Sustainable Intensification Research Articles

Restoring degraded landscapes and sustaining livelihoods: sustainability assessment (cum-review) of integrated landscape management in sub-Saharan Africa

IntroductionLand degradation is a significant environmental challenge across sub-Saharan Africa. In recent decades, efforts have been undertaken, with varying successes, to rehabilitate degraded rural landscapes. However, there needs to be more evidence on the outcomes regarding enhanced productivity, environmental management, and socio-economic benefits.MethodsThis study uses a case study approach, using contrasting sites from Ethiopia and Mali to appraise restoration innovations implemented through various programs. Two distinct sites were chosen from each of the study cases, and an extensive literature search was conducted to document the evidence, focusing on the sustainability gains derived from integrated landscape management (ILM). For this, the sustainable intensification assessment framework (SIAF) was used, encompassing five domains, namely productivity, economic, environmental, social, and human condition, and featuring scales from plot to landscape, all facilitated by simplified yet robust indicators such as yield, soil loss, net income, land access, and food availability.ResultsResults highlighted a higher productivity gain (35% to 55%) and an improved socio-economic benefit (>20%). The ILM in the Ethiopian highlands enabled a significant improvement in wheat and barley yield (p < 0.01). Introducing new crop varieties integrated with the in-situ and ex-situ practices enabled diversifying crops across the landscape and significantly reduced runoff and soil loss (p < 0.05). By increasing the cultivable land by 44%, household income was increased by selling potatoes and agroforestry products. In Mali, ILM practices reduced soil loss to 4.97t/ha from 12.1t/ha. In addition to the improvements in the yield of sorghum and maize (33% and 63%, respectively), rehabilitating the once marginal and abandoned landscape in Mali enabled landless and female-headed households to work together, improving the social cohesion among the groups. The introduction of irrigation facilities enabled widowed women to increase household vegetable consumption by 55% and increase their income by 24%.DiscussionThe study showed positive evidence from ILM practices in the two contrasting landscapes. However, there is a need to address challenges related to the absence of timely data monitoring and documentation of successful practices. For this, the generation of evidence-based data and the use of advanced geo-spatial tools such as Remote Sensing and GPS-installed drones are recommended.

Environmental Impacts of Rice Intensification Using High-Yielding Varieties: Evidence from Mazandaran, Iran

This article aims to show the potential contribution of high-yielding rice varieties to achieve sustainable intensification in paddy farming, by focusing on a developing country. A comparative life cycle assessment of traditional vs. high-yielding varieties is carried out by comparing the area-based and yield-based results. Primary data are collected through a farm survey (49 farms in the Mazandaran province, Iran; spring 2018). The results highlight that high-yielding varieties can reduce the yield-scaled impacts. However, area-scaled impacts are subject to increase for most impact categories. Statistically significant trade-offs involve global warming potential (+13% per ha and −28% per t in high-yielding varieties) and fossil resource depletion (+15% per ha and −26% per t in high-yielding varieties). Pesticide management is the most alarming practice. High-yielding varieties increase pesticide consumption and related toxicity impacts both per t and per ha. This study is a new contribution to the literature by improving and broadening the mainstream productivity perspective of current life cycle assessment research about crop varieties. The lessons learnt from this study suggest that the trade-offs between yield-scaled and area-scaled impacts should be carefully considered by decision-makers and policymakers, especially in developing countries that, like Iran, are affected by the overexploitation of natural resources. Targeted policy and the development of farmer education and advisory services are needed to create the enabling conditions for farm management changes, including conscious use of production inputs while avoiding heuristics.

The future of the sugarcane industry in Fiji: climatic, non-climatic stressors, and opportunities for transformation

This study explores the complex dynamics of Fiji’s sugarcane industry, shedding light on the challenges it faces and the implications for agricultural system resilience and sustainability. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between climatic and non-climatic stressors and farmers’ decisions to abandon sugarcane farming. A total of 900 farmers were surveyed, which corresponds to approximately 7.5% of the sugarcane farming population in the country. Farmers were sampled using a stratified disproportional random sampling technique, by surveying 300 farmers from each of the three primary sugarcane mill regions in Fiji (Labasa, Lautoka, and Rarawai). Results depict an aging farming population with small land holdings, and limited income and agricultural diversification. While only 4% of farmers are currently considering abandoning sugarcane farming, a further 17.9% are uncertain about their future in the industry. The majority of farmers have been impacted by climate hazards, primarily tropical cyclones and floods, but the degree to which these hazards have affected livelihoods has had an effect on farmers’ willingness to remain in the industry and on the extent to which they implement reactive or anticipatory responses to hazards. The study highlights the need for coordinated efforts to support sustainable intensification and planned adaptation, especially in the face of climate-induced vulnerabilities, this should be a priority as the sector continues to navigate sustainability issues. Additionally, it underscores the importance of transforming the industry to address both climatic and non-climatic stressors. Ultimately, this research offers valuable insights into the multifaceted issues confronting Fiji’s sugarcane sector, and the broader agricultural systems it represents.

