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

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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 develo** 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi, Kenya

    Generose Nziguheba & Bernard Vanlauwe

  2. International Plant Nutrition Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

    Shamie Zingore & Samuel Njoroge

  3. International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi, Kenya

    Job Kihara

  4. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Louvain, Belgium

    Roel Merckx

  5. University of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya

    Abigael Otinga

  6. Africa Rice Center, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Elke Vandamme

Authors
  1. Generose Nziguheba
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  2. Shamie Zingore
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  3. Job Kihara
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  4. Roel Merckx
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  5. Samuel Njoroge
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  6. Abigael Otinga
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  7. Elke Vandamme
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  8. Bernard Vanlauwe
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Correspondence to Generose Nziguheba.

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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

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