Summary
This cross-sectional soil survey of 63 smallholder macadamia farms in Malawi documents widespread soil fertility constraints limiting productivity, including strong acidity (mean pH ≤ 5.1), low organic matter (>50% of samples ≤ 1%), inadequate cation exchange capacity (mean 1.67 cmol(+) kg⁻¹), and deficient essential nutrient concentrations. The study identifies poor agronomic practices and inherent soil characteristics as underlying causes, and argues that site-specific, sustainable soil nutrient management interventions are essential to improve macadamia farm productivity without risking yield losses, unnecessary costs, or environmental harm from excess fertiliser application.
Regional applicability
The findings are of limited direct applicability to UK macadamia production, as the crop is not commercially grown in the UK climate. However, the study's methodology for characterising soil constraints and the emphasis on site-specific fertiliser recommendations before application may inform broader UK soil health assessment and nutrient management practice in perennial cropping systems.
Key measures
Soil pH; soil organic matter content (%); cation exchange capacity (cmol(+) kg⁻¹); essential nutrient concentrations; soil texture classification; soil depth (0–15 cm)
Outcomes reported
The study characterised soil fertility status across 63 smallholder macadamia farms through analysis of 189 soil samples, documenting soil pH, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, and essential nutrient concentrations. Findings revealed widespread soil fertility constraints including strong acidity, low organic matter, and nutrient deficiencies that limit macadamia productivity.
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