Soil fertility management is crucial for sustainable crop production and for food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This book describes the various paradigms underlying soil science and soil fertility research in SSA over the last fifty years. It provides examples of important innovations generated and assesses the position of research within the research-for-development (RforD) community, including how innovations have been validated with the intended beneficiaries.

Using the experience of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as a case study, the authors...