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

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dc.creatorNziguheba, Generose
dc.creatorZingore, Shamie
dc.creatorKihara, Job Maguta
dc.creatorMerckx, Roel
dc.creatorNjoroge, Samuel M.
dc.creatorVandamme, Elke
dc.creatorVanlauwe, Bernard
dc.date2016-04
dc.date2016-01-26T15:15:56Z
dc.date2016-01-26T15:15:56Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T16:07:32Z
dc.descriptionCurrent 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.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/70146
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/123233
dc.languageen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rightsLimited Access
dc.sourceNziguheba, 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
dc.subjectoptimization methods
dc.subjectsoil fertility
dc.subjectphosphate fertilizers
dc.subjectcrop yield
dc.subjectsoybeans
dc.subjectmaize
dc.subjectgenotypes
dc.subjectsmallholders
dc.subjectmétodos de optimización
dc.subjectfertilidad del suelo
dc.subjectabonos fosfatados
dc.subjectrendimiento de cultivos
dc.subjectsoja
dc.subjectmaíz
dc.subjectgenotipos
dc.subjectphosphorus methods
dc.subjectfood insecurity
dc.titlePhosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification
dc.typeJournal Article

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Instituto Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (IITA)