Abstract:

Soil fertility decline is a leading form of land productivity degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Colossal quantities of nutrients are removed annually from soils, especially through crop
larvests, unreciprocated by nutrient inputs. This is true for both crop and livestock centred
production systems in the region. Moreover, with prudent management, the integrated cropivestock
system offers better opportunities for nutrient management particularly within the low
esource endowed small scale farmer production framework.
.ivestock plays a critical role in the socio-economic setting of the region. In Uganda, livestock
ontributes 20% of Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (AGDP), and is a principal sector in
iconic generation and food security for the population. Of the livestock sector contribution to
tie economy, the dairy sub-sector accounts for 40-50%. Within the sub-sector exists a
pectrum of production practices along with a diversity of levels of production. Furthermore,
lie gap between production and the demand for dairy products is spiraling, owing to the
acreasingly low levels of system productivity. Among the major causes is soil fertility decline,
Ikely due to negative nutrient balance sheets. As such, efforts to develop appropriate
iterventions ought to hold this as the critical entry-point. In this case, the starting point is the
eed for a clear understanding of the dairy systems across the country, particularly in terms of
lanagement and levels of intensification. On the basis of such efforts, a systematic layout of
ie dairy systems structure will be achievable within which a critical trail for nutrient flow can
s traced, mapped and realistic interventions mounted. It was within this framework that this
search was conducted. ne objectives of the study were to: (i) Establish farm categories on the basis of dairy
lensification in Uganda for targeting nutrient management interventions; (ii) Evaluate the
¦ect of dairy intensification on major plant nutrient balances as a mechanism for identifying
Mry-points for intervention and subsequent contribution to sustainable productivity of dairy
=tems; (iii) Identify indicators of nutrient status for assessment of dairy production systems;