Restoration Potential of Degraded Agricultural Land in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review

Abstract

Land degradation is a major challenge affecting the sustainability of agriculture and livestock production systems worldwide. Poor soil and water management practices coupled with unsustainable agricultural practices are known to accelerate land degradation. Globally, approximately 18.1 million km2 of land is degraded, of which 62% is due to unsustainable use of the land and 38% is due to overgrazing. Generally, 20% of the arable land, 30% of forest land, and 10% of grazing land are affected by land degradation. In Sub-Saharan Africa which is 46% grassland, 12% crop land, and 26% forest land. Also, land degradation affects approximately 1.5 billion people. Different restoration strategies have been employed, including restoring natural vegetation cover, agroforestry, sustainable rangeland management, and soil and water conservation practices. However, the adoption and effectiveness of these strategies are low and the problem of land degradation is still increasing. The main objective of this work was to explore potentials for restoring and managing degraded land in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on enhancing plant nutrient availability, soil ecological services, and improving soil physical properties such as texture and reducing vulnerability to soil erosion. This review found that there is much potential for the restoration of degraded land in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by assessing, monitoring, and improvement of soil quality. However, these strategies are mostly used for improving crop yield only in most Sab Saharan regions. This paper suggests the use of these technologies for restoring or improving the quality of degraded land in the SSA.