Sustainable Intensification Option for Sorghum-Based Cropping Systems in the West African Savanna: A Review of Soil and Crop Management Practices

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa faces rising demand for cereal production under conditions of soil degradation, erratic rainfall, and intensifying land use, making sustainable sorghum-based systems in the West African savanna a regional priority. We synthesized peer-reviewed and institutional literature published between 1990 and 2024, identified through systematic database searches, and screened for relevance to sorghum-based systems in the West African savanna. Key production constraints identified include declining soil fertility, inefficient and unbalanced fertilizer use, parasitic weeds, seasonal drought, and weak extension delivery. Promising pathways include integrated soil fertility management that combines organic inputs with judicious use of nitrogen and phosphorus, adoption of good agronomic practices, cereal–legume rotations and intercrops, and conservation-oriented residue and tillage practices tailored to smallholders. Evidence from long-term trials shows that integrated nutrient management and cereal–legume systems can raise sorghum yields by about 30%–80% compared with traditional farmer practice, while improving soil organic matter and nutrient balances. The range reflects aggregated findings across multiple experimental studies rather than results from a single meta-analysis. The review concludes that scaling context-specific ISFM, microdosing, and climate-resilient varieties, alongside strengthened extension and market support, is critical to closing sorghum yield gaps under increasing climate risk in the West African savanna.