Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluating NUTMON nutrient balancing in Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nutrient balances for the last two decades in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) reveal, almost unequivocally, alarming nutrient deficiencies. The nutrient balancing in SSA was initiated by Stoorvogel and Smaling [Report 28, Winand Staring Centre, 1990] and Smaling et al. [Fert. Res. 35 (2003) 237]. Their nutrient monitoring (NUTMON) concept is conducted as input–output analysis. Inputs are fertilizers, mineral and organic, wet and dry deposition, nitrogen fixation and sedimentation. Outputs are harvested crops and residues, leaching, denitrification and erosion. Nutrient flows, as fertilizers and harvested crops, are in general measured or estimated by interviews, whereas flows that are difficult to quantify, such as leaching, denitrification and erosion, are modeled by means of transfer functions mainly elaborated by the NUTMON initiators. Generally, for the NUTMON studies the average losses worked out by means of transfer functions seem high in comparison to similar rates in high input agriculture in temperate regions. Therefore, we decided to review some of the original transfer functions and their impact on the NUTMON calculations. The review revealed that the transfer functions have a strong tendency to overestimate losses. No attempts have been made to validate whether the modeled losses are consistent to empirical measurements for the actual locations for which the nutrient balances have been applied. Contemporary NUTMON studies rely on the original transfer functions, as well as the original assumptions employed in the parameterisation. Therefore, NUTMON balances are bound to reveal alarming nutrient deficiencies, no matter what the SSA farmers do.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arora Y. and Juo A.S.R. 1982. Leaching of fertilizer ions in a kaolinitic ultisol in the high rainfall tropics: leaching of nitrate in field plots under cropping and bare fallow. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 46: 1212–1218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Avnimelech Y. and McHenry J.R. 1984. Enrichment of transported sediments with organic carbon, nutrients and clay. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48: 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baijukya F.P. and de Steenhuijsen P. 1998. Nutrient balances and their consequences in the banana-based land use systems of Bukoba district, Northwest Tanzania. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 71: 147–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barraclough D., Jarvis S.C. and Williams J. 1993. The relation between fertilizer nitrogen applications and nitrate leaching from grazed grassland. Soil Use Manage. 8(2): 51–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouwman A.F. 1989. Background. In: Bouwman A.F. (ed.), Soils and the Greenhouse Effect. International Soil Reference and Information Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp. 25–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brand J. and Pfund J.L. 1998. Site-and watershed-level assessment of nutrient dynamics under shifting cultivation in eastern Madagascar. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 71: 169–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosson P. 1983. Soil erosion in developing countries; amounts, consequences and policies. Working paper No. 21, Centre for Resource Policy Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, 38 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson E.A., Matson P.A. and Brooks P.D. 1996. Nitrous oxide emission controls and inorganic nitrogen dynamics in fertilized tropical agricultural soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 60: 1145–1152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson A. and Collins R. 1998. Predicting erosion and sediment yield at the catchment scale. In: Penning de Vries F.W.T., Agus F. and Kerr J. (eds), Soil Erosion at Multiple Scales, Principles and Methods for Assessing Causes and Impacts. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK in association with the International Board for Soil Research and Management, pp. 317–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubey H.D. and Fox R.H. 1974. Denitrification losses from humid tropical soils of Puerto Rico. Proc. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. 38: 917–920.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias E., Morse S. and Belshaw D.G.R. 1998. Nitrogen and phosphorus balances in Kindo Koisha farms in southern Ethiopia. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 71: 93–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folmer E.C.R., Geurts P.M.H. and Francisco J.R. 1998. Assessment of soil fertility depletion in Mozambique. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 71: 159–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gachene C.K.K. 1987. Nutrient losses in eroded soil material from some Kenyan soils. In: Soil and Water Conservation in Kenya. Proceedings Third National Workshop. University of Nairobi/ Swedish International Development Agency, pp. 34–37.

