Addressing Soil Acidity and Enhancing Soil Health

The report identifies soil acidity as a critical threat to food security and agricultural sustainability in East Africa, noting that over 60% of arable land in the region is degraded. It proposes a holistic approach centered on 'high-priority areas' (HPAs) where interventions can be scaled. The core strategy involves combining the application of agricultural lime with integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices, such as crop rotation and organic matter application. To achieve this, the report recommends scaling up soil testing via rapid kits, increasing farmer awareness through community-based extension agents, and developing a robust lime value chain by engaging private sector actors and optimizing last-mile distribution.

• More than 60% (2.3 billion ha) of arable land in East Africa is estimated to be degraded, which threatens agricultural sustainability, food security, and livelihoods.
• Soil acidity in East Africa is driven by both natural factors and anthropogenic causes, including intensive crop production, insufficient replenishment of nutrients, overapplication of nitrogen-heavy fertilizers, and the removal of crop residues.
• The consequences of soil acidity include soil toxicity from aluminum and manganese, reduced microbial activity, low soil buffering capacity, and decreased nutrient use efficiency for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
• The report proposes focusing interventions on High-Priority Areas (HPAs), defined by the intersection of soil pH < 6.5, crop productivity, input availability, and existing extension service systems.
• To address the high cost of laboratories, the report recommends providing farmers in HPAs with rapid soil testing kits to assess pH and nutrient levels.
• Agricultural lime should be applied at recommended doses—typically 2 to 5 tonnes per hectare—and repeated every 2 to 4 years, combined with Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) practices like cover crops and organic matter application.
• To improve the lime value chain, the report suggests diversifying production by engaging cement factories, aggregating demand through cooperatives, and employing youth for last-mile delivery.

APA

Larrea, E. L. C. (2024). Addressing Soil Acidity and Enhancing Soil Health. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-10/soil-acidity-health-east-africa.pdf

Chicago

Larrea, Erika Luna Cristina. Addressing Soil Acidity and Enhancing Soil Health. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-10/soil-acidity-health-east-africa.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Larrea |first1=Erika Luna Cristina |title=Addressing Soil Acidity and Enhancing Soil Health |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=October 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-10/soil-acidity-health-east-africa.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{larrea2024addressing, author = {Larrea, Erika Luna Cristina}, title = {{Addressing Soil Acidity and Enhancing Soil Health}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-10/soil-acidity-health-east-africa.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }