Targeting Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Based Agriculture in East Africa

Agricultural intensification in Sub-Saharan Africa has the chance to increase yields and food security while minimizing environmental contamination and protecting remaining native ecosystems. Targeting intensification to areas of high production potential including clayey, deep tropical soils on gently sloping lands will reduce leaching and runoff of nitrogen into water bodies. This holds particularly for rates of nitrogen fertilizer applications of less than 150 N ha −1 yr −1 rates at which nitrous oxide emissions also remain low. Overlays of maps of maize production potential, soil properties, and topography for East Africa indicate almost half of that area has high production potential and a third of that is on favorable soils. More than 70% of this area identified for targeting is already in cropland, thus reducing the need to clear additional native ecosystems. Targeting intensification must also include factors such as climate and seasonality. Incorporating results from field studies of agricultural impacts, assessing these impacts at larger scales, and developing planning maps with national partners and other stakeholders are key steps toward promoting increased crop production while minimizing environmental consequences.