System shift in rice: Processes and pathways of change in rice-based production systems of Southeast Asia

CONTEXTPredicting future production trends and associated land use and management practices requires an understanding of past changes in productivity and of pathways of evolving system configurations. We argue that rice systems' evolution reflects a process of adaptation to changing availabilities of production resources and the adoption of technological innovations and that differs by marginality/favorability of sites. Understanding past change trends and their determinants can help avoiding undesirable future developments and guide policy decisions for a sustained supply of rice. OBJECTIVEWe aimed to assess agronomic system change and practices, to quantify pathways of change and to identify likely drivers of but also possible risks or opportunities associated with observed patterns of agronomic system transformation in six representative lowland rice production environments in Asia. METHODSWe implemented a diachronic analysis (years 2000 vs. 2018) of rice production practices and yield attributes in 1024 households. We documented changes between 2000 and 2018 in lowland rice-based systems in six rice-growing environments in the Philippines, Myanmar and Cambodia, differentiating marginal and favorable sites in irrigated and in rainfed environments. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONFarmers' household attributes, resource endowment, rice yields, and key constraints differed among sites. We observed relatively low annual yield in marginal (2.2–3.0 t/ ha) than favorable (3.3–8.9 t/ ha) sites depending on countries and seasons. The farmers adopted intensification related agronomic practices has increased significantly between 2000 and 2018, especially in dry season (i.e., improved seeds by 28%, mechanical tillage by 52%, direct seeding by 21%, combined harvester by 62%). The marginality of climatic and edaphic conditions, the systems' evolutionary state in 2000, and differential pressures (policy environment), opportunities (technological change) and household attributes (resource endowment) determined the observed transition pathways across study sites. SIGNIFICANCEThe trends towards maximizing land use intensity (double or multiple cropping), converging in the emergence of high-input and highly mechanized (laborsaving) in irrigated, and diversified rotations in rainfed rice production systems may help to elucidate agricultural research needs and potentially predict the requirements for future sustainable intensification of rice-based systems. Additionally, we argue for a continued need for further mechanization of rice establishment, especially shifting from transplanting to direct seeding during dry and wet seasons, and of the rice harvest, especially during wet season under fully irrigated environments.

Editorial: Maximizing nitrogen fixation in legumes as a tool for sustainable agriculture intensification, volume II

Editorial: Maximizing nitrogen fixation in legumes as a tool for sustainable agriculture intensification, volume II

Intercropping System: Enhancing Productivity and Sustainability in Hot Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Cultivation: A Review

The practice of intercropping hot peppers and basil has yielded several benefits, as discussed in this article. Intercropping is the cultivation of multiple crop species in the same plot of land for a specific period with the aim of increasing yield by utilizing resources such as solar radiation, water, and mineral nutrients more effectively. Studies have shown that Intercropping systems capture and utilize more water, nitrogen, and light than single-crop systems, leading to improved moisture and nutrient use efficiency. Additionally, the use of intercropping systems has been found to enhance crop diversification, thereby reducing the risk of total crop failure and improving yield stability over seasons. This practice has also been shown to increase gross returns per unit area, leading to increased land productivity and financial benefits. Furthermore, planting basil alongside hot peppers has been documented to enhance the productivity of the main crop, while reducing losses due to pests, diseases, and weeds caused by the presence of phytonutrients. Overall, intercropping has been found to be an important agricultural activity that allows for increased yield gains through efficient utilization of growth resources, making it an ideal option for the sustainable intensification of crop production.

Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential in China's agricultural plastic greenhouses

To promote sustainable intensification and provide guidance for decisionmakers, we must understand the potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in greenhouse cultivation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the greenhouse gas emission mitigation potential of agricultural plastic greenhouses in China using a combination of life cycle assessment, data envelopment analysis, and scenario analysis. We found that: (1) In China, the mean mitigation potential for greenhouse gas emission intensity related to the crop production inputs of agricultural plastic greenhouses is 1.67 kt CO2-eq/km2, demonstrating a remarkable mitigation rate of 47 %. This mitigation potential, driven mostly by fertilizer use, exhibited a spatial pattern characterized by high mitigation rates in the southern regions compared to those in the northern regions; (2) in scenarios S1 and S2, the greenhouse gas emission intensity mitigation potential of greenhouse construction materials was 0.645 kt CO2-eq/km2 and 0.968 kt CO2-eq/km2, respectively, with steel being the primary contributor to mitigation; (3) under scenarios S1 and S2, the greenhouse gas emission mitigation rates for China's agricultural plastic greenhouses were 42 % and 48 %, respectively. This study highlights the greenhouse gas emission mitigation potential of China's agricultural plastic greenhouses. To ensure sustainability in plastic greenhouses, emphasis should be placed on optimizing fertilizers and extending the lifespan of construction materials.

The association of farmers’ cognition, intention and behaviour towards sustainable intensification of cultivated land use in Shandong Province, China

ABSTRACT Cultivated land system confronts with a series of problems hindering its socioeconomic and ecological sustainability. Sustainable intensification of cultivated land use (SICLU) is considered as an efficient method to achieve three aspects of sustainable goals in society, economy and ecology simultaneously. Farmers, the main executor of all agricultural strategies, are the core of SICLU research. However, there is a small quantity of researches on SICLU from the perspective of farmers’ social psychology. Therefore, this article measured the level of SICLU at the farmer scale using super-efficiency SBM model, and relying on structural equation modeling and an innovative research framework, explored the association mechanism among farmers’ cognition, intention and behavior of SICLU. Finally, the results showed that (1) most of samples are at a medium or higher level of SICLU. (2) all samples’ cognition are significantly positively related to their behavior and their behavior significantly negatively affect their intention. (3) correlation characteristics among them are slightly different under each level. The proposed research outline not only expand the scope of SI research to the perspective of social psychology in breadth, but in depth take targeted actions to protect agricultural environment, make cultivated land system sustainable and alleviate food crisis.

Agroecological dimension of sustainable intensification technologies adoption in northern Ghana

Agroecological dimension of sustainable intensification technologies adoption in northern Ghana

The power of on-farm data for improved agronomy

Advances in technology and analytics to support data-driven agriculture has important implications for global food security and environmental sustainability. However, relatively few studies have investigated the potential to leverage the power of on-farm data for improved agronomy at scale using geospatial machine learning methods. Working in high-yielding rice systems of Uruguay, we developed a geospatial framework to identify yield-limiting factors across 55,000 ha annually of cropland over four seasons (2018–2021 harvest years), while also testing for tradeoffs in the environmental footprint related to nitrogen (N) fertilizer use. Our application of geographically-weighted random forest models showed that crop management decisions influenced rice yield more than variation in soil properties, highlighting the potential for improved agronomy to boost crop production by 1.4–1.8 Mg ha−1 across regions. Seeding date, variety, P rate, and K rate were the most important variables controlling yield, but with significant variation across fields. When these factors were optimized by farmers, the risk of environmental N losses or soil N mining did not increase, highlighting the potential for sustainable intensification by improving N use efficiency. These findings present a pathway for harnessing the benefits of increasingly available on-farm data to identify yield-limiting factors while minimizing negative environmental externalities at the field-level. To enable the development of such geospatial frameworks in other regions, new partnerships are required to engage stakeholders and promote data sharing and collaboration among farmers, researchers, and industry, helping guide regional extension programs and orient future investments in agricultural research.

Urbanization and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in the rural‐urban interface of Bangalore, India

AbstractUrban expansion often takes place on the most productive agricultural lands, affecting how the remaining agricultural land is used. Evidence on the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in urbanizing areas is scarce and mostly based on cross‐sectional data. Cross‐sectional studies, however, cannot reflect the dynamics of urbanization and adoption. We use household panel data from 2017 and 2020 to analyze the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices among peri‐urban farmers in Bangalore, India, a rapidly urbanizing region. We focus on practices for water and erosion management, integrated pest management and soil fertility management, and an integrated package of sustainable practices. Using random effects probit models with the Mundlak approach, we consider various factors besides urbanization, including exposure to weather variability, awareness of climate change, connection with institutional actors, and household and farm characteristics. Results show that urbanization, measured as changes in the percentage of built‐up area, reduces the probability that farmers adopt sustainable agricultural practices. Like prior studies, we find that wealth indicators, market access, knowledge of climate change, and rainfall variability facilitate adoption. However, contact with institutional actors largely reduces farmers’ probability of adoption. Policies should promote the integration of sustainable farming technologies at the institutional level and in information and training programs to achieve sustainable intensification of peri‐urban agriculture.

