Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Soil Quality and Agricultural Sustainability in Semi-arid Areas

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 32

Part of the book series: Sustainable Agriculture Reviews ((SARV,volume 32))

  • 693 Accesses

Abstract

Soil quality and agricultural sustainability are required to feed about nine billion people by the year 2050. To feed such a population, the planet ought to increase food production by 60%. To attain agricultural sustainability, there should be a balance among biophysical, economic and social dimensions under which soil quality is a core aspect. It is worthwhile to explore soil quality versus agricultural sustainability in sub-Saharan countries because the population is expected to increase by 80%. This chapter reviews the current agronomic practices in countries characterized by semiarid agro-ecological zones and their implications to soil quality and agricultural sustainability, using Tanzania as a case study.

We found that agro-pastoralism based on maize, sorghum, millet, sheep, cattle and cow is a current dominant agricultural system but with low yields. Monoculture has contributed to the degradation of soil quality. Drought has raised issues to already stressed ecosystems and made rain-fed agriculture a vulnerable and unsustainable livelihood for smallholder farmers. This situation has reduced the per capita grain harvested area from 0.6 to less than 0.4 ha and thus, affected for more than 70% the smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. Fortunately, areas using fertilizations of animal manure and other organic soil management practices have increased soil fertility and crop yields from 0.82 tn ha−1 under no-fertilization to 1.8 tn ha−1 under organic fertilization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahmed S, Deffenbaugh N, Hertel T, Lobell D, Ramankutty N, Rios A, Rowhani P (2011) Climate volatility and poverty vulnerability in Tanzania. Glob Environ Chang 21(2011):46–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews SS (1998) Sustainable agriculture alternatives: ecological and managerial implications of poultry litter management alternatives applied to agronomic soils. PhD dissertation. University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews SS, Carroll CR (2001) Designing a soil quality assessment tool for sustainable agroecosystem management. Ecol Appl 11(6):1573–1585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bationo A, Kihara J, Vanlauwe B, Waswa B, Kimetu J (2006) Soil organic carbon dynamics, functions and management in West African agro-ecosystems. Agric Syst 94(1):13–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2005.08.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birch-Thomsen T, Elberling B, Bjarne F, Magid J (2007) Temporal and spatial trends in soil organic carbon stocks following maize cultivation in semi-arid Tanzania. Springer, East Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blythe JL (2013) Social-ecological analysis of integrated agriculture aquaculture systems in Dedza, Malawi. Environ Dev Sustain 15:1143–1155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-012-9429-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bockstaller C, Girardin P, van der Werf HMG (1997) Use of agro-ecological indicators for the evaluation of farming systems. Eur J Agron 7:261–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Branca G, Lipper L, McCarthy N, Jolejole M (2013) Food security, climate change, and sustainable land management. Agron Sustain Dev 33:635–650. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-013-0133-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chai Q, Gan Y, Zhao C, Xu H, Waskom R, Niu Y, Siddique K (2015) Regulated deficit irrigation for crop production under drought stress, Agron Sustain Dev. Diplomacy of a New State. NOK Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen B (1988) Effects of animal manure and mineral fertilizer on the total carbon and nitrogen contents of soil size fractions. Biol Fertil Soils 5:304–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doran JW, Parkin TB (1994) Defining and assessing soil quality. In: Doran JW, Coleman DC, Bezdicek DF, Stewart BA (eds) Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment. SSSA, Inc., Madison

    Google Scholar 

  • Doran J., Zeiss M. (2000). Soil health and sustainability: managing the biotic component of soil quality. Appl Soil Ecol. 15, 1, pg 3–11 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-1393(00)00067-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duru M (2015) How to implement biodiversity-based agriculture to enhance ecosystem services. Agron Sustain Dev 35:1259–1281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-015-0306-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duru M, Therond O, Fares M (2015) Designing agroecological transitions. Agron Sustain Devaluation of farming systems. Eur J Agron 7:261–270

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union (2012) Agriculture and Rural Development http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture

  • FAO (2006) Conservation agriculture for SARD and food security in Southern and Eastern Africa. Terminal report, Kenya and Tanzania

