September 2015

Land degradation and the sustainability of agricultural production in Nigeria: A review

Human-induced soil degradation that results from erosion, losses of organic matter, plant nutrients and soil compaction are the key factors threatening food security in Nigeria. Food import statistics show that Nigeria is food deficit and starvation stalks the country. The paper examined in some details some factors of soil degradation, their effects on crop yield decline and its impact on the people and the...

Author(s): A. S. Ajayi

September 2015

Applicability of conservation agriculture for climate change adaptation in Rwanda’s situation

Improving food security and environmental conservation should be the main targets of innovative farming systems. Conservation agriculture (CA), based on minimum tillage, crop residue retention and crop rotations has been proposed against poor agricultural productivity and soil degradation. This paper discusses the applicability and potential benefits of CA in Rwanda under the unfolding climate change scenario....

Author(s): M. Kabirigi, B. Musana, F. Ngetich, J. Mugwe, A. Mukuralinda and N. L. Nabahungu

September 2015

Liming and fertiliser P interaction effects on some indices of fertility of selected Malawi acidic soils

Laboratory investigations were conducted to determine effects of liming materials and inorganic phosphatic fertilisers on some indices of soil fertility. Results showed that soil bulk density decreased with increasing additions of liming materials and that interaction effects of dolomitic limestone and mineral fertiliser P increased soil pH from 4.4 for the unlimed top-soils to 6.3 after 3 t ha‒1 of dolomitic...

Author(s): M. J. Benjala, J. H. A Maida, M. W. Lowole and V. H. Kabambe

September 2015

Elucidating the causes of low phosphorus levels in ferralsols of Siaya County, Western Kenya

Low available soil phosphorus (P) is one of the factors limiting crop production in western Kenya. Availability of soil P depends on amount of apatite, addition of P fertilizers, P fixing potential of a soil, soil water content and P removal by crops. Ferralsols are one of the major soil groups in Siaya County in western Kenya with low available P. We evaluated the possible causes of low available P in Ferralsols in the...

Author(s): C. O. Owino, P. O. Owuor and D. O. Sigunga