NDLI: Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Nziguheba, Generose Zingore, Shamie Kihara, Job Merckx, Roel Njoroge, Samuel Otinga, Abigael Vandamme, Elke Vanlauwe, Bernard
Copyright Year	2015
Abstract	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.
Starting Page	321
Ending Page	340
Page Count	20
File Format	PDF
ISSN	13851314
Journal	Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
Volume Number	104
Issue Number	3
e-ISSN	15730867
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Publisher Date	2015-09-24
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Agronomic P use efficiency Optimization P-efficient genotypes P sources Agriculture
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Agronomy and Crop Science Soil Science

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