Nigerian experts push for soil-based fertilizer recommendations
Agricultural experts in Nigeria have called for a shift from uniform fertilizer rates to recommendations based on soil conditions, warning that farmers may be paying for nutrients their crops do not need.
Speaking at the 2026 Nigeria Fertiliser Summit on Phosphorus and Food Security in Abuja, the experts said differences in soil and crop requirements mean that applying the same rates across locations can lead to poor nutrient use, higher production costs and lower productivity. The summit was organized by the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University and the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria.
Findings from the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel showed that phosphorus needs for maize and rice in northern Nigeria ranged from zero to more than 60 kilograms of phosphorus pentoxide per hectare, depending on soil conditions.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, was represented by Oshadiya Olanipekun, director of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services. She stressed soil data, testing and crop-specific recommendations as tools for better farm outcomes.
Better soil data is only part of the picture, since African farmers also face energy and fertilizer supply shocks that a new African Development Bank financing framework is meant to address.
Source: Vanguard
Questions and answers
They say uniform rates can result in poor nutrient use, higher production costs and lower productivity, because soil conditions and crop requirements vary from one location to another. Applying the right nutrient in the right amount, at the right place and under the right conditions is what they say improves yields, not simply applying more fertilizer.
Findings presented by the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel showed requirements ranging from zero to more than 60 kilograms of phosphorus pentoxide per hectare. The range depends on soil conditions, which is why the experts argue against a single rate for all farms.
The soil scientist at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training said improving crop productivity is not only about applying fertilizer. He said farmers need to ensure that the right nutrient is applied in the right amount, at the right place and under the right conditions.
The professor of soil science at Bayero University, Kano, called soil information fundamental to food production. He warned that too many initiatives have been carried out in silos, and that fragmented interventions could undermine efforts to improve soil health. He called for stakeholders to align and follow through on agreed actions.
The senior agronomist at the Regional Hub said better phosphorus management is not about applying more fertilizer. He said it depends on understanding the nutrient requirements of different soils and crops, which is the basis for more accurate recommendations.
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