Experts have warned that 60 per cent of Africa's soils are degraded.
In Kenya, 13 per cent or 7.5 million hectares (18 million acres) of the soil is acidic.
This translates to approximately 63 per cent of the arable land.
Poor soil fertility is attributed as one of the leading causes of low productivity.
The Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit held in Nairobi last week brought together stakeholders to highlight the crucial role of fertiliser and soil health in stimulating sustainable pro-poor productivity growth in African agriculture.
The Star's Agatha Ngotho spoke to Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation director general Dr Eliud Kireger about the vital role of healthy soil in productivity.
Excerpts:
Kalro is a key partner at the African Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit. Are you showcasing innovations?
As the national research organisation, we are an active participant in the summit because we are focussing on fertiliser use and soil health.
The basis of any form of agriculture, whether livestock or crops, is soil. Healthy soil is crucial for any meaningful productivity. For crops to be high-yielding, and to produce more, the soil must be healthy.
Most of the soils in our country are not healthy because of excessive use of chemical fertiliser. In some areas, there is high level of acidity or alkalinity, while in others there are low levels of macro- and micronutrients.
In the summit, we are discussing how we use both chemicals and organic fertiliser to ameliorate soil conditions, improve soil health and enhance productivity, hence, improving food and nutrition security. Better soil improves the livelihoods of our farmers because when they produce more, they sell more and make more money.
What is the status of the country's soil health and fertility?
Kalro has countrywide maps showing soil acidity levels, which is a big challenge. In 2021, based on the soil samples that farmers brought to our labs across the country, we identified the acidity levels in different parts of the country. We have analysed and known the levels of different nutrients.
We have maps that demonstrate where there are sufficient and insufficient macronutrients. More importantly, we are in the process of doing a detailed soil analysis across the country. We are targeting to analyse the soil on farms belonging to 10 per cent of the 6.5 million registered farmers.
Currently, we are comparing the use of scanners (dry chemistry) and wet chemistry, although the accuracy levels for the two types of analyses are different. We are comparing the accuracy of the use of scanners because it is the fastest way to analyse soils. Once that is done, we will do a soil information system whereby a farmer in any given area can know the kind of soil they have.
If they want to plant a particular crop, they can know what kind of fertiliser to use. With the analyses, you can tell the fertiliser you require because you know the soil information, what is efficient and what is abundant. Different crops require different nutrients. This will be an important step in addressing the food challenges in the country.
Do you offer soil testing services to farmers and if so, at what cost?
It is important that farmers test their soils after this flooding. Kalro offers soil testing services in four of our labs. The services are available at the Tea Research Institute in Kericho county, Embu in Upper Eastern, Kalro-Kabete in Nairobi and Mtwapa for the Coast region.
The cost is Sh1,000 per basic macronutrient analysis. If you want more detailed analyses, you will be charged an extra Sh200 per element. It takes three to four days to get the results.
It is important farmers test their soils as often as possible, maybe yearly or after two years. This is because normally, crops extract nutrients from the soil, so it is important to know the level of nutrients at any given time.
What is Kalro doing to enhance soil health to boost production?
Once we do the analyses and develop soil information systems, it will be easier to manage the soil because you have data and information on which fertiliser to use and what crops to grow. The system will tell you when and at what rate to use the fertiliser.
What is your advice to farmers?
Currently, the country is experiencing heavy rains that have led to flooding. Flooding alters nutrient availability in the soil. You will find that in some areas there will be leaching beyond the reach of the roots of crops. Due to this, farmers will need to reanalyse their soils after the floods, to determine the levels of nutrients.
Because of leaching, some areas that were not fertile might become fertile because a lot of nutrients have been moved to those areas by floods. My call to the farmers is to re-analyse their soils to determine what kind of fertiliser they should use.
What is the way forward?
Going forward, we are looking at encouraging farmers to use more organic fertiliser because it is less injurious to the soil, as opposed to chemical fertiliser, which is also expensive. I see a scenario where there will be a lot of work, within agencies, institutions and industry to develop suitable organic fertiliser.