  • Groffman P.M. 1995. A conceptual assessment of the importance of denitrification as a source of soil nitrogen loss in tropical agro-ecosystems. Fert. Res. 42: 139–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill A.R. 1996. Nitrate removal from Stream Riparian Zones. J. Env. Qual. 25: 743–755.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoben A. 1995. Paradigms and Politics: The Cultural Construction of Environmental Policy in Ethiopia.World Dev. 23: 1007–1021.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkinson D.S., Bradbury N.J. and Coleman K. 1994. How the Rothamsted classical experiments have been used to develop and test models for the turnover of carbon and nitrogen in soil. In: Leigh R.A. and Johnston A.E. (eds), Long-term Experiments in Agricultural and Ecological Sciences. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 117–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilewe A.M., Kamau F.N., Kariuki F.N. and Kaiyare J.M. 1985. The effect of crop cover and residue management on runoff and soil loss. Annual Report, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Department, Nairobi, Kenya, pp. 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lal R. 1998. Agronomic consequences of soil erosion. In: Penning de Vries F.W.T., Agus F. and Kerr J. (eds), Soil Erosion at Multiple Scales, Principles and Methods for Assessing Causes and Impacts. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, in association with the International Board for Soil Research and Management, pp. 152–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanting H. 1977. Land Utilization Types in the Kisii District. Preliminary Report no. 15, Department of Soil Science and Geology, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 85 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latour B. 1987. Science in Action-How to Follow Scientists and Engineers Through Society. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 288 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leach M. and Mearns R. 1996. Environmental change and policy: challenging received wisdom in Africa. In: Leach M. and Mearns R. (eds), The Lie of the Land: Challenging Received Wisdom on the African Environment. International African Institute, London, UK, pp. 1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson P., Billow C., Hall S. and Zachariessen J. 1996. Fertilization practices and soil variations control nitrogen oxide emissions from tropical sugar cane. J. Geophys. Res. 101: 18533–18545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omoti U., Otaga O. and Isenmila E. 1983. Leaching losses of nutrients in oil palm plantations determined by lysimeters. Plant Soil 73: 365–376.

    Google Scholar 

  • Post W.M. and Mann L.K. 1989. Changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen as a result of cultivation. In: Bouwman A.F. (Ed.) Soils and the Greenhouse Effect. International Soil Reference and Information Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp. 401–406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie J.T., Singh U., Godwin D.C. and Hunt L.A. 1989. A User's Guide to CERES-Maize V2. 10. International Fertilizer Development Center, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe E.M. 1995. Except-Africa: Postscript to a special section on development narratives. World Dev. 23: 1065–1069.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez P.A., Shepherd K.D., Soule M.J., Place F.M., Buresh R.J., Izac A.M.N. et al. 1997. Soil fertility replenishment in Africa: An investment in natural resource capital. In: Buresh R.J.,Sanchez P.A. and Calhourn F. (eds), Replenishing Soil Fertility in Africa. SSSA Special Publication No. 51, SSSA, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. pp. 1–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlesinger W.H. 1986. Changes in soil carbon storage and associated properties with disturbance and recovery. In: Trabalka J.R. and Reichle D.E. (eds), The Changing Carbon Cycle, A Global Analysis. Springer Verlag, New York, New York, USA, pp. 194–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scoones I. 1998. Investigating soil fertility in Africa: some reflections from research in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. In: Bergström L. and Kirchmann H. (eds), Carbon and Nutrient Dynamics in Natural and Agricultural Tropical Ecosystems. Department of Soil Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala, Sweden. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, pp. 245–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharon J.H. and Matson P.A. 1999. Nitrogen oxide emissions after nitrogen additions in tropical forests. Nature 400: 152–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd K.D., Ohlsson E., Okalebo J.R. and Ndufa J.K. 1996. Potential impact of agroforestry on soil nutrient balances at the farm scale in the East African Highlands. Fert. Res. 44: 87–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smaling E.M.A. 1993a. An agro-ecological framework for integrated nutrient management with special reference to Kenya. The NetherlandsLandbouw Universiteit Wageningen, The Netherlands, 250 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smaling E.M.A. 1993b. The Soil Nutrient balance: An Indicator of Sustainable Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Fertilizer Society, Proceedings 340, pp. 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smaling E.M.A. 1998. Guest editor on Special Issue: Nutrient Balances as Indicators of Production and Sustainability in Sub-Saharan African Agriculture. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. Vol. 71, 346 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smaling E.M.A. and Fresco L.O. 1993. A decision-support model for monitoring nutrient balances under agricultural land use (NUTMON). Geoderma 60: 235–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smaling E.M.A., Fresco L.O. and de Jager A. 1996. Classifying, monitoring and improving soil nutrient stocks and flows in African agriculture. Ambio 25: 492–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smaling E.M.A., Stoorvogel J.J. and Windmeijer P.N. 1993. Calculating soil nutrient balances in Africa at different scales II. District scale. Fert. Res. 35: 237–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stocking M. 1984. Erosion and soil productivity: a review. Consultants' Working Paper No. 1. FAO, Rome, Italy, 103 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stocking M. 1996. Soil erosion. In: Leach M. and Mearns R. (eds), The Lie of the Land: Challenging Received Wisdom on the African Environment. International African Institute, London, UK, pp. 140–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoorvogel J.J. and Smaling E.M.A. 1990. Assessment of soil nutrient depletion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Winand Staring Centre, Report 28. Wageningen, The Netherlands, 4 volumes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoorvogel J.J., Smaling E.M.A. and Janssen B.N. 1993. Calculating soil nutrient balances in Africa at different scales I. Supranational scale. Fert. Res. 35: 237–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiessen H. and Shang. C. 1998. Organic-matter turnover in tropical land-use systems. In: Bergström L. and Kirchmann H. (eds), Carbon and Nutrient Dynamics in Natural and Agricultural Tropical Ecosystems. Department of Soil Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala, Sweden. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, pp. 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tisdale S.L., Nelson W.L. and Beaton J.D. 1985. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers. 4th edition, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, New York, USA, 634 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tong'i E.R.N. and Mochoge B.O. 1991. Soil and water loss through erosion from three Kenyan soils. Workshop on denudiation processes and land use in tropical regions, Nairobi, Kenya.

