54
production, which determines the amount of C stored in the plant biomass and the
amount returned to the soil. The World Bank (2012) reported that the average effect
size of fertilizer use on soil C was an additional 0.26 Mg C ha
−1
year
−1
, while manure
application yielded 0.06 Mg C ha
−1
year
−1
more in Africa. Oladele and Braimoh
(2014) found a slightly higher C sequestration rate of 0.63 Mg C ha
−1
year
−1
after
reviewing different fertilizer experiments in Africa.
In addition, general improvements in nutrient and water use efficiency through
technologies, such as drip irrigation, micro-dosing of mineral fertilizer, and precision farming, can be effective in providing sinks of C in the soil and reducing GHG
emissions in SSA. These technologies ensure that the right amounts of water and
fertilizer are placed close to the growing plant at the right time and that less drops
of water are used per crop, hence sustaining net primary (biomass) production. This
Table 1 SLM practices and soil C sequestration rates in Africa
SLM practice
Soil C sequestration rate (Mg
C ha
−1
year
−1 )
Source
Inorganic fertilizer use
0.63
Oladele and Braimoh (2014)
0.26
The World Bank (2012)
Organic manure use
0.33
The World Bank (2012)
Retention of crop residues
0.24
Raji and Ogunwole (2006)
0.37
The World Bank (2012)
Mulching
0.38
The World Bank (2012)
Cover cropping
0.32 ± 0.08
Poeplau and Don (2015)
0.41
The World Bank (2012)
No tillage (CA)
0.57 ± 0.14
West and Post (2002)
0.37
The World Bank (2012)
0.05–0.36
Vågen et al. (2005)
Supplemental irrigation
0.41
Gebeyehu and Soromessa
(2018)
Crop rotation:
Diversify crop rotation
0.38
The World Bank (2012)
Intensify crop rotation
0.34
The World Bank (2012)
Terracing
0.42
The World Bank (2012)
Rainwater harvesting
0.84
The World Bank (2012)
Cross-slope barriers
1.19
The World Bank (2012)
Agro-forestry:
Alley cropping
1.46
The World Bank (2012)
Improved fallow
2.41
The World Bank (2012)
0.07–1.37
Vågen et al. (2005)
Cacao and salmwood
0.06
Lorenz and Lal (2014)
Parklands, live fences, and
home gardens
0.20–0.80
Luedeling et al. (2011);
Gelaw et al. (2014)
Rotational woodlots
2.20–5.80
Luedeling et al. (2011)
Improved grazing and pasture
management
0.47
Conant et al. (2017)
0.80
The World Bank (2012)
K. Were et al.
production, which determines the amount of C stored in the plant biomass and the
amount returned to the soil. The World Bank (2012) reported that the average effect
size of fertilizer use on soil C was an additional 0.26 Mg C ha
−1
year
−1
, while manure
application yielded 0.06 Mg C ha
−1
year
−1
more in Africa. Oladele and Braimoh
(2014) found a slightly higher C sequestration rate of 0.63 Mg C ha
−1
year
−1
after
reviewing different fertilizer experiments in Africa.
In addition, general improvements in nutrient and water use efficiency through
technologies, such as drip irrigation, micro-dosing of mineral fertilizer, and precision farming, can be effective in providing sinks of C in the soil and reducing GHG
emissions in SSA. These technologies ensure that the right amounts of water and
fertilizer are placed close to the growing plant at the right time and that less drops
of water are used per crop, hence sustaining net primary (biomass) production. This
Table 1 SLM practices and soil C sequestration rates in Africa
SLM practice
Soil C sequestration rate (Mg
C ha
−1
year
−1 )
Source
Inorganic fertilizer use
0.63
Oladele and Braimoh (2014)
0.26
The World Bank (2012)
Organic manure use
0.33
The World Bank (2012)
Retention of crop residues
0.24
Raji and Ogunwole (2006)
0.37
The World Bank (2012)
Mulching
0.38
The World Bank (2012)
Cover cropping
0.32 ± 0.08
Poeplau and Don (2015)
0.41
The World Bank (2012)
No tillage (CA)
0.57 ± 0.14
West and Post (2002)
0.37
The World Bank (2012)
0.05–0.36
Vågen et al. (2005)
Supplemental irrigation
0.41
Gebeyehu and Soromessa
(2018)
Crop rotation:
Diversify crop rotation
0.38
The World Bank (2012)
Intensify crop rotation
0.34
The World Bank (2012)
Terracing
0.42
The World Bank (2012)
Rainwater harvesting
0.84
The World Bank (2012)
Cross-slope barriers
1.19
The World Bank (2012)
Agro-forestry:
Alley cropping
1.46
The World Bank (2012)
Improved fallow
2.41
The World Bank (2012)
0.07–1.37
Vågen et al. (2005)
Cacao and salmwood
0.06
Lorenz and Lal (2014)
Parklands, live fences, and
home gardens
0.20–0.80
Luedeling et al. (2011);
Gelaw et al. (2014)
Rotational woodlots
2.20–5.80
Luedeling et al. (2011)
Improved grazing and pasture
management
0.47
Conant et al. (2017)
0.80
The World Bank (2012)
K. Were et al.