Soil Property Responses to Push-Pull Cropping in East Africa

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Food and Energy Security

Name of Author

• Grace Mercy Amboka, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
• Mattias Jonsson, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
• Celina Apel, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
• David Meinhof, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Adomas Liepa, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Frank Chidawanyika, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
• Andargachew Detebo, Institute for Sustainable Development
• Felipe Librán-Embid, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
• Emily A. Martin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
• Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Marcell K. Peters, Universität Bremen
• Jie Zhang, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Michael Thiel, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Michael Otim, National Agricultural Research Organisation
• James Mugisha, World Vision International
• Ghebremedhin Belay Bahta, Institute for Sustainable Development
• Fredah Maina, Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization
• Alice Murage, Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization
• Benjamin Feit, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
• A. Sigrun Dahlin, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

Publication Date

5-1-2026

Abstract

Push-pull technology is increasingly promoted in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for pest management and enhancing crop productivity. However, its influence on soil properties remains understudied, despite its potential implications for soil health and sustainable soil fertility management. This study examines soil properties in push-pull and conventional non-push-pull cropping systems. Soil samples were collected from push-pull and conventional plots in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. We examined the associations between soil physicochemical properties and cropping systems, along with key components of push-pull, namely Desmodium coverage and plot age, and manure and mineral fertiliser application. Overall, there were a few differences in soil properties between push-pull and conventional cultivation. In Kenya and Uganda, where Desmodium cover varied considerably, higher cover was positively associated with soil organic matter, cation-exchange capacity, and multiple nutrients. In Rwanda, Desmodium cover was positively associated only with phosphorus. Plot age in Kenya was negatively associated with pH and potassium, suggesting acidification from N2 fixation and potassium mining in the system. In Kenya, manure application was negatively associated with soil pH, CEC and several nutrients, while in Uganda, it was positively associated with calcium, sodium and zinc. In Ethiopia, manure application was positively associated with potassium and zinc, but only when testing the push-pull systems separately. Mineral fertiliser use was negatively associated with potassium and pH in Kenya, the only country with considerable use of mineral fertilisers. The data highlight a need for adaptive soil and crop management, including affordable non-acidifying N fertilisers and liming products for long-term sustainability of the push-pull system. The complexity in farmer adoption and practices, and the underlying soil and climate conditions, limit our ability to disentangle the contribution of system components to the effects of the push-pull system. Nevertheless, our findings highlight the complex and context-dependent associations of push-pull cropping and soil properties, underscoring the need for site-specific management to sustain soil health and crop productivity across sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords

context-dependence, Desmodium, ecological intensification, mixed cropping, soil fertility, sub-Saharan Africa

Recommended Citation

Amboka, G., Jonsson, M., Apel, C., Meinhof, D., Liepa, A., Chidawanyika, F., Detebo, A., Librán-Embid, F., Martin, E., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Peters, M., Zhang, J., Thiel, M., Otim, M., Mugisha, J., Bahta, G., Maina, F., Murage, A., Feit, B., & Dahlin, A. (2026). Soil Property Responses to Push-Pull Cropping in East Africa. Food and Energy Security, 15 https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.70242

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.