Appropriate technologies to replenish soil fertility in southern Africa

Author.                                                                Authors and affiliations

• P. L. Mafongoya
  • 1
• A. Bationo
  • 2
• J. Kihara
  • 2
• B. S. Waswa
  • 2

1. 1.ICRAF, Zambia Senior Soil ScientistChipataZambia
2. 2.Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF-CIAT)NairobiKenya

Conference paper

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4020-5760-1_2

Cite this paper as: 

Mafongoya P.L., Bationo A., Kihara J., Waswa B.S. (2007) Appropriate technologies to replenish soil fertility in southern Africa. In: Bationo A., Waswa B., Kihara J., Kimetu J. (eds) Advances in Integrated Soil Fertility Management in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Springer, Dordrecht

Abstract

In southern Africa, soil nutrient reserves are being depleted because of continued nutrient mining without adequate replenishment. The consequent downward spiral of soil fertility has led to a corresponding decline in crop yields, food insecurity, food aid and environmental degradation. The central issue for improving agricultural productivity in southern Africa is how to build up and maintain soil fertility despite the low incomes of smallholder farmers and the increasing land and labour constraints they face. Under this review five main options namely: inorganic fertilizers, grain legumes, animal manures, integrated nutrient management and agroforestry options appropriate to smallholder farmers are presented. Issues addressed in the use of inorganic fertilizers are reduction in fertilizer costs, timely availability and use efficiency. Legumes can be used to diversify farm system productivity but this requires P and lime application to support better legume growth and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as well as development of markets for various legume products. Manure availability and quality are central issues in increasing smallholder farm productivity and increasing its efficiency through proper handling and application methods. Integrated nutrient management of soil fertility by combined application of both inputs will increase use efficiency of inputs and reduce costs and increase profitability; but the challenge is often how to raise adequate amounts of either inorganic or organic inputs. Issues such as quality of inputs, nutrient balancing, labour to collect and transport organic inputs and their management need to be optimized. These are the challenges of adoption as are the scaling up of these options to millions of small-scale farmers.

