Soil fertility, managing

Price, G.H. 2001. New horizons in soil fertility management. Australian Journal of Soil Research 39 683-710. 

PraiaJ. R. and J.F, Power Soil Fertility Management for SuAtarnable Agriculture, Lewis Publishers. Boca Raton. FL. 1997. 

Prospects and challenges for organic soil fertility management... 

The diversity of organic soil fertility management techniques suggests that there should be scope for biological intensification, particularly in regions with high biomass availability. Organic soil amendments are indeed used by a substantial fraction of SSA farmers, but adoption and rates of input application often fell short of scientists expectations. 

Many investigations into the reasons of adoption or rejection of soil fertility management highlight the importance of socio-economic circumstances. Schlecht et al. (2006) cite low product prices for agricultural commodities, immediate cash needs, risk aversion and labour shortage as major reasons for limited adoption of... 

The long-term view on soil fertility management with its emphasis on the enhancement of SOM is a major case for organic farming. This holds all the more true in SSA, where SOM largely determines soil CEO, pH and Al toxicity in many regions (Schlecht et al., 2006). SOM contains practically all N and 20-80% of all P in the surface horizons of tropical African soils (Bationo et al., 1998), and it positively affects infiltration rate, water holding capacity and soil microbial activity. 

Bekunda, M.A. Bationo, A. and H. Ssali (1997) Soil fertility management in Africa, a review of selected research trials.- In Buresh, R.J, et al. (eds) (1997) Replenishing soil fertility in Africa.- Soil Science Society of America, Madison, USA. Pp. 63-79. 

Palm, C.A. Gachengo, C.N. Delve, R.J. Cadisch, G. and K.E. Giller (2001) Organic inputs for soil fertility management in tropical agroecosystems application of an organic-resource database.- Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 83, 27-42. 

Place, F. Barrett, C.B. Freeman, H.A. Ramisch, J.J. and B. Vanlauwe (2003) Prospects for integrated soil fertility management using organic and inorganic inputs evidence from smallholder African agricultural systems.- Food Policy 28, 365-378. 

Renard, G. Neef, A. Becker, K. and M. von Oppen (1998) Soil fertility management in West African land use systems.- Workshop proceedings.-Margraf-Verlag, Weikersheim, Germany. 

Especially the dependence on the mineralisation dynamics of a low-input of slow-releasing organic stable or green manure makes the nutrient flow in different soils less controllable, and requires varieties adapted to such soil fertility management. Deep, intensive root architecture may contribute to a more efficient capturing of water and nutrients (Lees and Gahoonia, 2004). Experiments have also shown that varieties may differ in efficiency of nutrient uptake and use (Baresel et al., 2005). The ability to interact with beneficial soil micro-organisms can support this efficiency (Bosco et al., 2006). 

The document sections referring to soil fertility management ( 205.203) and crop rotation practices ( 205.205) run along the same lines as those in the EU s standards. Neither section displays a particular awareness of salinity. 

Buerkert, A. Bagayoko, M. Bationo, A. and H. Marschner (1998) Site specific differences in the response of cereals and legumes to rock phosphate, crop residue mulch and nitrogen in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa.- In Renard, G. Neef, A. Becker, K. and M. von Oppen (eds.) Soil fertility management in West African land use systems.- Verlag Margraf, Weikersheim. 

Vanlauwe, B. (2004) Integrated soil fertility management research at TSBF the framework, the principles, and their application.- In Bationo, A. (ed.) Managing Nutrient Cycles to Sustain Soil Fertility in sub-Saharan Africa.-Academy Science Publishers, Nairobi, Kenya. 

Brouder, S.M., Thom, M., Adamchuk, V.I. and Morgan, M.T. (2003) Potential uses of ion-selective K electrodes in soil fertility management. Commun. Soils Sci. Plant Anal, 34,2699-2726. 

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