Soil Chemistry Aspects of Predicting Future Phosphorus Requirements in Sub‐Saharan Africa

Predictions of phosphorus requirement to feed the population of Sub‐Saharan Africa to 2050 can significantly change if soil chemistry is included. Global yield increase has been driven by, among other factors, the widespread use of fertilizers including phosphorus.

The use of fertilizers in Sub‐Saharan Africa is often prohibitively expensive, and thus, the most efficient use of phosphorus should be targeted. Soil chemistry largely controls phosphorus efficiency in agriculture; for example, iron and aluminum, which exist naturally in soil, reduce the availability of phosphate to plants.

This study shows that predictions of phosphorus requirement to feed the population of Sub‐Saharan Africa to 2050 can significantly change if soil chemistry is included (e.g., Somalia with up to 50% difference).

These findings are a new step toward making predictive decision‐making tool for phosphorus fertilizer management in Sub‐Saharan Africa considering the variability of soil chemistry.