References

1. Impacts of Natural Resource Management Technologies on Small-scale Farmers: Case of Fertilizer Tree fallows in Zambia (Book chapter in a book compendium of case studies of the impacts of natural resource management research to be published by the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA) of the CGIAR Science Council)
2. Ahmed MM, Rohrbach DD, Gono LT, Mazhangara EP, Mugwira L, Masendeke DD, Alibaba S (1997) Soil fertility management in communal areas of Zimbabwe: current practices, constraints and opportunities for change. ICRISAT Southern and Eastern Africa regional working paper 6, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi- Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
3. Amijee F, Giller KE (1998) Environmental constraints to nodulation and nitrogen fixation of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in Tanzania: a survey of soil fertility and root nodulation. Afr J Crop Sci (in press)
4. Blackie MJ, Jones RB (1993) Agronomy and increased maize productivity in southern Africa. Biol Agricul Horticul 9:147–160Google Scholar
5. Bwalya M (2005) Farmer innovations in mitigating water and nutrient deficiencies in rain fed agriculture: lessons from African Conservation Tillage joint pilot activities in Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa.67– 81. In Omanya GO and Pasternak D (eds) 2005. Sustainable Agriculture Systems for the Drylands. Proceedings of the International Symposium for Sustainable Dryland Agriculture Systems, 2–5 December 2003, Niamey, Niger, 336pp
6. Carter SE, Murwira HK (1995) Spatial variability in soil fertility management and crop response in Mutoko communal area, Zimbabwe. AMBIO 24:77–84Google Scholar
7. Chikowo R, Mapfumo P, Nyamugafata P, Giller KE (2004) Woody legume fallow productivity, biological N2-fixation and residual benefits to two successive maize crops in Zimbabwe. Plant Soil 262:303–315CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Conroy AC, Kumwenda JDT (1995) Risks associated with the adoption of hybrid seed and fertilizer by smallholder farmers in Malawi. In: Jewell DC, Waddington SR, Ransom JK, Pixley KV (eds) Maize research for stress environments: Proceedings of the 4th eastern and southern Africa regional maize conference, Harare, Zimbabwe, 28 March–1 April 1994. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Harare FAO (2003) Arable and permanent cropland, tractor usage, irrigated land, fertilizer use and pesticide use, FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), FAOSTAT on-line statistical service
9. Franzel S, Denning GL, Lilleso JPB, Mercado Jr AR (2004) Scaling up the impact of agroforestry: lessons from three sites in Africa and Asia. Agroforestry Syst 61:329–344CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Giller KE, McDonagh JF, Cadisch G (1994) Can biological nitrogen fixation sustain agriculture in the tropics? In: Syers JK, Rimmar DL (eds), Soil science and sustainable land management in the tropics. CAB Int., Wallingford, England, pp 173–191
11. Goma HC (2003) Potential for changing traditional soil fertility management sytems in the wet miombo woodlands of Zambia: the chitemene and fundikila systems: In: Gichuru MP, Bationo A, Bekunda MA, Goma HC, Mafongoya PL, Mugendi DN, Murwira HK, Nandwa SM, Nyathi P, Swift MJ (eds). 2003. Soil fertility management in Africa: a regional perspective, pp 187–218
12. Grant PM (1981) The fertility of sandy soil in peasant agriculture. Zimbabwe Agricul J 78:169–175Google Scholar
13. Guar AC, Neelakanan S, Dargan KS (1984) Organic manure. Indian Council of Agriculture Research, New Delhi, IndiaGoogle Scholar
14. Haggar JP, Tanner EU, Beer JW, Kass DCL (1993) Nitrogen dynamics of tropical agroforestry and annual cropping systems. Soil Biol Biochem25:1363–1378CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. Haque I (1993) Nutrient management and feed improvement in crop livestock systems of Saharan Africa: present status and future outlook. ILCA Environmental Sciences Division Working Document No. 28. ILCA (International Livestock Centre for Africa), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
16. Heisey PW, Mwangi W (1996) Fertilizer use and maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. Economics Working Paper 96–01. pp 34. Mexico, D.F.: CIMMYT
17. Henao J, Baanante CA (1999) Estimating rates of nutrient depletion in soils of agricultural lands of Africa. Int Fertilizer Developing Centre, Muscle Shoals, ALGoogle Scholar
18. Hikwa D, Mukurumbira L (1995) Highlights of previous, current, and proposed soil fertility research by the Department of Research and Specialist Services (DRSS) In Zimbabwe. In: Waddington SR (eds) Report on the First Meeting of the Network Workings Group. Soil Fertility Research Network for Maize- Based Farming Systems in Selected Countries of Southern Africa. Rockefeller Foundation Southern Africa Agricultural Sciences Program and the Inter- national Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre Maize Program, Lilongwe and Harare, pp 1–2
19. ICRAF (1997) Annual Report 1996. International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, Nairobi, Kenya ICRISAT (2006) Spreading the Word on Fertilizer in Zimbabwe. Global Theme on Agroecosystems. Report No.24