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2008) Investing in sustainable agricultural intensification: the role of conservation agriculture. A Framework for Action, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2012) Conservation agriculture and sustainable crop intensification in Karatu District, Tanzania, Integrated crop management, vol 15. Food and agriculture organization of the United nations (FAO), Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2013) Climate-smart agriculture sourcebook. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Giller K, Witter E, Corbeels M, Tittonell P (2009) Conservation agriculture and smallholder farming in Africa: The heretics’ view. Field Crops Res 114:23–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser B, Lehmann J, Führböter M, Solomon D, Zech W (2001) Carbon and nitrogen mineralization in cultivated and natural savanna soils of Northern Tanzania. Biol Fertil Soils 33:301–309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740000324

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartemink AE (1997) Soil fertility decline in some Major Soil Groupings under permanent cropping in Tanga Region, Tanzania. Geoderma 75:245–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartemink AE, Veldkamp T, Bai Z (2008) Land cover change and soil fertility decline in tropical regions. Turk J Agric For 32:195–213

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herdt RW, Steiner RA (1995) Agricultural sustainability: concepts and conundrums. In: Barnett in East Africa: the impacts of resource variability on human security Clim Change. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9884-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Li YP, Chen X, Ma YG (2012) Optimization of the irrigation water resources for agricultural sustainability in Tarim River Basin, China. Agric Water Manag 107:74–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2012.01.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2000) Land use, land use change and forestry, a special report of the IPCC (Watson RT, Noble IR, Bolin B, Ravondranath NH, Verardo DJ, Dokken DJ, eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2014) Climate Change 2014 impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Part A: global and sectoral aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Field CB, Barros VR, Estrada, Genova RC, Girma B, Kissel ES, Levy AN, MacCracken S, Mastrandrea PR, White LL, eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalhapure A, Shete B, Dhonde M (2013) Integrated nutrient management in maize (Zea Mays L.) for increasing production with sustainability. Int J Agric Food Sci Technol 4(3):195–206 ISSN 2249-3050, http://www.ripublication.com/ ijafst.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalra RKB, Tonts AM, Siddique KHM (2013) Self-help groups in Indian agriculture: a case study of farmer groups in Punjab, Northern India. Agroecol Sustain Food Syst 37:509–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kangalawe R (2016) Climate change impacts on water resource management and community livelihoods in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Clim Dev. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2016.1139487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kangalawe R, Lyimo G (2013) Climate Change, Adaptive Strategies and Rural Livelihoods in Semiarid Tanzania. Nat Res 2013(4):266–278. https://doi.org/10.4236/nr.2013.43034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kangalawe R, Mung’ong’o C, Mwakaje A, Kalumanga E, Yanda P (2016) Climate change and variability impacts on agricultural production and livelihood systems in Western Tanzania. Clim Dev. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2016.1146119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kareemulla K, Venkattakumar R, Samuel M (2017) An analysis on agricultural sustainability in India. Curr Sci 112(258):2

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlen D, Ditzlerb C, Andrewsa S (2003) Soil quality: why and how? Geoderma 114:145–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7061(03)00039-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kimaro A, Mpanda M, Rioux J, Aynekulu E, Shaba S, Thiong’o M, Mutuo P, Abwanda S, Shepherd K, Neufeldt H, Rosenstock TS (2015) Is conservation agriculture ‘climate-smart’ for maize farmers in the highlands of Tanzania? Springer-Verlag, Berlin/Heidelberg. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9711-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R (1998) Basic concepts and global issues: soil quality and agricultural sustainability. In: Lal R (ed) Soil quality and agricultural sustainability. Ann Arbor Science, Chelsea, pp 3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Lema MA, Majule AE (2009) Impacts of climate change, variability and adaptation strategies on agriculture in semi-arid areas of Tanzania: the case of Manyoni District in Singida Region. Tanzan J Environ Sci Technol 3:206–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Li YP, Huang GH, Wang GQ, Huang YF (2009) FSWM: a hybrid fuzzy-stochastic water management model for agricultural sustainability under uncertainty. Agric Water Manag 96:1807–1818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2009.07.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li W, Li YP, Li CH, Huang GH (2010) An inexact two-stage water management model for planning cultural irrigation under uncertainty. Agric Water Manag 97:1905–1914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2010.07.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lichtfouse E, Navarrete M, Debaeke P et al (2009). Agron Sustain Dev 29:1. https://doi.org/10.1051/agro:2008054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonagh JF, Birch-Thomsen T, Magic J (2001) Soil organic matter decline and compositional change associated with cereal cropping in Southern Tanzania. Land Degrad Dev:13–26. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medeiros C, Serrano R, Martos J, Girón V (1997) Effect of various soil tillage systems on structure development in a Haploxeralf of central Spain. Soil Technol 11(2):197–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0933-3630(96)00131-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mkonda MY, He XH (2017a) Conservation agriculture in Tanzania. In: Lichtfouse (ed) Sustainable agriculture reviews 22. Springer, Switzerland, pp 309–324. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48006-0_10