The Intersectoral Coordination Unit for the Sustainable Intensification of Peritoneal Dialysis in Schleswig–Holstein (SKIP-SH) cohort study

BackgroundPeritoneal dialysis (PD) remains underutilised in Germany, prompting the initiation of the Sustainable Intensification of Peritoneal Dialysis in Schleswig–Holstein (SKIP-SH) project. The SKIP-SH cohort study aims to demonstrate the presumed benefits of PD, including enhanced quality of life and reduced healthcare personnel requirements, and to generate data to strengthen the use of PD.MethodsThe prospective SKIP-SH cohort study recruits patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their caregivers. Comprehensive data, including demographic information, medical history, clinical course, laboratory data, and quality-of-life assessments, are collected. Additionally, biomaterials will be obtained.Primary study objectives are documenting the clinical course and complications, time on therapy for new dialysis patients, reasons influencing treatment modality choices, circumstances at the initiation of dialysis, and quality of life for patients with CKD and their caregivers. The collected biomaterials will serve as a basis for further translational research. Secondary objectives include identifying factors impacting disease-related quality of life, clinical complications, and therapy dropout, estimating ecological footprints, and evaluating healthcare costs and labour time for initiating and sustaining PD treatment.DiscussionPD is notably underutilised in Germany. The current therapy approach for advanced CKD often lacks emphasis on patient-focused care and quality-of-life considerations. Furthermore, adequate explorative research programs to improve our knowledge of mechanisms leading to disease progression and therapy failure in PD patients are scarce.The overarching goal of the SKIP-SH cohort study is to address the notably low PD prevalence in Germany whilst advocating for a shift towards patient-focused care, quality-of-life considerations, and robust translational research.Trial registrationThis study was registered with the German trial registry (Deutsches Register klinischer Studien) on November 7, 2023, under trial number DRKS00032983.

Quantitative analysis of soil degradation in response to land use change in the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana

Soil degradation (SD) poses a significant challenge to tropical agricultural production systems due to its role in depleting soil nutrients. Recently, SD has threatened population growth by causing hunger and poverty among smallholder farmers in the Guinea savanna agro-ecological zone of Ghana. However, SD cannot be directly measured. Instead, assessment and modelling efforts rely on biological and physico-chemical indicators. This study sought to: (i) select a minimum dataset (MDS) using a multivariate statistical technique; (ii) identify SD processes, and evaluate the extent of degradation; and (iii) suggest strategies to monitor SD in the study area. Soil samples were collected using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF), specifically designed for sub-plot level (1000 m2) sampling. This scheme aligns well with the typical farm structure of smallholder farmers (<10 acres). Soil samples, taken from a depth of 0–20 cm, were analyzed to assess their physico-chemical properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified seven key SD processes: soil texture, pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Av. P), base saturation (BS) and Effective Cation Exchange Capacity (ECEC). These identified processes lead to the loss of OC, deterioration of soil texture, reduction in soil nutrients, and increased soil acidity. There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.70, p<0.05) between soil physical and chemical properties. PC1 explained 26.86% of the total variance, followed by PC2 at 15.31%, PC3 at 12.46%, and PC4 at 9.98%. Also, PC5, PC6, and PC7 accounted for 8.49%, 7.25% and 1.42% of the variance, respectively. The land-use systems we identified significantly affected the concentration of soil nutrients (p<0.001). In our computed Composite Soil Degradation Index (CSDI), CEC emerged as the most significant SD indicator with a weight of 0.328, followed by Si:CL ratio at 0.187. The results indicate that soil management activities should focus on increasing organic matter. Soil nutrient depletion primarily occurs through several processes. Land clearing and burning of organic materials during land preparation are primary causes. Furthermore, a total crop removal during harvest, inadequate manure application, and subsequent leaching and erosion aggravates SD, leading to nutrient-depleted soils. We conclude that the loss of nutrients, specifically CEC, OC, Ex. K and Av. P is the primary contributor to chemical SD. Therefore, implementing integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) strategies, such as applying organic (e.g., animal-based manures, green manure, crop residues, compost) and inorganic fertilizers (e.g., NPK + micronutrients) is crucial for increasing soil nutrient availability, enhancing SOM content, and promoting carbon sequestration in these farming systems. This study establishes a baseline for comparing and evaluating the effectiveness of land management interventions at the landscape level in northern Ghana. Consequently, soil nutrient management should be tailored to site-specific conditions, focusing on increasing the efficiency of N, P, K and micronutrient uptake by plants. Adopting such site-specific management strategies could significantly contribute to the sustainable intensification of agricultural production systems in the Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone of Ghana.

