Use of organic amendments for increasing the productivity of arid lands

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Abstract
Almost 40% of the world's land area is comprised of arid and semiarid regions that are inhabited by some 700 million people; approximately 60% of these drylands are in developing countries. Although these regions will continue to produce most of the world's food grains for expanding populations in the years ahead, the yields are extremely low. In some countries of the sub‐Saharan region of Africa, there has been a sharp decline in food grain production per capita during the 1980s. Much of this can be attributed to the deterioration of the natural resource base, i.e., agricultural land. The principal constraints to increase agricultural production in these dryland areas are erratic and insufficient rainfall, and coarse‐textured, sandy soils that are low in fertility, organic matter, and water‐holding capacity. They are often poorly managed and subject to extensive degradation from desertification and wind and water erosion, and, consequently, the loss of soil productivity. The key to improving the productivity, stability, and sustainability of these dryland farming systems is to halt any further deterioration of the soil resource. This can be achieved by the implementation of sound soil and water management practices and by proper and regular additions of organic amendments. This article discusses a number of strategies for developing sustainable conservation and production systems in these arid and semiarid regions.

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