20. Jama BA, Swinkels RA, Buresh RJ (1997) Agronomic and economic evaluation of organic and inorganic sources of phosphorus in western Kenya. Agronomy J 89: 597–604CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21. Jones RB, Wendt JW (1995) Contribution of soil fertility research to improved maize production by smallholders in eastern and southern Africa. In Jewell DC, Waddington SR, Ransom JK, Pixley KV (eds), Maize Research for Stress Environments. Proceedings of the Fourth Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Maize Conference. CIMMYT, Mexico D.F., pp 2–14Google Scholar
22. Kabambe VH (1996) Crop Competition, Suppression of Striga asiatica (L.) Kunze infestation at different nitrogen levels: preliminary results. In Waddington SR (eds) Soil fertility network for Maize-based farming systems in selected countries in southern Africa: Research results and network outputs in 1994 and 1995. CIMMYT, Mexico D.F., pp 100–107Google Scholar
23. Kazombo-Phiri SFM (2005) Main causes of declining soil productivity in Malawi: Effects on agriculture and management technologies employed to alleviate the problems. 59–66: In: Omanya GO and Pasternak D (eds) 2005. Sustainable Agriculture Systems for the Drylands. Proceedings of the International Symposium for Sustainable Dryland Agriculture Systems, 2– 5 December 2003, Niamey, Niger 336 pp
24. Kumar-Rao JVDK, Dart PJ, Sastry PVSS (1983) Residual effect of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) on yield and nitrogen response of maize. Exp Agric 19:131–141CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25. Kumwenda JDT, Waddington S, Snapp SS, Jones JB, Blackie MJ (1997) Soil fertility management in the smallholder maize based cropping systems of eastern and southern Africa. In Eisher C (eds) The Emerging Maize Revolution. Michigan State University E. Lansing, MI, USA, pp 153–172Google Scholar
26. Kumwenda JDT, Waddington SR, Snapp SS, Jones RB, Blackie MJ (1995) Soil fertility management research for the smallholder maize-based cropping systems of southern Africa: A review. Soil Fertility Network for Maize-Based Cropping Systems in Countries of Southern Africa, Network Research Working Paper Number 1, pp 34. Harare, Zimbabwe: CIMMYT
27. Kumwenda JDT (1996) Interplanting Legume Manure Crops in Maize in Malawi: Preliminary Results. In Waddington SR (ed). Soil fertility network for Maize-based farming systems in selected countries in southern Africa: Research results and network outputs in 1994 and 1995. CIMMYT, Mexico D.F., pp 35–40
28. Kuntashula E, Mafongoya PL, Sileshi G, Lungu S (2004) Potential of biomass transfer technologies in sustaining vegetable production in the wetlands (dambos) of eastern Zambia. Exp Agricul 40:37–51CrossRefGoogle Scholar
29. Kwesiga F, Coe R (1994) The effect of short rotation Sesbania sesban planted fallows on maize yield. For Ecol Manage 64:199–208CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30. Kwesiga F, Franzel S, Place F, Phiri D, Simwanza CP (1998) Sesbania sesban improved fallows in eastern Zambia: the inception, development and farmer enthusiasm. In Buresh RJ, Cooper PJ (eds) The science and practice of short-term improved fallows. Kluwer Academic Publication, Dordrecht, the NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
31. Kwesiga FR, Franzel S, Place F, Phiri D, Simwanza CP (1999) Sesbania sesban improved fallows in eastern Zambia: their inception, development and farmer enthusiasm. Agroforestry Syst 47:49–66CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32. Ledgard SJ, Giller KE (1995) Atmospheric N2- fixation as an alternative nitrogen source. In Bacon P (eds) Nitrogen fertilization and the environment. Mercel Dekker, New York, pp 443–486Google Scholar
33. MacColl D (1989) Studies on maize (Zea mays L.) at Bunda, Malawi. II. Yield in short rotation with legumes. Experimental Agriculture 25: 367–374Google Scholar
34. Mafongoya PL, Nair PKR (1997) Multipurpose tree prunings as a source of nitrogen to maize under semiarid conditions in Zimbabwe. Nitrogen recovery rates in relation to pruning quality and method of application. Agroforestry Syst 35:47CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35. Mafongoya PL, Barak P, Reed JD (2000) Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization from multipurpose tree leaves and manure from goats fed these leaves. Biol Fertility Soils 30:298–305CrossRefGoogle Scholar
36. Mafongoya PL, Giller KE, Palm CA (1998) Decomposition and nitrogen release patterns of tree prunings and litter. Agroforestry Syst 38:77–97CrossRefGoogle Scholar
37. Mapfumo P, Campbell BM, Mpepereki S, Mafongoya PL (2000) Legumes in soil fertility management. Opportunities for pigeonpea in smallholder farming systems of Zimbabwe. African Crop Science Journal 36:423– 424Google Scholar
38. Mekonnen K, Buresh RJ, Jama B (1997) Root and inorganic distribution of Sesbania fallows, natural fallow and maize. Plant Soil 188:319–327CrossRefGoogle Scholar
