Current problems leading to soil degradation in Africa: raising awareness and finding potential solutions
Promoting food security, fostering economic growth, and building resilience to climate change are crucial priorities in Africa, where the health and fertility of soils play a key role. Raising awareness about soil-related issues and finding potential solutions are vital for addressing the complex in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
2025
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173613 |
| _version_ | 1855513290293116928 |
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| author | Mesele, S.A. Mechri, M. Okon, M.A. Isimikalu, T.O. Wassif, O.M. Asamoah, E. Ahmad, H.A. Moepi, P.I. Gabasawa, A.I. Bello, S.K. Ayamba, B.E. Owonubi, A. Olayiwola, V.A. Soremi, P.S. Khurshid, C. |
| author_browse | Ahmad, H.A. Asamoah, E. Ayamba, B.E. Bello, S.K. Gabasawa, A.I. Isimikalu, T.O. Khurshid, C. Mechri, M. Mesele, S.A. Moepi, P.I. Okon, M.A. Olayiwola, V.A. Owonubi, A. Soremi, P.S. Wassif, O.M. |
| author_facet | Mesele, S.A. Mechri, M. Okon, M.A. Isimikalu, T.O. Wassif, O.M. Asamoah, E. Ahmad, H.A. Moepi, P.I. Gabasawa, A.I. Bello, S.K. Ayamba, B.E. Owonubi, A. Olayiwola, V.A. Soremi, P.S. Khurshid, C. |
| author_sort | Mesele, S.A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Promoting food security, fostering economic growth, and building resilience to climate change are crucial priorities in Africa, where the health and fertility of soils play a key role. Raising awareness about soil-related issues and finding potential solutions are vital for addressing the complex interplay of factors affecting soils across the African continent. This paper is written in three parts. The first part highlights and discusses the current problems which include soil erosion, desertification, nutrient imbalances, acidity, salinization, deforestation, and soil compaction. The second part highlights the effects of the identified causes on soil and agricultural productivity, and human health, which included but was not limited to loss of fertile land and biodiversity, increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, nutrient depletion, loss of ecosystem services, malnutrition, and other human health issues. The third part proffers potential solutions to tackle soil degradation in Africa. Some of the suggested solutions include afforestation of degraded land, integrated landscape management that involves innovative soil fertility and rangeland management, and effective soil conservation measures to combat erosion. Strengthening policy implementation at regional and country levels, such as awareness creation, education, and community engagement on soils as the basis of human existence, is also crucial. We concluded that no single solution fits all while addressing soil degradation in Africa, but integrated approaches that promote sustainable soil management, such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, agroforestry, afforestation, organic farming, and community engagement, would have a significant impact in resolving the menace of soil degradation. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace173613 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1736132025-10-26T12:55:01Z Current problems leading to soil degradation in Africa: raising awareness and finding potential solutions Mesele, S.A. Mechri, M. Okon, M.A. Isimikalu, T.O. Wassif, O.M. Asamoah, E. Ahmad, H.A. Moepi, P.I. Gabasawa, A.I. Bello, S.K. Ayamba, B.E. Owonubi, A. Olayiwola, V.A. Soremi, P.S. Khurshid, C. agriculture conservation agriculture soil degradation soil fertility climate change Promoting food security, fostering economic growth, and building resilience to climate change are crucial priorities in Africa, where the health and fertility of soils play a key role. Raising awareness about soil-related issues and finding potential solutions are vital for addressing the complex interplay of factors affecting soils across the African continent. This paper is written in three parts. The first part highlights and discusses the current problems which include soil erosion, desertification, nutrient imbalances, acidity, salinization, deforestation, and soil compaction. The second part highlights the effects of the identified causes on soil and agricultural productivity, and human health, which included but was not limited to loss of fertile land and biodiversity, increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, nutrient depletion, loss of ecosystem services, malnutrition, and other human health issues. The third part proffers potential solutions to tackle soil degradation in Africa. Some of the suggested solutions include afforestation of degraded land, integrated landscape management that involves innovative soil fertility and rangeland management, and effective soil conservation measures to combat erosion. Strengthening policy implementation at regional and country levels, such as awareness creation, education, and community engagement on soils as the basis of human existence, is also crucial. We concluded that no single solution fits all while addressing soil degradation in Africa, but integrated approaches that promote sustainable soil management, such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, agroforestry, afforestation, organic farming, and community engagement, would have a significant impact in resolving the menace of soil degradation. 2025-01 2025-03-14T09:23:07Z 2025-03-14T09:23:07Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173613 en Limited Access Mesele, S.A., Mechri, M., Okon, M.A., Isimikalu, T.O., Wassif, O.M., Asamoah, E., ... & Khurshid, C. (2025). Current problems leading to soil degradation in Africa: raising awareness and finding potential solutions. European Journal of Soil Science, 76(1): e70069, 1-22. |
| spellingShingle | agriculture conservation agriculture soil degradation soil fertility climate change Mesele, S.A. Mechri, M. Okon, M.A. Isimikalu, T.O. Wassif, O.M. Asamoah, E. Ahmad, H.A. Moepi, P.I. Gabasawa, A.I. Bello, S.K. Ayamba, B.E. Owonubi, A. Olayiwola, V.A. Soremi, P.S. Khurshid, C. Current problems leading to soil degradation in Africa: raising awareness and finding potential solutions |
| title | Current problems leading to soil degradation in Africa: raising awareness and finding potential solutions |
| title_full | Current problems leading to soil degradation in Africa: raising awareness and finding potential solutions |
| title_fullStr | Current problems leading to soil degradation in Africa: raising awareness and finding potential solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Current problems leading to soil degradation in Africa: raising awareness and finding potential solutions |
| title_short | Current problems leading to soil degradation in Africa: raising awareness and finding potential solutions |
| title_sort | current problems leading to soil degradation in africa raising awareness and finding potential solutions |
| topic | agriculture conservation agriculture soil degradation soil fertility climate change |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173613 |
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