. Similarly, plant nutrient levels altered by fertilization practices can expose crop plants to pests. In addition, diseases, weeds and other pests are principal agricultural losses all over the world. This is particularly devastating particularly in the developing nations of Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria. Reduction in these losses will not only improve agricultural production but will enhance food security and economic well-being of society. Sole use of synthetic chemicals is economically not a viable option and does not encourage environmental sustainability while land expansion is equally elusive due to urbanization and different forms of development and not environmentally friendly. The most viable and practicable option is integration of different fertility management alternatives that could produce crops on a sustainable bases while ensuring the safety and sustainability of the environment. Integrated Soil fertility Management (ISFM) has proved to be a promising approach to fertility management and sustainable environment. It could be adopted as it provides the needed nutrients for plants, reduce weeds and disease incidences while safeguarding the environment.

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