Fertilizer and soil health for sustained crop production in sub-Saharan Africa: theory and conceptual framework

Vanlauwe, B.; Amede, T.; Bindraban, P.; Cardinael, R.; Couedel, A.; Corbeels, M.; Dobermann, A.; Fatunbi, O.A.; Falconnier, G.; Giller, K.E.; Harawa, R.; Kamau, M.; Merckx, R.; Six, J.; Stewart, Z.; van Ittersum, M.; Zingore, S.

Fertilizer and soil health for sustained crop production in sub-Saharan Africa: theory and conceptual framework

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Descripción

Soil health is the capacity to support the production of food, feed, and fiber while delivering other essential ecosystem services. We suggest key soil health indicators and examine the three-way interactions between mineral fertilizer, crop productivity, and soil health. Given the long history of soil nutrient depletion in Sub-Saharan Africa, we conclude that mineral fertilizer use, as a core component of integrated soil fertility management, must increase and be co-applied with organic inputs to increase productivity and fertilizer use efficiency and restore and sustain soil health.