Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification
Current efforts in combating food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) focus on agricultural intensification. Given the high soil nutrient depletions, replenishing soil fertility is a major component of such efforts. One of the key nutrients limiting crop production is phosphorus (P). Overcoming P...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
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Springer
2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/70146 |
| _version_ | 1855540237097238528 |
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| author | Nziguheba, Generose Zingore, Shamie Kihara, Job Maguta Merckx, Roel Njoroge, Samuel M. Vandamme, Elke Vanlauwe, Bernard |
| author_browse | Kihara, Job Maguta Merckx, Roel Njoroge, Samuel M. Nziguheba, Generose Vandamme, Elke Vanlauwe, Bernard Zingore, Shamie |
| author_facet | Nziguheba, Generose Zingore, Shamie Kihara, Job Maguta Merckx, Roel Njoroge, Samuel M. Vandamme, Elke Vanlauwe, Bernard |
| author_sort | Nziguheba, Generose |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Current efforts in combating food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) focus on agricultural intensification. Given the high soil nutrient depletions, replenishing soil fertility is a major component of such efforts. One of the key nutrients limiting crop production is phosphorus (P). Overcoming P deficiency in smallholder farming in SSA faces many challenges, mainly because the causes of P deficiencies vary, and viable options to replenish soil P have limitations. In some areas, P deficiency is associated with a low P reserve, while in others, it results from a high soil P-adsorption capacity. Numerous studies have focused on developing approaches and strategies with potential to replenish soil P or improve its availability to crops. This paper highlights approaches and strategies that have been studied, including the use of soluble P fertilizers, phosphate rocks and organic resources. The contribution of soluble P fertilizers is mainly limited by their high cost, while most phosphate rocks are not mined. Replenishing P through organic resources is constrained by their often low P content and inadequate availability in smallholder farms. Optimizing the P use efficiency appears as the most plausible target pending an increased accessibility of P sources to farmers. Practices towards this optimization include strategic crop sequences and P allocation to crops, use of P-efficient genotypes, and targeting the residual P. Research is needed towards gaps in understanding processes governing benefits associated with these practices. Since P replenishment is fertilizer dependent, greater attention is required in enhancing the accessibility of P fertilizers to smallholder farmers. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace70146 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | Springer |
| publisherStr | Springer |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace701462025-03-13T09:45:32Z Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification Nziguheba, Generose Zingore, Shamie Kihara, Job Maguta Merckx, Roel Njoroge, Samuel M. Vandamme, Elke Vanlauwe, Bernard optimization methods soil fertility phosphate fertilizers crop yield soybeans maize genotypes smallholders métodos de optimización fertilidad del suelo abonos fosfatados rendimiento de cultivos soja maíz genotipos phosphorus methods food insecurity Current efforts in combating food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) focus on agricultural intensification. Given the high soil nutrient depletions, replenishing soil fertility is a major component of such efforts. One of the key nutrients limiting crop production is phosphorus (P). Overcoming P deficiency in smallholder farming in SSA faces many challenges, mainly because the causes of P deficiencies vary, and viable options to replenish soil P have limitations. In some areas, P deficiency is associated with a low P reserve, while in others, it results from a high soil P-adsorption capacity. Numerous studies have focused on developing approaches and strategies with potential to replenish soil P or improve its availability to crops. This paper highlights approaches and strategies that have been studied, including the use of soluble P fertilizers, phosphate rocks and organic resources. The contribution of soluble P fertilizers is mainly limited by their high cost, while most phosphate rocks are not mined. Replenishing P through organic resources is constrained by their often low P content and inadequate availability in smallholder farms. Optimizing the P use efficiency appears as the most plausible target pending an increased accessibility of P sources to farmers. Practices towards this optimization include strategic crop sequences and P allocation to crops, use of P-efficient genotypes, and targeting the residual P. Research is needed towards gaps in understanding processes governing benefits associated with these practices. Since P replenishment is fertilizer dependent, greater attention is required in enhancing the accessibility of P fertilizers to smallholder farmers. 2016-04 2016-01-26T15:15:56Z 2016-01-26T15:15:56Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/70146 en Limited Access Springer Nziguheba, G., Zingore, S., Kihara, J. et al. Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 104, 321–340 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9729-y |
| spellingShingle | optimization methods soil fertility phosphate fertilizers crop yield soybeans maize genotypes smallholders métodos de optimización fertilidad del suelo abonos fosfatados rendimiento de cultivos soja maíz genotipos phosphorus methods food insecurity Nziguheba, Generose Zingore, Shamie Kihara, Job Maguta Merckx, Roel Njoroge, Samuel M. Vandamme, Elke Vanlauwe, Bernard Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification |
| title | Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification |
| title_full | Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification |
| title_fullStr | Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification |
| title_short | Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification |
| title_sort | phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub saharan africa implications for agricultural intensification |
| topic | optimization methods soil fertility phosphate fertilizers crop yield soybeans maize genotypes smallholders métodos de optimización fertilidad del suelo abonos fosfatados rendimiento de cultivos soja maíz genotipos phosphorus methods food insecurity |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/70146 |
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