Integrated Nutrient Management Systems for Sustainable Intensification in Sub Sahara Africa

Dear Colleagues,

Intensification of agricultural production systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will necessitate an increased and efficient use of mineral fertilizers, mostly containing the macronutrients N, P and K, to boost production. The current use efficiency of fertilizers, often below economical acceptability due to the presence of so-called poorly responsive soils, is often discouraging farmers to invest in fertilizers. Hence, the underlying reasons for this should be properly identified and effective solutions designed. Lack of organic matter in soils, lack of secondary or micronutrients and limited knowledge on effective fertilizer use preclude a successful introduction of fertilizers in SSA. In this Special Issue, space will be given to current research on (i) assessing missing nutrients at scale in SSA, (ii) implementation of integrated soil fertility management principles on farm, (iii) addressing spatial factors underlying variable responses to fertilizer use efficiency, (iv) unraveling the interactions between nutrient availability, germplasm properties relating to nutrient acquisition and water stress tolerance, and (v) translating all this information into practical and feasible interventions to raise production in a sustainable way.

Prof. Dr. Roel Merckx
Dr. Bernard Vanlauwe
Dr. Pieter Pypers
Guest Editors

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• Integrated Soil Fertility Management
• Fertilizer
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Fertilizer agronomic efficiency
• Nutrient availability
• Site-specific fertilizer recommendations