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mkonda MY, He XH (2017b) Long-term chemical fertilization in Tanzania. In: Lichtfouse (ed) Sustainable agriculture reviews 25. Springer, Switzerland, pp 261–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58679-3_9

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mkonda MY, He XH (2017c) Yields of the major food crops: implications to food security and policy in Tanzania’s semi-arid agro-ecological zone. Sustainability 9:1490. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9081490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mkonda MY, He XH (2017d) Sustainable environmental conservation in East Africa through agroforestry systems: a case of the eastern arc mountains of Tanzania. Int J Sustain Green Energy 6(4):49–56. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijrse.20170604.11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monfreda C, Ramankutty N, Foley JA (2008) Farming the planet. 2. Geographic distribution of crop areas, yields, physiological types, and net primary production in the year 2000. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 22:GB1022. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GB002947

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Msongaleli B, Rwehumbiza F, Tumbo S, Kihupi N (2015) Impacts of climate variability and change on rain-fed sorghum and maize: implications for food security policy in Tanzania. J Agric Sci 7(5). https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v7n5p124

  • Nezomba H, Tauro TP, Mtambanengwe F, Mapfumo P (2010) Indigenous legume fallows (indifallows) as an alternative soil fertility resource in smallholder maize cropping systems. Field Crop Res 115:149–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyadzi G, Janssen B, Oenema O (2006) Analysis of the effects of rotational woodlots on the nutrition and yield of maize following trees in western Tanzania. Agric Ecosyst Environ 116:93–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyong A, Francis A, Osman-Elasha B (2007) The value of indigenous knowledge in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in the African Sahel. Mitig Adapt Strat Glob Chang 12:787–797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okeyo A, Muchera-Muna M, Mugwe J, Ngetich K, Mugendi D, Diels J, Shisanya C (2014) Effects of selected soil and water conservation technologies on nutrient losses and maize yields in the central highlands of Kenya. Agric Water Manag 137:52–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osman-Elasha B, Goutbi N, Spanger-Siegfried E, Dougherty B, Hanafi H, Zakieldeen S, Sanjak A, Atti H, Elhassan, H (2006) Adaptation strategies to increase human resilience against climate variability and change: lessons from the arid regions of Sudan. AIACC Working Paper No. 42

    Google Scholar 

  • Paavola J (2008) Livelihoods, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in Morogoro. Tanzan Environ Sci Policy 11:642–654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Partey ST, Thevathasan NV (2013) Agronomic potentials of rarely-used agroforestry species for smallholder agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: an exploratory study. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 44(11):1733–1748

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pauline N, Vogel C, Grab S, Liwenga E (2016) Smallholder farmers in the Great Ruaha River sub-Basin of Tanzania: coping or adapting to rainfall variability? Clim Dev:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2016.1184607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poppy GM, Chiotha S, Eigenbrod F, Harvey C, Honzák M, Hudson M, Dawson T (2014) Food security in a perfect storm: using the ecosystem services framework to increase understanding. Philos Trans R Soc Lond Ser B Biol Sci 369(1639):20120288. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pretty J, Noble A, Dixon J, Hine J, Penning de Vries F, Morison J (2006) Resource-conserving agriculture increases yields in developing countries. Environ Sci Technol 40:1114–1119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rowhani P, Lobell DB, Linderman M, Ramankutty N (2011a) Climate variability and crop production in Tanzania. Agric For Meteorol Sci Direct 151(2011):449–460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowhani P, Degomme O, Guha-Sapir D, Lambin E (2011b) Malnutrition and conflict in East Africa: the impacts of resource variability on human security. Clim Change 105:207–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9884-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rusinamhodzi L, Corbeels M, van Wijk MT, Rufino MC, Nyamangara J., Giller K. E. (2011). A meta-analysis of long-term effects of conservation agriculture on maize grain yield under rain-fed conditions. Agron Sustain Dev 31: 657-673.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma BR, Minhas PS (2005) Strategies for managing saline/alkali waters for sustainable agricultural production in South Asia. Agric Water Manag 78:136–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2005.04.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sieber S, Tscherning K, Graef F, Sergio U, Paloma G (2015) Food security in the context of climate change and bioenergy production in Tanzania: methods, tools and applications, vol 15. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, pp 1163–1168. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-015-0834-x

