Sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health: A review

Sandy soils are characterized by low soil moisture content and nutrient retention due to high permeability, limiting crop productivity and threatening food security in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. Various reclamation technologies have been developed to address these challenges, but their ef...

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Main Authors: Musei, Sylus Kipngeno, Kuyah, Shem, Nyawira, Sylvia, Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja, Karugu, Winifred N., Smucker, Alvin, Nkurunziza, Libere
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Frontiers Media 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173755
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author Musei, Sylus Kipngeno
Kuyah, Shem
Nyawira, Sylvia
Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja
Karugu, Winifred N.
Smucker, Alvin
Nkurunziza, Libere
author_browse Karugu, Winifred N.
Kuyah, Shem
Musei, Sylus Kipngeno
Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja
Nkurunziza, Libere
Nyawira, Sylvia
Smucker, Alvin
author_facet Musei, Sylus Kipngeno
Kuyah, Shem
Nyawira, Sylvia
Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja
Karugu, Winifred N.
Smucker, Alvin
Nkurunziza, Libere
author_sort Musei, Sylus Kipngeno
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Sandy soils are characterized by low soil moisture content and nutrient retention due to high permeability, limiting crop productivity and threatening food security in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. Various reclamation technologies have been developed to address these challenges, but their effectiveness has not been comprehensively evaluated. This systematic review evaluated the performance of 42 sandy soil reclamation technologies reported in 144 studies from 27 countries that met specified selection criteria. Performance was evaluated based on response ratio (RR) of aboveground biomass and grain yield, as indicators of productivity, and soil moisture content and soil organic carbon (SOC), as indicators of soil health. The 42 technologies employed four main soil amendments: biochar, organic amendments, organic amendments combined with biochar, and soft rock. Overall, all technologies increased productivity and improved soil health. Biochar application was found to be the most effective technology, increasing grain yield by 51.6%, aboveground biomass by 67.4%, soil moisture content by 17.3%, and SOC by 74.2%. Soft rock application increased grain yield by 20.3%, aboveground biomass by 27.6%, soil moisture content by 54.5%, and SOC by 12.8%. Organic amendments increased grain yield by 48.7%, aboveground biomass by 45.6%, soil moisture content by 20.8%, and SOC by 36.7%. However, the combination of biochar and organic amendments showed lower improvements, with increases of 25.4%, 15.6%, 1.3%, and 25.4% for grain yield, aboveground biomass, soil moisture content, and SOC, respectively. Our conclusion is that the findings provide strong evidence that sandy soil reclamation technologies can significantly improve crop productivity and food security. Considering the variability in technologies responses across continents, there is need for further research to determine the optimal technology for specific locations, crops, and management practices.
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publishDate 2024
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spelling CGSpace1737552025-12-08T10:29:22Z Sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health: A review Musei, Sylus Kipngeno Kuyah, Shem Nyawira, Sylvia Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja Karugu, Winifred N. Smucker, Alvin Nkurunziza, Libere performance assessment technology sandy soils soil quality moisture content soil water content reclamation Sandy soils are characterized by low soil moisture content and nutrient retention due to high permeability, limiting crop productivity and threatening food security in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. Various reclamation technologies have been developed to address these challenges, but their effectiveness has not been comprehensively evaluated. This systematic review evaluated the performance of 42 sandy soil reclamation technologies reported in 144 studies from 27 countries that met specified selection criteria. Performance was evaluated based on response ratio (RR) of aboveground biomass and grain yield, as indicators of productivity, and soil moisture content and soil organic carbon (SOC), as indicators of soil health. The 42 technologies employed four main soil amendments: biochar, organic amendments, organic amendments combined with biochar, and soft rock. Overall, all technologies increased productivity and improved soil health. Biochar application was found to be the most effective technology, increasing grain yield by 51.6%, aboveground biomass by 67.4%, soil moisture content by 17.3%, and SOC by 74.2%. Soft rock application increased grain yield by 20.3%, aboveground biomass by 27.6%, soil moisture content by 54.5%, and SOC by 12.8%. Organic amendments increased grain yield by 48.7%, aboveground biomass by 45.6%, soil moisture content by 20.8%, and SOC by 36.7%. However, the combination of biochar and organic amendments showed lower improvements, with increases of 25.4%, 15.6%, 1.3%, and 25.4% for grain yield, aboveground biomass, soil moisture content, and SOC, respectively. Our conclusion is that the findings provide strong evidence that sandy soil reclamation technologies can significantly improve crop productivity and food security. Considering the variability in technologies responses across continents, there is need for further research to determine the optimal technology for specific locations, crops, and management practices. 2024-04-12 2025-03-20T12:55:11Z 2025-03-20T12:55:11Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173755 en Open Access application/pdf Frontiers Media Musei, S.K.; Kuyah, S.; Nyawira, S..; Ng Ang A, S.K.; Karugu, W.N.; Smucker, A.; Nkurunziza, L. (2024) Sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health: A review. Frontiers in Soil Science 4: 1345895. ISSN: 2673-8619
spellingShingle performance assessment
technology
sandy soils
soil quality
moisture content
soil water content
reclamation
Musei, Sylus Kipngeno
Kuyah, Shem
Nyawira, Sylvia
Ng Ang A, Stanley Karanja
Karugu, Winifred N.
Smucker, Alvin
Nkurunziza, Libere
Sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health: A review
title Sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health: A review
title_full Sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health: A review
title_fullStr Sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health: A review
title_full_unstemmed Sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health: A review
title_short Sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health: A review
title_sort sandy soil reclamation technologies to improve crop productivity and soil health a review
topic performance assessment
technology
sandy soils
soil quality
moisture content
soil water content
reclamation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173755
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