  • Uribe E. and Cox F.R. 1988. Soil properties affecting the availability of potassium in highly weathered soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48: 148–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Bosch H., Gitari J.N., Ogaro V.N., Maobe S. and Vlaming J. 1998a. Monitoring nutrient flows and economic performance in African farming systems (NUTMON). III. Monitoring nutrient flows and balances in three districts in Kenya. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 71: 63–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Bosch H., de Jager A. and Vlaming J. 1998b. Monitoring nutrient flows and economic performance in African farming systems (NUTMON). II. Tool development. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 71: 49–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Pol F. and Traore B. 1993. Soil nutrient depletion by agricultural production in southern Mali. Fert. Res. 36: 79–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Pol F. 1992. Soil mining. An unseen contributor to farm income in southern Mali. Bulletin 325, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 47 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Wissen H.L.M. 1974. The influence of cultivation practices on organic matter content of deep soils in the Kisii District. Preliminary Report No. 4. Department of Soil Science and Geology, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 45 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters D.T. and Malzer G.L. 1990. Nitrogen management and nitrification inhibitor effects on nitrogen-15 urea: II. Nitrogen leaching and balance. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 54: 122–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson R.T. 2000. Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry. Cambridge University Press, New York, Published for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 377 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wielemaker W.G. and Boxem H.W. 1982. Soils of the Kisii area. Agricultural Research Report 922. Centre for Publication and Documentation, (PUDOC-DLO), Wageningen, The Netherlands, 208 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wortmann C.S. and Kaizzi C.K. 1998. Nutrient balances and expected effects of alternative practices in farming systems of Uganda. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 71: 115–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young A. 1989. Agroforestry for Soil Conservation. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 276 pp.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jenslevvej 69, DK-4070, Kirke Hyllinge, Denmark

    Jens Færge

  2. Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility Laboratory, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, FC, Denmark

    Jakob Magid

Authors
  1. Jens Færge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jakob Magid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Færge, J., Magid, J. Evaluating NUTMON nutrient balancing in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 69, 101–110 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FRES.0000029680.97610.51

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FRES.0000029680.97610.51

Search

Navigation