This book elucidates the importance of long-term experiments in revealing evidence of soil fertility decline in Africa.

This book elucidates the importance of long-term experiments in revealing evidence of soil fertility decline in Africa. An evaluation of experiences from on-going long-term experiments is given in broad detail. The first chapter explains the paradigm shift in soil fertility management then provides justification for long-term experiments before illuminating experiences from long-term experiments in East, West and Southern Africa. The second, sixth, eighth and ninth chapters give an in-depth account of crop management practices and soil fertility interventions in long-term trials within specific agro-ecological zones in West Africa. The rest of the chapters (chapter three, four, five and seven) address crop management, tillage practices and, organic and inorganic fertilizer applications in the context of long-term experiments in specific agro-ecological zones in East Africa.

Overview of long-term experiments in Africa; A. Bationo, B. Waswa, A. Adamou, V. Bado, M. Bonzi, E. Iwuafor, C. Kibunja, J.Kihara, M.  Mucheru, D. Mugendi, J. Mugwe, C. Mwale, J. Okeyo, A. Olle, K.  Roing and M. Sedogo.- Long term effects of crop rotations with fallow or groundnut on soil fertility and succeeding sorghum yields in the guinea savannah of West Africa; V. Bado, A. Bationo, F. Lompo, K. Traore, M.P. Sedogo and M.P. Cescas.- Crop and soil response to tillage and crop residue application in a tropical Ferralsol in sub-humid western Kenya; J. Kihara, J. Mukalama, S. Njoroge and A. Bationo.- Strategies for maintenance and improvement of soil productivity under continuous maize and beans cropping system in the sub-humid highlands of Kenya: Case study of the long-term trial at Kabete; C. N. Kibunja1, F. B. Mwaura, D. N. Mugendi, P. T. Gicheru, J.W. Wamuongo and A. Bationo.- Management of Soil Fertility in a Long-Term Field Traial of Semi-Arid Kenya; F.M. Kihanda and G.P. Warren.- Long-term soil fertility trials in Niger, West Africa; A. Adamou, K. Saidou and A. Bationo.- Effects of organic and inorganic applications on soil bacterial and fungal microbial communities diversity and impacts of earthworms on microbial diversity in the Kabete Long-term trial, Kenya; M.M. Kamaa, H.N. Mburu, E. Blanchart, L. Chibole, J.L. Chotte, C.N. Kibunja and D. Lesueur.- Cropping systems in the Sudano-sahelian zone: Implications on soil fertility management over varied seasons; A. Bationo, J. Kimetu, J. Kihara, Z. Traore, M. Bagayoko, V. Bado, M. Lompo, R. Tabo and S. Koala.- Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Fertilizer Use in West Africa from long-term experiments: Alternative phosphorus fertilizer sources in different agro-ecological zones of Togo;  A. Bationo, A.K. Pinto-Toyi  and E. Ayuk, A.U. Mokwunye.- Long-term integrated soil fertility management in South-western Nigeria: crop performance and impact on the soil fertility status; B. Vanlauwe, G. Nziguheba,O.C. Nwoke, J. Diels, N Sanginga and R. Merckx.