Synergies between natural resource management practices and fertilizer technologies: lessons from mali

摘要

Successful agricultural development has resulted in substantial alleviation of poverty and food security in Asia and Latin America since the 1960s. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), however, productivity levels remain stagnant. Low soil fertility is increasingly recognized as one of the primary biophysical constraints blocking agricultural development in SSA (Mokwunye and Vlek, 1986; Penning de Vries and Djiteye, 1991; Fieri, 1992; van der Pol, 1992; Sanchez et al., 1997b, citing numerous others). This low soil fertility can be attributed to soil degradation due to soil mining (associated with long-term lowinput agriculture), tillage, accelerated erosion and poor maintenance of soil organic matter and soil organic carbon.