Agricultural intensification in the Sahel: Suggestions for stakeholders

Key messages

• More trees and shrubs on farmland increase soil organic matter and crop production. However, crop yields can be further increased with small amounts of spot-applied mineral fertilizer (microdosing).
• Farmer managed natural regeneration provides a firm foundation for further intensification. It is clear from research that nutrient use efficiency and rainfall-use efficiency depend on adding organic matter to soils, and particularly to sandy soils. However, over most of the Sahel, it is challenging to produce enough manure and biomass – at least until the arrival of newly regenerating trees and shrubs.
• Projects z to improve soil fertility should do so in tandem with promoting farmer managed natural regeneration, or do it in existing agroforestry parklands.
• As fertilizer prices increase, African smallholders find greater value in nitrogen-fixing trees.

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