From Soil Degradation to Restoration: Integrated Soil Fertility Management Pathways for Sustainable Sugarcane Production in Kenya’s Diverse Agroecological Zones

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Sugar Tech

Name of Author

• Miriam Githumbi, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
• Erick Okola, Kenya Sugar Board
• Harun Gitari, Kenyatta University
• Dennis Beesigamukama, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
• Jacob Omollo, Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute. Miwani Road
• Sumit Sow, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University
• Shivani Ranjan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University
• Patricia Njeru, Kenya Sugar Board
• Chrysantus Tanga, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

The sustainability of sugarcane growth in Kenya is also becoming endangered by the degradation of the soil in the agroecological zones (AEZ), which are dominated by Ferralsols, Nitisols, Acrisols, Cambisols, and Vertisols. Such soils are also limited by the fact that they have been depleted of their nutrients and are characterized by salt, soil erosion, and diminishing soil organic matter (SOM), which makes them very unproductive despite the large percentage composition by sugarcane in the gross domestic product of agriculture in Kenya. This review summarizes available evidence on the need to adopt soil fertility management measures in order to facilitate sugarcane production at AEZs. One hundred and twenty-six peer-reviewed articles published in 1990–2024 have been found in Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar and synthesized based on a conceptual systems-thinking approach, but not quantitative, by synthesizing the evidence of field experiments, meta-analyses, and location-specific interventions. The synthesis implies that the soil fertility limitations are spatially dispersed, and the imbalances of nutrients are linked to long-term use of inorganic fertilizers, advanced erosion of highlands (e.g., Kakamega Highlands), and salinity pressure in lowlands (e.g., Kwale), which represent the necessity of site-based approaches to the management. There has always been evidence that integrated soil fertility management (ISFM), consisting of a combination of balanced mineral fertilization, organic amendments (compost and insect-based frass), crop residue retention, and agroforestry, increases the sugarcane yields, SOM stocks, microbial activity, and nutrient-use efficiency. Adoption is, however, still limited due to socioeconomic reasons such as low supply of inputs and poor extension services. The potential recommendations that may be emerging in this review are: intensifying services of soil tests at the county levels, coming up with AEZ-specific fertilizer recommendations, encouraging the use of organic amendments, and improving research-industry collaboration to sustainably produce sugarcane in Kenya.

Keywords

Agroecological zones, Integrated nutrient management, Soil fertility, Soil health, Sugarcane productivity, Systems-based review

Recommended Citation

Githumbi, M., Okola, E., Gitari, H., Beesigamukama, D., Omollo, J., Sow, S., Ranjan, S., Njeru, P., & Tanga, C. (2026). From Soil Degradation to Restoration: Integrated Soil Fertility Management Pathways for Sustainable Sugarcane Production in Kenya’s Diverse Agroecological Zones. Sugar Tech https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-026-01746-y