The green revolution was introduced to boost agricultural productivity through growing high-yielding crop varieties that require the heavy use of inorganic compounds. Agricultural productivity remained lower in developing countries in comparison to developed nations. Due to poor soil fertility management, crops yield in developing countries is estimated at only 20% of what could have been obtained with sustainable practices.
Inorganic fertilizers and pesticides are not readily available to smallholder farmers. As a result, they continuously grow crops without or with insufficient fertilizer quantities, causing soil degradation and low yields leading to food insecurity. These smallholder farmers constitute the largest part (>70%) of farmers in developing countries, their productivity is crucial to the increase in food security globally.
Loss of soil quality and increased production of greenhouse gases are associated with the use of inorganic fertilizers. This has led to the global increase in temperature associated with low and unpredictable rainfall patterns that negatively influence agricultural productivity, especially in developing countries.
Smallholder farmers in developing countries still rely on unsustainable soil fertility management practices. This Research Topic focuses on contemporary research on sustainable soil fertility management practices and technologies used by smallholder farmers in developing countries.
It is crucial to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of more adaptable soil fertility management practices. There is a need for research with a specific focus on farmers in countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ethiopia and Botswana and using results and technologies developed in these countries to improve livelihoods.
Such research needs to focus on holistic aspects of soil fertility management including the costs, labour requirements, socio-economic relations and livelihoods impacts of different soil fertility management techniques among farmers. The research should also improve cropping systems and enhance the efficacy of the locally available organic manure (e.g. vermicomposting). Good agronomic practices such as intercropping, mixed cropping, agroforestry and the use of orphaned legume crops within a multi-dimensional climate-smart framework are encouraged.
We are inviting the following manuscripts; original research, review, practices reviews and systematic reviews addressing the links between soil fertility management, soil degradation, climate change and food security. In particular, research within the following themes is welcome:
1. Multi-disciplinary research on soil fertility management and crop productivity under the smallholder farming systems.
2. Integrated farming systems that promote soil health and continuously high soil productivity among the smallholder farmers in developing countries.
3. The socio-economic impact related to the adoption of sustainable soil fertility management practices and climate-smart strategies.
4. Cost-effective on-farm research analysing soil management with crop-livestock farming systems.
The green revolution was introduced to boost agricultural productivity through growing high-yielding crop varieties that require the heavy use of inorganic compounds. Agricultural productivity remained lower in developing countries in comparison to developed nations. Due to poor soil fertility management, crops yield in developing countries is estimated at only 20% of what could have been obtained with sustainable practices.
Inorganic fertilizers and pesticides are not readily available to smallholder farmers. As a result, they continuously grow crops without or with insufficient fertilizer quantities, causing soil degradation and low yields leading to food insecurity. These smallholder farmers constitute the largest part (>70%) of farmers in developing countries, their productivity is crucial to the increase in food security globally.
Loss of soil quality and increased production of greenhouse gases are associated with the use of inorganic fertilizers. This has led to the global increase in temperature associated with low and unpredictable rainfall patterns that negatively influence agricultural productivity, especially in developing countries.
Smallholder farmers in developing countries still rely on unsustainable soil fertility management practices. This Research Topic focuses on contemporary research on sustainable soil fertility management practices and technologies used by smallholder farmers in developing countries.
It is crucial to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of more adaptable soil fertility management practices. There is a need for research with a specific focus on farmers in countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ethiopia and Botswana and using results and technologies developed in these countries to improve livelihoods.
Such research needs to focus on holistic aspects of soil fertility management including the costs, labour requirements, socio-economic relations and livelihoods impacts of different soil fertility management techniques among farmers. The research should also improve cropping systems and enhance the efficacy of the locally available organic manure (e.g. vermicomposting). Good agronomic practices such as intercropping, mixed cropping, agroforestry and the use of orphaned legume crops within a multi-dimensional climate-smart framework are encouraged.
We are inviting the following manuscripts; original research, review, practices reviews and systematic reviews addressing the links between soil fertility management, soil degradation, climate change and food security. In particular, research within the following themes is welcome:
1. Multi-disciplinary research on soil fertility management and crop productivity under the smallholder farming systems.
2. Integrated farming systems that promote soil health and continuously high soil productivity among the smallholder farmers in developing countries.
3. The socio-economic impact related to the adoption of sustainable soil fertility management practices and climate-smart strategies.
4. Cost-effective on-farm research analysing soil management with crop-livestock farming systems.
