Soil Degradation and Restoration in Africa

Rattan Lal, B. A. Stewart

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781138103313
• eBook ISBN: 9781351593281
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Biology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Soil degradation is a widespread problem in Africa resulting in decreased agricultural productivity while demand for food continues to increase. Degradation is caused by accelerated erosion, acidification, contamination, depletion of soil organic matter and plant nutrients, and salinization. The major cause of soil degradation in Africa is uncontrolled and excessive grazing in the savanna regions followed by deforestation and the use of inappropriate and extractive farming practices.

Perpetual neglect of the health of soils in Africa can exacerbate the already serious problems of food and nutritional insecurity and environmental degradation. Food and nutritional security of the growing population of Africa can only be achieved if degraded soils are restored and soils of agroecosystems are managed prudently and sustainably. Ignoring soils and taking the fragile, finite and precious soil resources for granted is the principal cause of poverty, hunger, and environmental degradation. The downward spiral must be reversed through soil restoration measures based on translating science into action.

This book describes the soils of Africa, processes of soil degradation, extent and severity of soil degradation, and the impacts of degradation processes on food and nutritional security.

Features:

• Explores the extent and severity of soil degradation in Africa
• Analyzes the cause–effect relationship between anthropogenic activities and soil degradation
• Reviews processes of soil degradation in Africa including erosion, salinization, nutrient depletion, and decline of soil organic matter
• Addresses the effect of climate change on soil degradation in Africa.
• Explains how soil degradation causes food and nutritional insecurity

Part of the Advances in Soil Sciences series, this volume is specifically devoted to the processes and factors that cause soil degradation and the challenges and potential for remediation and restoration of soil health in Africa.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Series
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Editors
• Contributors
• Chapter 1 Soil Degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for Restoration
• Chapter 2 Soil Degradation with Reference to Nutrient Mining and Soil Fertility Decline in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Chapter 3 Making Sense Out of Soil Nutrient Mining and Depletion in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Chapter 4 Land-Use Impacts on Soil Physical Properties of an Alfisol in Western Nigeria
• Chapter 5 Soil Degradation in the Senegal Lower Valley
• Chapter 6 Within-Field Monitoring of Secondary Salinity in Irrigated Areas of South Africa
• Chapter 7 Changes in Soil Organic Matter Content and Quality in South African Arable Land
• Chapter 8 Rangeland Management and Soil Quality in South Africa
• Chapter 9 The Fertilizer Dilemma
• Chapter 10 Conservation Agriculture in Tanzania
• Chapter 11 The Storage of Organic Carbon in Dryland Soils of Africa: Constraints and Opportunities
• Chapter 12 Degradation and Climate-Smart Options for Restoring the East African Soils
• Chapter 13 Nitrogen Dynamics and Management in Rainfed Drylands: Issues and Challenges
• Chapter 14 The Nuclear Option
• Chapter 15 Love Songs to Loam: Motivating Youth to Make a Difference by Engaging Science and Religion
• Index