Africa Soil Information Service

Research ThemeRestoring Degraded Landscapes

The Africa Soil Information Service provides continent-wide digital soil maps and decision-support applications for sub-Saharan Africa, using new types of soil analysis and statistical methods.

The online portal africasoils.net provides practical, timely and cost-effective soil health surveillance services that can help map soil conditions, set a baseline for monitoring changes, develop global standards and methodologies and provide options for improved soil and land management in Africa. Building on recent advances in digital soil mapping, infrared spectroscopy, remote sensing, statistics, and integrated soil fertility management, the service has potential to improve the way that soils are evaluated, mapped and monitored, while significantly reducing associated costs.

A sampling of maps being used to produce the first generation of continent-wide soil property maps.

The scientists leading the development of this tool are also conducting agronomic field trials in select sites and collaborating with wide ranges of stakeholders, seeking to develop demand-driven products and services, support the institutional development of national soil services and build capacity and awareness for the improved management of natural resources.

The World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) is a founding member of the Africa Soil Information Service and supports the service through its Soil-Plant Spectral Diagnostics Laboratory.