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Managing soil for improved yields
At 200 million years old, and in the absence of volcanic and glacial rejuvenation, most African soils have lost their natural fertility. PHOTO | SHUTTERSTOCK
For many years, inappropriate land use, poor management and lack of inputs have led to soil erosion, salinisation causing decline in productivity and further affecting food security in Africa. Scenes of drought and people dying of famine in the region are not only linked to weather patterns but also to soil fertility management.
A paper by Obed Lungu and Mustapha Naimi entitled African Soils: Their Productivity and Profitability of Fertilizer Use presented during the African Fertilizer Summit 9-13th June 2006, Abuja, Nigeria said that despite the important role that fertility in soil management plays, not much has changed.
