Status of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The soils of South western Nigeria are rapidly degrading due to nutrient mining, soil loss, inappropriate land use, low inherent soil fertility coupled with adverse effects of climate change. These have resulted to persistent low yields and farmers' poverty. The current farming systems have failed to improve continuous decline in crop production. There is need for integrated approach that involves mineral fertilizer, organic resources, and improved crop varieties with sound agronomic practices if the region will be able to feed its population of over 35 million people. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is an all-encompassing resource management technique that embraces the use of good planting materials, with appropriate organic and/or inorganic fertilizer application or their integrated use. It also entails adapting the various combinations of the ISFM components to local conditions which by implication means site specific management. There is lack of coordinated information about the components of ISFM being used in SWN and most stakeholders have not appreciated the importance of integrated approach. This paper is therefore put forward to review the status of Integrated Soil Fertility Management in South western Nigeria in order to identify knowledge gap for sustainable crop production in the region. Contribution/ Originality:This study contributes in existing literature on integrated soil fertility management for sustainable crop production in southwestern Nigeria. The study also harmonizes research findings about ISFM thereby making information available for researchers, policy makers, extension agents and other stakeholders about ISFM protocols. It aids in identifying knowledge gaps for intervention. INTRODUCTIONThere is lack of coordinated information about the status of ISFM in Southwestern Nigeria (SWN). Several studies have been carried out about components of ISFM but optimal and sustainable crop production have not been attained by farmers. The aim of this paper therefore is to review the level of ISFM integration into production systems, identify constraints and knowledge gap and make recommendation for sustainable increase in the quantity

The Trend in Fertilizer Consumption and Its Impact on Crop Outputs in Nigeria

“…To reverse the declining trends, intensification through fertilizers and other land augmenting technologies are essential. Currently, the country is experiencing soil fertility crises (Adekunle et al, 2017, Ande et al, 2017Yusuf and Olowoake, 2019). This condition primarily arose from increasing soil fragmentation induced by an increase in population whereby farmlands cultivation are intensified without planned replenishment of the depleted nutrients; diminishing fallowing system where the soil is not sufficiently allowed to regenerate naturally, increasing deforestation and land/soil pollution arising from various activities of human as well as mounting population densities and inefficient/low coverage irrigation system (Tan et al, 2010;Akpan et al, 2017, Olarinre andOmonona, 2018;Akpan and Monday, 2021).…”