Seed priming with gas plasma-activated water in Ethiopia’s “orphan” crop tef (Eragrostis tef)

Main conclusionSeed priming with gas plasma-activated water results in an increased ageing resilience in Eragrostis tef grains compared to a conventional hydropriming protocol.Tef (Eragrostis tef) is a cereal grass and a major staple crop of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Despite its significant importance in terms of production, consumption, and cash crop value, tef has been understudied and its productivity is low. In this study, tef grains have undergone different priming treatments to enhance seed vigour and seedling performance. A conventional hydropriming and a novel additive priming technology with gas plasma-activated water (GPAW) have been used and tef grains were then subjected to germination performance assays and accelerated ageing. Tef priming increases the germination speed and vigour of the grains. Priming with GPAW retained the seed storage potential after ageing, therefore, presenting an innovative environmental-friendly seed technology with the prospect to address variable weather conditions and ultimately food insecurity. Seed technology opens new possibilities to increase productivity of tef crop farming to achieve a secure and resilient tef food system and economic growth in Ethiopia by sustainable intensification of agriculture beyond breeding.

Sustainability and Brazilian Agricultural Production: A Bibliometric Analysis

Agriculture is one of the most important industries in the world. In this context, the importance of Brazil as a strategic country to meet a range of SDG’s targets linked to food security, fighting against hunger, and poverty reduction is undeniable. This study aimed to highlight the production and dissemination of scientific research developed by Brazilian institutions, and to identify prominent authors and institutions based on articles related to sustainability, agriculture, livestock, and agribusiness. A bibliometric analysis was developed based on a sample of 3139 documents published between 2000 and 2022, comprising 21,380 authors that were then analyzed using the Biblioshiny package. As result, the term “sustainability” showed growth as it branched out to semantically similar terms, such as “sustainable agriculture” and “sustainable intensification”; and “crop–livestock integration” and “agroforestry” were highlighted as important in the development of future research. The majority of documents were produced by the University of São Paulo (~33%), the State University of São Paulo (~15%), and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (~11%), suggesting that their researchers could act as coordinators in future research through the formation of multi-collaborative groups to jointly lead to the participatory elaboration of public policies that promote more sustainable paths for agricultural production.

Agricultural technology as a driver of sustainable intensification: insights from the diffusion and focus of patents

Sustainable intensification (SI) responds to the concurrent challenges of increasing food production while reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture. As an early disclosure of innovation, patents are a useful indicator of technology market potential. However, we lack understanding of the extent to which current agricultural technology patents relate to the goals of SI and which kinds of technologies can potentially address SI. Here, we analyzed the diffusion and focus of more than one million patents issued during the period 1970–2022. We explored the degree to which the patents relate to SI through the co-occurrence of efficiency and environmental friendliness targets. Our results reveal that while the rate of patent issuance has dramatically increased over the past five decades, the rate at which patents diffused to different countries had decreased over time. The USA was the biggest net exporter of patents and had produced by far the most high-impact patents (in the top 1% most-cited patents). Since 1970, only 4% of agricultural patents and 6% of high-impact patents were related to SI targets (i.e., promoting both agricultural efficiency and environmental friendliness), but the attention to SI has increased over time. The most highly cited SI-related patents had become more diverse over time, shifting from digital, machine, and energy technologies in 1980s to the current era of agroecology, information, and computer networking. Our results provide an early indication of promising technologies that may play a greater role for SI in the future, subject to the challenges of market transfer and farm adoption and complemented by non-technological innovations in farm management and institutional support.

Historicising sustainable livestock intensification and animal genetic improvement in Africa: towards a decolonial multispecies climate justice

ABSTRACT This article examines the discourse and practice of sustainable livestock intensification in Africa, using Tanzania as an analytic case. Drawing on archival and ethnographic research, I argue the growing interest in animal genetic improvement in the name of efficiency and sustainability mirrors earlier, incomplete colonial cattle crossbreeding experiments. These colonial efforts were justified by the need to improve yields while conserving the environment and ultimately facilitated state control over the bodies of indigenous peoples and animals. These historical legacies have profound implications for advancing climate justice in pastoral settings, where life depends on interspecies relations, knowledges, and practices of care.

