Sustainable Soil Fertility for Land, Livelihoods, and Food Security

The field of soil fertility management sits at the intersection of agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship. Fertilizers have played a vital role in increasing global food production and reducing food insecurity, yet their intensive and inefficient use has also contributed to soil degradation, water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. These dynamics shape not only agronomic performance, but also land use decisions, the resilience of rural livelihoods, and the long-term stability of food systems. As agriculture faces the dual challenge of maintaining yields while reducing environmental harm, a central question remains: how can fertilizer use support food security without undermining the long-term resilience of soils and ecosystems and the communities that depend on them?At the same time, soil fertility management is being reshaped by advances in soil biology, climate science, and digital technologies, positioning the field as a more holistic and ecosystem-based discipline. These developments create new opportunities to improve nutrient use efficiency, reduce losses, and support more sustainable fertilizer systems, while also raising important questions about adoption, trade-offs, and equitable access. In many contexts, especially where land degradation, climate stress, and input access constraints intersect, decisions around fertilizer use have direct implications for farmer livelihoods, land management, and local and regional food security.This Research Topic aims to critically examine the science, technologies, and policies shaping the future of fertilizer and soil fertility systems. We welcome contributions that explore innovative approaches to nutrient management, assess synergies and trade-offs across productivity and environmental outcomes, and consider the governance, socioeconomic, and market conditions needed to support sustainable transitions. In particular, this Research Topic seeks contributions that examine soil fertility management in relation to land use change, livelihood resilience, and food security outcomes across different regions and farming systems. To gather further insights into sustainable soil fertility management and the transformation of fertilizer use, we invite articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:1. Soil Fertility Systems and Sustainability Transitions • Evolution of soil fertility management systems • Traditional, industrial, and regenerative approaches • Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) and agroecological transitions • Implications of changing fertility systems for land use intensity, degradation, and restoration2. Fertilizers and Agricultural Productivity • Nutrient use efficiency and agronomic performance • Yield response functions and productivity trade-offs • Economic and livelihood impacts of fertilizer use • Links between fertilizer access, farm productivity, and household food security3. Environmental Impacts of Fertilizer Use • Soil degradation, acidification, and nutrient imbalance • Water pollution and eutrophication • Greenhouse gas emissions, especially nitrous oxide • Impacts on soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning • Land system consequences of unsustainable fertilizer use4. Soil Health, Carbon, and Climate Resilience • Soil organic matter dynamics and carbon sequestration • Soil microbiomes and nutrient cycling • Climate resilience of soil systems under stress conditions • Soil fertility management as a foundation for resilient livelihoods and food production5. Next-Generation Fertilizers and Green Innovations • Green ammonia (renewable hydrogen-based nitrogen production) • Blue ammonia and low-carbon fertilizer pathways • Enhanced-efficiency and controlled-release fertilizers • Biofertilizers and microbial soil amendments • Circular nutrient systems and waste-to-fertilizer innovations • Accessibility and relevance of emerging fertilizer technologies across diverse farming contexts6. Digital and Precision Soil Fertility Management • Remote sensing and digital soil mapping • AI and machine learning in nutrient recommendation systems • Sensor-based soil monitoring and diagnostics • Precision agriculture and site-specific nutrient management • Opportunities and constraints for adoption among smallholders and resource-constrained producers7. Policy, Governance, and Market Transformation • Fertilizer subsidy reforms and market distortions • Carbon pricing and incentives for low-emission fertilizers • Regulatory frameworks for sustainable nutrient systems • Public–private partnerships and innovation ecosystems • Governance approaches that strengthen equitable access, livelihood security, and sustainable land management8. Synergies, Trade-offs, Risks, and Transition Pathways • Cost, scalability, and adoption barriers for green fertilizers • Energy–food–fertilizer nexus challenges • Equity and access issues for smallholder farmers • Systemic transition pathways and regional differentiation • Trade-offs among land productivity, environmental integrity, livelihood resilience, and food security Topic editors: Ademola Braimoh, Eleanor Milne, Olajire Fagbola Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80672/sustainable-soil-fertility-for-land-livelihoods-and-food-security