39. Metelerkamp HRR (1987) Review of crop research relevant to the semiarid areas of Zimbabwe. In Cropping in the semiarid areas of Zimbabwe. Proceedings of a workshop held in Harare, 24–28 August 1987, pp 190–315
40. Mpepereki S, Pompi I (2002) Promoting new BNF technologies among smallholder farmers: a success story from Zimbabwe. In: Waddington SR (ed) 2003. Grain legume and green manures for soil fertility in Southern Africa: taking stock of progress. Proceedings of a conference held 8–11 October 2002 at the Leopard Rock Hotel, Vumba, Zimbabwe. Soil Fert Net and CIMMYT-Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, 246pp
41. Mpepereki SF, Makonese F, Giller KE (1996) Soybeans in smallholder farming systems in Zimbabwe. CIMMYT, Harare, ZimbabweGoogle Scholar
42. Mugwira L, Mukurumbira L (1985) Nutrient supplying power of different groups of manure from communal areas and their effect on plant growth and maize grain yields. Zimbabwe Agricultural J 83:25–2Google Scholar
43. Mugwira LM (1985) Effects of supplementing communal area manure with lime and fertilizer on plant growth and nutrient uptake. Zimbabwe Agricultural J 82:153– 159Google Scholar
44. Mukurumbira LM (1985) Effects of rate of fertilizer nitrogen and previous grain legume crop on maize yields. Zimbabwe Agric J 82:177–179Google Scholar
45. Munguri MW, Mariga IK, Chivinge OA (1995) The potential of optimizing cattle manure use with maize in Chinyika Resettlement Area, Zimbabwe. In Waddington SR (eds) Soil Fertility Network for Maizebased Farming Systems in Selected Countries of Southern Africa Research Results and Network Outputs in 1994 and 1995. CIMMYT, Harare, Zimbabwe, pp 46–51Google Scholar
46. Mureithi JG, Taylor RS, Thorpe W (1994) The effects of alley cropping with Leucaena leucocephala and of different management practices on the productivity of maize and soil chemical properties in lowland coastal Kenya. Agroforestry Systems 27:31–51CrossRefGoogle Scholar
47. Murwira HK (2003) Managing Africa’s Soils: Approaches and Challenges. In: Gichuru MP, Bationo A, Bekunda MA, Goma HC, Mafongoya PL, Mugendi DN, Murwira HK, Nandwa SM, Nyathi P, Swift MJ (eds) Soil fertility management in Africa: A regional perspective, pp 293–306
48. Murwira HK, Kirchmann H (1993) Nitrogen dynamics and maize growth in a Zimbabwean sandy soil under manure fertilization. Communications Soil Sci Plant Ana 24:2343–2359Google Scholar
49. Murwira HK, Mutiro K, Chivenge PP (2004) Decisio’ n guides on manure use: a communication strategy. In: Williams TO, Tarawali SA, Hiernaux P, Fernandez- Rivera S (eds) Sustainable crop-livestock production for improved livelihoods and natural resource management in West Africa. Proceeding of an International Conference held at the International Institute of Tropical Africulture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, 19–22 November 2001. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya and CTA, Wageningen, The Nethrlands. 528+12pp
50. Murwira HK, Mutuo P, Nhamo N, Marandu EA, Rabeson R, Mwale M, Palm CA (2002) Fertilizer equivalency values of organic materials of differing quality. In: Vanlauwe B, Diels J, Sanginga N, Merckx R (eds). Integrated plant nutrient management in sub-Saharan Africa: from concept to practice. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, pp 352Google Scholar
51. Murwira HK, Swift MJ, Frost PGH (1995) Manure as a key resource in sustainable agriculture. In: Powell LM, Fernandez-Rivera S, Williams OT, Renard C (eds) Livestock and sustainable nutrient cycling in mixed farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. Volume II. Technical papers. Proceeding of an International Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 22– 26 Nov. 1993. International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, pp 131–148
52. Nandwa SM (2003) Perspectives on soil fertility in Africa. In: Gicheru MP, Bationo A, Bekunda MA, Goma HC, Mafongoya PL, Mugendi DN, Murwira HM, Nandwa SM, Nyathi P, Swift MJ (eds) Soil fertility management in Africa: a regional perspective. Academic Science Publishers (ASP) and Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility of CIAT, NairobiGoogle Scholar
53. Natarajan M, Mafongoya PL (1992) A study on intercropping of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L Millsp.) with maize, sunflower and groundnut in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe J Agric Res 30:163–171Google Scholar
54. Palm CA, Myers RJK, Nandwa SM (1997) Combined use of inorganic and organic nutrient sources for soil fertility maintenance and replenishment. In: Buresh RJ, Sanchez PA, Calhoun F (eds) Replenishing soil fertility in Africa. SSSA Special Publication No. 51. Soil Science Society America, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp 193–217Google Scholar
55. Piha MI (1993) Optimizing fertilizer use and practical rainfall capture in a semi-arid environment with variable rainfall. Experimental Agriculture 29:405– 415Google Scholar
56. Phombeya HSK, Saka AR, Jones RB (1996) Screening Multi-purpose Tree Species for Hedgerow Intercropping on the Mid-altitude Plateau of Central Malawi. In: Waddington SR (ed) Soil fertility network for Maize-based farming systems in selected countries in southern Africa: Research results and network outputs in 1994 and 1995, CIMMYT, pp 41–44