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon T, Snyman H, Smit G (2007) Cattle-rangeland management practices and perceptions of pastoralists towards rangeland degradation in the Borana zone of southern Ethiopia. J Environ Manag 82:481–494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sosovele H, Schechambo F, Kisanga D (1999) Rethinking natural resource degradation in semi-arid Sub-Saharan Africa: the case of semi-arid Tanzania. ODI, University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

    Google Scholar 

  • Thierfelder C, Wall PC (2009) Effects of conservation agriculture techniques on infiltration and soil water content in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Soil Tillage Res 28:209–220. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2012.00406.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D, Cassman KG, Matson PA, Naylor R, Polasky S (2002) Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature 418:671–677

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2011) Food and ecological security: identifying synergy and trade-offs. UNEP, Nairobi http://www.unep.org/ecosystemmanagement/Portals/7/Documents/unep_policy_series/Food and Ecological solutionsJS.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2012) Avoiding future famines: Ecological foundation sustainable food systems. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • URT (2007) United Republic of Tanzania, National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA). Division of Environment, Vice President’s Office, Dar es, Salaam

    Google Scholar 

  • URT (2012) [Tanzania] National Sample Census of Agriculture 2007/2008 Small Holder Agriculture: Regional Report – Singida Region (Volume Vm). United Republic of Tanzania, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Environment, Zanzibar

    Google Scholar 

  • URT (2014) Review of food and agricultural policies in the United Republic of Tanzania, MAFAP Country Report Series. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanlauwe B (2004) Integrated soil fertility management research at TSBF: the framework, the principles, and their application. In: Bationo A (ed) Managing nutrient cycles to sustain soil fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa. Academy Science Publishers, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanlauwe B., Wendt J., Giller K. et al. (2014). A fourth principle is required to define conservation agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa: the appropriate use of fertilizer to enhance crop productivity. Field Crops Res 155. pg 10–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vermeulen S, Campbell B, Ingram J (2012) Climate change and food systems. Annu Rev Environ Resour 37(1):195–222. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-020411-130608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wall PC, Thierfelder C, Ngwira A, Govaerts B, Nyagumbo I, Baudron F (2013) Conservation agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa. In: Jat RA, Graziano de Silva J (eds) Conservation agriculture: global prospects and challenges. CABI, Cambridge ISBN-13: 9781780642598

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanda P (2015) Climate change implications for management and use of agricultural biodiversity resources in Africa. Environ Ecol Res 3(2):35–43 http://www.hrpub.org. https://doi.org/10.13189/eer.2015.030201

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the Editor-in-Chief of Sustainable Agricultural Reviews, Professor Eric Lichtfouse for inviting them to write a chapter in “Ecology for agriculture”. They are also appreciative to the reviewers for the constructive comments and insights.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Excellence for Soil Biology, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China

    Msafiri Yusuph Mkonda & Xinhua He

  2. Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Solomon Mahlangu College of Science and Education, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

    Msafiri Yusuph Mkonda

  3. School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia

    Xinhua He

Authors
  1. Msafiri Yusuph Mkonda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xinhua He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. CEREGE, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Coll France, Aix-en-Provence, France

    Eric Lichtfouse

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Mkonda, M.Y., He, X. (2018). Soil Quality and Agricultural Sustainability in Semi-arid Areas. In: Lichtfouse, E. (eds) Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 32. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews, vol 32. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98914-3_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation