Out-scaling 4R Nutrient Stewardship Knowledge to Support Crop Production Intensification in Ethiopia

Crop productivity in smallholder farming systems in Ethiopia is low, with national average yields of less than 3 t/ha for cereals. As available arable land is becoming increasingly scarce, increases in production will be driven largely by intensification of inputs rather than expansion of land area. In the past decade, the Ethiopian government has taken steps to support agricultural growth through targeted investments to ensure access to fertilizers and soil testing.

Soil fertility has a major impact on crop productivity in smallholder cropping systems of Ethiopia. Thus, site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) is indispensable to optimize maize productivity and reduce the yield gap. Until very recently, fertilizer application in Ethiopia was based on a blanket recommendation in which only N and P fertilizers were applied.