Soil Quality and Soil Productivity in Africa

Eswaran, H.; Almaraz, Russell; Reich, Paul F.; Zdruli, Pandi

doi:10.1300/j064v10n04_07

Cited by 21 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…As a result, it is estimated that the annual depletion rates in soil fertility across 38 countries in sub‐Saharan Africa are 22 kg N, 3 kg P and 15 kg K per hectare on average (Stoorvogel et al, 1993 ). Overall, it is estimated that only 29% of soils across the continent of Africa have medium‐high suitability for agriculture, but in reality, land availability is even less due to a rapidly expanding population and competition with other land uses (Eswaran et al, 1997 ).…”

Section: Trajectory Of Soil Impedance As a Primary Constraint To Root...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Future roots for future soils

Lynch

Mooney

Strock

et al. 2021

Plant Cell & Environment

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Mechanical impedance constrains root growth in most soils. Crop cultivation changed the impedance characteristics of native soils, through topsoil erosion, loss of organic matter, disruption of soil structure and loss of biopores. Increasing adoption of Conservation Agriculture in high-input agroecosystems is returning cultivated soils to the soil impedance characteristics of native soils, but in the low-input agroecosystems characteristic of developing nations, ongoing soil degradation is generating more challenging environments for root growth. We propose that root phenotypes have evolved to adapt to the altered impedance characteristics of cultivated soil during crop domestication. The diverging trajectories of soils under Conservation Agriculture and low-input agroecosystems have implications for strategies to develop crops to meet global needs under climate change. We present several root ideotypes as breeding targets under the impedance regimes of both high-input and low-input agroecosystems, as well as a set of root phenotypes that should be useful in both scenarios. We argue that a 'whole plant in whole soil' perspective will be useful in guiding the development of future crops for future soils.

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Section: Trajectory Of Soil Impedance As a Primary Constraint To Root...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Future roots for future soils

Lynch

Mooney

Strock

et al. 2021

Plant Cell & Environment

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“…For instance, in African countries, the yield reduction due to previous soil erosion may range from 2 to 40%, with an average loss of 8.2% for the continent (Darkoh, 1995;Eswaran et al, 1997b). Likewise, in South Asia, annual loss in productivity is estimated at 36 million tons of cereal equivalent valued at US$5,400 million by water erosion, and US$1,800 million due to wind erosion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Degradation: A Challenge to Sustainable Agriculture

Alam¹

2014

IJSRAS

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Abstract. Agricultural practices have a substantial impact on many ecosystems worldwide, and give rise to variety of ecological problems. Soil degradation is one the key areas in which agriculture impacts upon ecology. Soil erosion is a result of poor farming practices which cause removal of vegetation cover from soils, the use of large fields without boundaries to slow water movement and inappropriate ploughing techniques all stimulate soil erosion. Salinity of soil is another important factor which limits the use of this natural resource. In present review the causes, the cost of soil erosion and certain soil conservation practices have been discussed.

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“…Increases in agricultural output will have to come primarily from increased productivity from existing agricultural land. In the developing world, achievement has not been good: Eswaran et al (1997) commented that four decades of research and development work in Africa have not resulted in the required 3-5% annual increase in agricultural growth. They also stated that the traditional low-input agricultural systems which are so extensive in Africa are causing substantial soil degradation with 55% of the continent unsuitable for any kind of agriculture other than nomadic grazing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%