Soil Fertility and Management for Smallholder Farmers

Soils of smallholder farmers are often depleted of organic matter and available soil nutrients, and may also be acidic and/or saline. We will review the causes and extent of these soil-related challenges in the developing world. A variety of possible management responses to these challenges will be compared and contrasted, including conservation agriculture, practices to increase soil organic matter, liming, and use of fertilizers and other soil amendments.We will also discuss the importance of maintaining a positive nutrient balance for plant macronutrients. Soil degradation has been identified as a critical constraint for improving agricultural productivity in smallholder agriculture.Therefore, understanding how to manage soils for improved fertility is paramount for successful agricultural development.