57. Powell JM, Williams TO (1995) An overview of mixed farming systems in sub Saharan Africa. In Powell LM, Fernandez-Rivera S, Williams OT, Renard C (eds) Livestock and sustainable nutrient cycling in mixed farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. Vol 11. Technical papers. Proceeding of an International Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 22–26 Nov. 1993. International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, pp 21–36
58. Probert ME, Okalebo JR, Jones RK (1995) The use of manure on smallholders’ farm in semi-arid eastern Kenya. Experimental Agriculture 31:371–381Google Scholar
59. Ransom JK, Ojiem J, Kanampiu FK (1995) Nutrient flux between maize and livestock in a maize-coffeelivestock system in Central Kenya. In Powell LM, Fernandez-Rivera S, Williams OT, Renard C (eds) Livestock and sustainable nutrient cycling in mixed farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. Volume II. Technical papers. Proceeding of an International Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 22–26 Nov. 1993. International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, pp 411–419
60. Rowe ED, Giller KE (2003) Legumes for soil fertility in southern Africa: Needs, potential and realities. In Waddington SR (eds) 2003. Grain Legumes and Green Manures for Soil Fertility in the southern Africa: Taking Stock of Progress. Proceedings of a Conference held 8–11 October 2002 at the Leopard Rock Hotel, Vumba, Zimbabwe. SoilFert Net and CIMMYT-Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. 246 pp
61. Rusike J, Lo Monaco G, Heinrich GM (2003) Linking technology development and dissemination with market competitiveness: pigeon pea in the semi-arid areas of Malawi and Tanzania. In: Wadddington SR (ed) Grain legumes and green manures for soil fertility in Southern Africa: taking stock of progress. Harare, CIMMYT, pp 227–235
62. Sakala WD (1996) Research-extension linkage through maize fertilizer timing demonstrations in Malawi: In Waddington SR (eds) Soil fertility network for Maizebased farming systems in selected countries in southern Africa: Research results and network outputs in 1994 and 1995. CIMMYT, Mexico D.F., pp 131–134
63. Sanchez PA, Shepherd JD, Soule MJ, Place FM, Buresh RJ, Izac AMN, Mokwunye AU, Kwesiga FR, Ndiritu CG, Woomer PL (1997) Soils fertility replenishment in Africa: An investment in natural resource capital. In Buresh RJ, Sanchez PA, Calhoun F (eds), Replenishing Soil Fertility in Africa, Soil Science Society of America Special Publication 51. SSSA and ASA, Madison, WI, USA, pp 1–46
64. Scoones I, Toulmin C (1985) Socio-economic dimensions in nutrient cycling in agropastoral systems in dryland Africa. In Powell JM, Fernandez-Rivera S, Williams TO, Renard C (eds) Livestock and sustainable nutrient cycling in mixed farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. Vol. 2: technical papers. Proc. of an International Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 22– 26 Nov. 1993. ILCA (International Livestock Centre for Africa). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 568 pp
65. Shumba EM (1983) Factors contributing to a decline in groundnut production in the Mangwende-Murewa District, and the need for a technical research input. Zimbabwe Agricultural Journal 80:251–254Google Scholar
66. Shumba EM, Dhliwayo HA, Mukok OZ (1990) The potential of maize-cowpea intercropping in low rainfall areas of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe J Agricul Res 29:81–85Google Scholar
67. Stoorvogel JJ, Smaling EMA, Janssen BH (1993) Calculating soil nutrient balances in Africa at different scales. I. supra-national scale. Fert Res 35:227–235CrossRefGoogle Scholar
68. Swift MJ, Seward PD, Frost PGH, Qureshi JN, Muchena FN (1994) Long term experiments in Africa: developing a database for sustainable land use under global change. In Leigh RA, Johnson AE (eds), Long term Experiments in Agricultural and Ecological Sciences, pp 229–251
69. Tanner PD, Mugwira L (1984) Effectiveness of communal area manures as sources of nutrients for young maize. Zimbabwe Agric J 81:31–35Google Scholar
70. Toomsan B, McDonagh JF, Limpinuntana V, Giller KE (1995) Nitrogen fixation by groundnut and soyabean and residual nitrogen benefits to rice in farmers’ fields in Northeast Thailand. Plant Soil 175:45–56CrossRefGoogle Scholar
71. Van Noordwijk M (1989) Rooting depth in cropping systems in the humid tropics in relation to nutrient use efficiency. In Van der Heide J (eds), Nutrient Management for Food Crop Production in Tropical Farming Systems. Institute of Soil Fertility, Haren, The Netherlands, pp 129–169
72. Waddington SR, Heisey PW (1996) Meeting the nitrogen requirements of maize grown by resource poor farmers in southern Africa by integrating varieties, fertilizer use, crop management and policies. An invited paper presented at the Symposium on Developing Drought- and Low N- Tolerant Maize, CIMMYT, El Batan, Texcoco, Mexico, 24–29 March 1996

For further details log on website :
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4020-5760-1_2