Quantifying the Occurrence and Ameliorating the Properties of Non-responsive Soils by Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers
Onesmo F. Assenga
School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Tileye Feyissa
School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Patrick A. Ndakidemi *
School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Conventionally, crop production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) depends primarily on natural soil nutrients. Application of inorganic and organic fertilizers is an important way for maximizing agriculture in SSA that targets the full utilization of the agricultural lands for food to feed African population and to obtain surplus produces. However, it has been reported that several areas of agricultural soils fail to respond to application of fertilizers, but the specific reason remain unknown. This review paper aims at exploring techniques that can be used to amend non-responsive soils and evaluate methods of ameliorating such soils through the proper utilization of nutrients supplied from different organic and inorganic sources.
Keywords: Non-responsive soils, soil nutrient amelioration, organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).