Contradictions between commercializing seeds, empowering smallholders farmers, and promoting biodiversity in Ghana: Seed policy within a historical framework

This article critically examines the agricultural development agenda of promoting commercialization and sustainable intensification and contrasts this with farmers’ own priorities, with case studies drawn from the maize and cocoa sectors in Ghana. The study investigates the relationship between agricultural development paradigms, seed breeding strategies, and the commercialization of agriculture from the 1950s to present. It returns to the debates of farming systems research, the appropriation of the agricultural varieties of farmers within the South by Northern agribusiness, and Paul Richards’ framework of an Indigenous African agricultural revolution rooted in the experimental traditions of farmers to establish a critical framework for examining the commodification of seeds. It focuses on the contradictions between maintaining biodiversity, fashioning high-yielding proprietary seeds, and promoting farmer participation that became manifest in the framework of farming systems research. It argues that commercial pressures have prioritized yields and the protection of proprietary varieties over biodiversity in policy frameworks. This contrast with farmers’ own concerns with adapting varieties to the conditions on their farms through their own experimentation, and maintaining a diversity of changing genetic materials including those drawn from certified varieties. This enables farmers to hedge against risk, disease, and pest attacks, while selecting varietal materials that optimize yields in the particular agroecological conditions of their farms. Although social participation is still upheld as an important value in liberal market agrarian policies, there has been a significant transformation in its usage. It no longer denotes farmer participation in the design of and experimentation with technology, but participation in the consumption of the agricultural products of agribusiness or in the agricultural technology treadmill. This contribution examines the implication of smallholder agricultural commercialization for biodiversity and for the dynamism and vitality of local farming systems.

Building Soil Health and Fertility through Organic Amendments and Practices: A Review

Soil health and quality are foundational to agricultural sustainability and meeting global food security priorities. However, intensive farming practices have degraded soil ecosystems. Organic amendments and regenerative management practices can restore soil function by overcoming nutritional limitations, improving physical and biological properties, and promoting general soil and crop resilience. This review synthesizes research on major sources of organic soil amendments including animal manures, composts, cover crops, crop residues and living mulches. We describe their multifaceted edaphic and agronomic benefits from providing a slow release bank of macro and micronutrients, increasing soil organic matter, and stimulating beneficial microbial communities. Complementary and synergistic soil building practices are also covered, encompassing conservation tillage techniques like no-till, crop diversification via rotations and intercropping, and agroecological integration of trees and livestock. Although transitioning from degraded conventional systems requires patience as years of soil regeneration are needed to enable high system performance, outcomes consistently show integrated practices that minimize disturbance and maintain living ground cover while leveraging organic inputs can transform the foundation of agricultural systems by enhancing soil ecosystem function. Widespread adoption of this soil health paradigm can thereby enable sustainable intensification and resilience.

Fertilizer use efficiency and economic viability in maize production in the Savannah and transitional zones of Ghana

Increasing fertilizer use is highly justified for sustainable agricultural intensification if yield response, fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), and economic viability of fertilizer application are high. Despite the increasing fertilizer application rates in Ghana, yields only marginally increased. Also, the recent fertilizer price hikes post COVID-19 revived concern for economic analysis of fertilizers. This study analyzed the FUE and economic viability of fertilizer use in maize production in Guinea/Sudan Savannah and Transitional/Deciduous zones of Ghana. Survey data from 2,673 farmers in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 production seasons were used. The average agronomic efficiency (AE), partial factor productivity (PFP), and value-cost ratio (VCR) of fertilizer use were 2.2 kg of grains per kilogram of fertilizer, 18.3 kg grains per kilogram of fertilizer, and 1.8 Ghana cedis of marginal yield per Ghana cedi spent on fertilizer, respectively. Fertilizer use was economically viable for only 28.1% of farmers with a VCR of 2 or higher, while 52.5% reached the break-even point with a VCR of at least 1. Various fertilizer formulations, including NPK plus sulfur, and adoption of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices, particularly improved seeds, organic fertilizers, and minimum tillage, improved maize yield response to fertilizer and thus the FUE. These low efficiency and economic viability of fertilizer use are prevailing conditions in other sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries and these do not guarantee sustainable food security and improved livelihood of the farmers in the region. Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), together with relevant stakeholders, should provide guidance on ISFM and intensify farmer education through farmer associations to increase the adoption of ISFM. The local government should work with other relevant stakeholders to improve the market conditions within the agriculture sector, for instance, by linking farmers to city markets for favorable output prices.