Strengthening Capacity for Diagnosis and Management of Soil Micronutrient Deficiencies in Sub-Saharan Africa for Improved Plant, Animal and Human Nutrition

1. #
Figure 1. Distribution of soil micronutrient concentrations relative to Finnish guidelines.
Strengthening Capacity for Diagnosis and
Management of Soil Micronutrient
Deficiencies in Sub-Saharan
Africa for Improved Plant,
Animal and Human Nutrition
Results
Significance of the research results
Support to CGIAR, NGO and private sector projects with advice and
protocols for soil and plant analysis to facilitate the process of establishing
soil test values that will act as a guide to risk of deficiency and field trials to
validate crop response trials. e.g. capacity development and spectral lab
networks
Develop micronutrient distribution maps to assist African governments,
development organizations and donors to focus on most promising
strategies for alleviating the most urgent soil and crop micronutrient
problems –e.g. EthioSIS, TanSIS
Advisory services for fertiliser companies dealing with blending for more
targeted supply of appropriate fertilizers for different regions, and for small
holders options for addressing micronutrient deficiencies using organic
resources
Advisory services to farmers and extension agents to address micronutrient
deficiencies that affect crop growth and yield, and agronomic practices that
will reduce micronutrient deficiencies..e.g. One acre fund, OFRA, Gates
Crop Agronomy, Soil Cares and rural resource centre's.
Addressing deficiencies for improving smallholder crop and livestock
productivity and reducing risks of technology failure (e.g. NPK fertilizer
use)-provide value for inputs.
Increase agricultural productivity in an ecologically and socially sustainable
manner that contributes to human rights- right to health, safe food and
the right to life with dignity.
Strengthening Africa capacity on new science and
technology for soil-plant analysis, diagnosis and
management (Figure 2).
End-users and Impact
Total X-ray
fluorescence
spectroscopy
X-ray diffraction
spectroscopy
Infrared
spectroscopy
Improved agricultural productivity and environmental
sustainability through alleviating soil micronutrient
deficiencies, which contributes to climate change
mitigation, reduced soil erosion and expansion of
cultivation into marginal land or forests for healthier
soils, crops, livestock, and human nutrition (Figure 3).
Figure 2. Spectral fingerprinting and spectral lab networks.
During the programme, over 1700 pairs of top- and subsoil samples, collected from 57 randomly located AfSIS sentinel sites covering
major agro climatic zones of 19 sub-Saharan Africa countries, were analysed for micronutrients. At the LUKE institute soluble
concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, Co, Mo, Ni, V and Se were acquired by acid ammonium acetate – ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid (AAAc-EDTA) extraction and soluble B by extraction with hot water.
The results show no marked differences in
the concentrations of the easily soluble
elements between topsoil and subsoil. The
median concentrations of soluble
Cu (1.3 mg l-1), Zn (0.8 mg l-1), B (0.4 mg l-1)
and Fe (64 mg l-1) in the topsoil seem low
relative to sufficiency guidelines for good crop
growth (Figure 1). Using deficiency critical
mid-points for Finnish soils as a guide, Africa
topsoils have deficiency prevalence values of
Mn (8%), Fe (42%), Cu (48%), Zn (56%), and
B (79%).
The current results will be used to develop
maps of micronutrient deficiencies and guide
field trials to validate crop responses.
Healthy
soils
Healthy
crops
Healthy
livestock
Healthy
people
Keith Shepherd, Martti Esala, Mercy Nyambura, Riikka Keskinen, Andrew Sila and Erick Towett
Figure 3. Improved food security.