Local fertilizers to achieve food self-sufficiency in Africa

Ciceri, Davide; Allanore, Antoine

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.154

Cited by 60 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 83 publications

(146 reference statements)

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“…We observed high SNF inputs in Botswana, Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa, and Zambia, ranging from 63 kg N ha −1 yr −1 in Zambia to 241 kg N ha −1 yr −1 in Egypt (figure 2). Farmers are typically wealthier in these countries, and N fertilizers are generally more affordable due to government subsidies (Ciceri and Allanore 2019). High N application in these countries are predominantly due to increasing cropland area, low soil fertility, and the high N demand of cereals (Masso et al 2017, Elrys et al 2019a.…”

Section: Spatial Trends Of the N Budget And Nue In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Global food demand has significantly increased over the past 50 years due to rapid population growth and dietary shifts towards meat and dairy consumption (Lassaletta et al 2016). Africa has the highest proportion of malnourished people (18% of the population) in the world (Ciceri and Allanore 2019). Low agriculture production in Africa is a result of poverty, pervasive conflicts, poor government performance, unstable climate, land degradation, and poor soil fertility (Sasson 2012, FAO 2017b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Africa imports approximately 40% of its food, despite its large cropland area and its high proportion of younger workers (FAOSTAT 2018, Ciceri andAllanore 2019). Low domestic food production in Africa is a result of lower fertilizer application (Li et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial trends in the nitrogen budget of the African agro-food system over the past five decades

Elrys

Abdel-Fattah

Raza

et al. 2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Low nitrogen (N) fertilization is a dominant cause of malnutrition in Africa, but the spatial and temporal variability of N cycling patterns in Africa remain unclear. This study is the first to perform a detailed analysis of the N cycling patterns of 52 African countries from 1961 to 2016. We calculated the N use efficiency (NUE) in crop production, country-specific N fertilization trends, and the impacts of N fertilization on human protein demand and the environment. Over the past five decades, total N input to African croplands increased from 20 to 35 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , while the application of synthetic N fertilizers (SNF) increased from 4.0 to 15 kg N ha −1 yr −1 . N contributions from animal manure and biological N fixation remained lower than 10 kg N ha −1 yr −1 and 20 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , respectively. The total N crop production increased from 15 to 22 kg N ha −1 yr −1 from 1961 to 2016. Total N surplus in Africa increased from 5 to 13 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , while estimated gaseous losses increased from 4.0 to 11 kg N ha −1 yr −1 . However, NUE declined from 74% to 63% during the past five decades, and protein consumption increased from 2.99 to 3.78 kg N capita −1 yr −1 . These results suggest that Africa suffers from extremely low N input and that N loss is increasing in agricultural land. We recommend the implementation of an effective N management strategy incorporating the use of locally available organic material along with the balanced application of SNF. Such measures will require effective policy development and cooperation between all stakeholders. Acronyms and abbreviationsOPEN ACCESS RECEIVED

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Section: Spatial Trends Of the N Budget And Nue In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial trends in the nitrogen budget of the African agro-food system over the past five decades

Elrys

Abdel-Fattah

Raza

et al. 2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

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“…Some silicate minerals contain high concentration of nutrients, which are required by plants for growth. These minerals have been used as agricultural fertilizers, releasing its nutrients slowly (Ciceri and Allanore, 2019;Manning et al, 2017;Zorb et al, 2014). In the recent years, many studies where mining by-products were applied to soils have emerged, turning mining waste in products as a soil fertilizer or remineralizer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Successive off take of elements by maize grown in pure basalt powder

Krahl¹,

Paz²,

AngÃ©lica³

et al. 2020

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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Basalt powder wastes from mining activities have potential to be used as a natural fertilizer. Basalt minerals in agricultural soils may release plant nutrients and increase soil negative charge. In this work, the weathering of basalt promoted by maize rhizosphere was investigated. We studied the chemical and mineralogical composition of basalt, including cation exchange capacity, as well as the rate of elements offtake by maize grown in a pure basalt powder during seven successive growth cycles. A pot experiment was carried out under controlled environmental conditions; plant and rock materials were evaluated at the end of successive growth cycles. X-ray powder diffraction analysis showed diopside and andesine as main minerals of basalt, and smectite. Scanning electron microscopy images evidenced new amorphous components resulting from rhizosphere-induced weathering. The elements K, Ca, Mg, Al, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were measured in plant tissue, and related to the weathering of basalt minerals. The studied basalt, therefore, provides nutrients to plants and exhibits physicochemical properties, such as cation exchange capacity, especially important for highly weathered soils presenting low cation exchange capacity, such as Oxisols.

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“…Food availability relies on soils: nutritious and good quality food and animal fodder can only be produced if our soils are healthy. Healthy soil is therefore a crucial ally to food security and nutrition [3] [4] [5]. The most widely recognized function of soil is its support for food production.…”

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confidence: 99%

Forest Soil Quality and Potentials for Food Systems Health in the Takamanda National Park in South Western Cameroon

Ngaiwi¹,

Molua²,

Egbe³

2019

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Soil is a basic natural resource for food production, the vast majority of food we consume is either directly or indirectly derived from soil. Soil quality determines the quantity and quality of foods grown. Protecting the soil's physical, chemical and biological integrity is therefore of vital importance in safeguarding global food security. This paper evaluates the physical and chemical properties of soils in the rainforest of the Takamanda in Southwestern Cameroon and their implications on agricultural productivity and food security. Soils were randomly sampled using a bucket soil auger at the left, middle and right flank of the 50 ha Takamanda forest dynamic plot. Soils were sampled from three flanks at depths of 0 -10 cm, 10 -20 cm and 20 -30 cm. Bulk density increased with soil depth in all the flanks. Soil nitrogen, organic carbon, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus and cation exchange capacity were greater in topsoil (0 -10 cm) than subsoils. Soil Ca and pH were slightly greater at 20 -30 cm soil depths with value of 0.45 cmol (+)/kg and 4.24 respectively. Soil C/N ratio was highest (13.12) in 10 -20 cm soil depth though it was not significantly different from the other soil depths. To promote food production, an integrated cost-effective approach to soil management should comprise the use of acid-tolerant species of crop plants, efficient use of fertilizers, suitable crop rotations, crop diversification and agroforestry.

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Local fertilizers to achieve food self-sufficiency in Africa

Cited by 60 publications

References 83 publications

Spatial trends in the nitrogen budget of the African agro-food system over the past five decades

Spatial trends in the nitrogen budget of the African agro-food system over the past five decades

Successive off take of elements by maize grown in pure basalt powder

Forest Soil Quality and Potentials for Food Systems Health in the Takamanda National Park in South Western Cameroon

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