In southern Africa, soil nutrient reserves are being depleted because of continued nutrient mining without adequate replenishment. The consequent downward spiral of soil fertility has led to a corresponding decline in crop yields, food insecurity, food aid and environmental degradation. The centr...
Mafongoya, P.L.
,
Bationo, B. André
,
Kihara, Job
,
Waswa, Boaz S.
,
[Appropriate technologies to replenish soil fertility in Southern Africa]
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Appropriate technologies to replenish soil fertility in Southern Africa
Aggregation and stabilization of soil organic C (SOC) and N are highly dependent on soil texture and addition of organic resources (ORs). While OR quality may influence SOC and N stabilization within aggregates, the simultaneous addition of N-fertilizers may enhance OR decomposition resulting in ...
Chivenge, P.P.
,
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Gentile, R
,
Six, Johan
,
[Comparison of organic versus mineral resource effects on short-term aggregate carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a sandy soil versus a fine textured soil]
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Comparison of organic versus mineral resource effects on short-term aggregate carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a sandy soil versus a fine textured soil
Adding biochar to soils and maintaining high earthworm biomasses are potential ways to increase the fertility of tropical soils and the sustainability of crop production in the spirit of agroecology and ecological engineering. However, a thorough functional assessment of biochar effect on plant g...
Noguera, D
,
Rondón, Marco Antonio
,
Laossi, KR
,
Hoyos Villegas, V.
,
Lavelle, Patrick M.
,
Carvalho, M.H.C. de
,
Barot, S
,
[Contrasted effect of biochar and earthworms on rice growth and resource allocation in different soils]
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Contrasted effect of biochar and earthworms on rice growth and resource allocation in different soils
The effect of soil fertility management practices on nematode destroying fungi was investigated for three seasons in Taita, Kenya. The study aimed at identifying soil fertility practice that promoted nematode destroying fungi in the soil. Field experiments were established in Taita district, the ...
Wachira, Peter M
,
Okoth, S.
,
Kimenju, J.W.
,
Mibey, RK
,
Kiarie, J
,
[Effect of soil fertility management practices on nematode destroying fungi in Taita, Kenya]
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Effect of soil fertility management practices on nematode destroying fungi in Taita, Kenya
Planted tree or shrub fallows can help increase the fertility of degraded tropical soils. We investigated the effects of planted fallows of Indigofera (IND), Calliandra (CAL), and Tithonia (TTH); a natural, unmanaged fallow (NAT); and a maize/bean rotation (ROT) on the dynamics and partitioning o...
Phiri, S
,
Barrios, E.
,
Rao, Idupulapati M.
,
Singh, B.R.
,
[Changes in soil organic matter and phosphorus fractions under planted fallows and a crop rotation system on a Colombian volcanic-ash soil]
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Changes in soil organic matter and phosphorus fractions under planted fallows and a crop rotation system on a Colombian volcanic-ash soil
African farming systems are highly heterogeneous: between agroecological and socioeconomic environments, in the wide variability in farmers’ resource endowments and in farm management. This means that single solutions (or ‘silver bullets’) for improving farm productivity do not exist. Yet to date...
Guiller, KE
,
Tittonell, Pablo A.
,
Rufino, Mariana C.
,
Wijk, Mark T. van
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Zingore, Shamie
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Mapfumo, Paul
,
Adjei-Nsiah, Samuel
,
Herrero, Mario T.
,
Chikowo, Regis
,
Corbeels, Marc
,
Rowe, EC
,
Baijukya, Frederick P.
,
Mwijage, A
,
Smith, J.
,
Yeboah, E.
,
Burg, W.J. van der
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Sanogo, O.M.
,
Misiko, Michael T.
,
Ridder, N.A. de
,
Karanja, S.
,
Kaizzi, C
,
Kungu, J.
,
Mwale, M
,
Nwaga, D
,
Pacini, C.
,
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
[Communicating complexity: integrated assessment of trade-offs concerning soil fertility management within African farming systems to support innovation and development]
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Communicating complexity: integrated assessment of trade-offs concerning soil fertility management within African farming systems to support innovation and development
Soil nutrient depletion as a result of continuous cultivation of soils without adequate addition of external inputs is a major challenge in the highlands of Kenya. An experiment was set up in Meru South District, Kenya in 2000 to investigate the effects of different soil-incorporated organic (man...
Mucheru-Muna, M.
,
Mugendi, DN
,
Kung'u, J.B.
,
Mugwe, J
,
Bationo, B. André
,
[Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya]
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Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya
The role of residue characteristics in enhancing the availability of P was investigated in a greenhouse study using two soils from the northern Guinea savanna (NGS) and four from the derived savanna (DS) zones of the West African moist savanna. Eight organic residues of varying C-to-P ratio were ...
Nwoke, O.C.
,
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Diels, J.
,
Sanginga, Nteranya
,
Osonubi, O.
,
[Impact of residue characteristics on phosphorus availability in West African moist savanna soils]
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Impact of residue characteristics on phosphorus availability in West African moist savanna soils
The combined application of organic resources (ORs) and mineral fertilizers is increasingly gaining recognition as a viable approach to address soil fertility decline in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We conducted a meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive and quantitative synthesis of conditions unde...
Chivenge, P.P.
,
Vanlauwe, Bernard
,
Six, Johan
,
[Does the combined application of organic and mineral nutrient sources influence maize productivity? a meta analysis]
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Does the combined application of organic and mineral nutrient sources influence maize productivity? a meta analysis
Soil ecosystem engineers are major actors of soil macroaggregation, a process that drives the production of ecosystem services by soils. However, our inability to identify the origins of different types of macroaggregates found in soils is an obstacle to describing and modeling their dynamics and...
Zangerle, A
,
Pando, A
,
Lavelle, Patrick M.
,
[Do earthworms and roots cooperate to build soil macroaggregates? A microcosm experiment]
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Do earthworms and roots cooperate to build soil macroaggregates? A microcosm experiment