Securing a consistent food supply remains a pressing global challenge, particularly for small-scale farmers grappling with obstacles in enhancing agricultural yields, especially in tropical soils. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) techniques, employing organic manures like vermicompost and bio-enriched rock phosphate, emerge as recommended solutions. Vermicompost is lauded for its nutrient richness and positive soil health impacts. At the same time, bio-enriched rock phosphate serves as a sustainable alternative to conventional phosphorus fertilisers, specifically tailored for tropical soil conditions. Despite individual studies assessing the effects of vermicompost, bio-enriched rock phosphate, and soluble fertilisers on plant growth, a comprehensive overview of their combined application is noticeably lacking. To fill this gap, this study employs the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method to explore the synergies of combining these elements and their impacts on crop production and the environment. This review is among the first to comprehensively summarize the complexities of combining vermicompost, bio-enriched rock phosphate, and chemical fertilisers on various crops. It thoroughly examines potential advantages, disadvantages, effects on agricultural systems, socio-economic implications, and existing policies governing their usage. Our findings reveal that the combined application of vermicompost, bio-enriched rock phosphate, and soluble fertilisers leads to significant improvements in plant growth, yield, and soil properties. The optimal impact is observed when vermicompost constitutes 25% and soluble fertiliser comprises 75 or 100% of the recommended fertiliser dosage. Moreover, incorporating a mixture of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) strains in rock phosphate further enhances its positive effects. Despite these positive findings, we identified gaps in comprehensive approaches addressing socio-cultural dimensions and the lack of literature on prevailing policies regarding vermicompost use in agricultural systems highlighting the need for a more holistic understanding of vermicompost incorporation and a better grasp of the institutional frameworks guiding these practices. However, to secure sustainable crop production, farmers need to integrate vermicompost and biofertilisers with chemical fertilisers. In fostering the adoption of sustainable and inclusive agricultural practices on small rural properties, it is advisable to incorporate agricultural education into farmer training programs.

Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a critical crop for food security and economic growth in Tsangano and Angónia districts, central Mozambique. Challenges like inconsistent yields and variable quality are often linked to suboptimal soil conditions, and limit production. This study aimed to classify and evaluate the suitability of soils for potato cultivation, filling gaps in detailed soil assessments for sustainable agriculture. Using combined pedological approach and laboratory soil analysis, four pedons TSA-P01 and TSA-P02 in Tsangano, and ANGO-P01 and ANGO-P02 in Angónia were analyzed for bulk density, texture, pH, organic carbon, and nutrient content. The pedons were very deep (> 150 cm) and had textures ranging from sandy clay loam to sandy loam. TSA-P02 had the lowest bulk density (0.78 Mg m-3) and the highest available water capacity (182.0 mm m-1). Soil pH ranged from 5.6 to 7.9, indicating neutral to slightly acidic conditions. Nutrient analysis revealed low total nitrogen (0.12 - 0.22%), varying soil organic carbon (0.16 - 2.73%), and cation exchange capacity (10.1 - 11.33 cmol(+) kg-1). Pedons TSA-P01, ANGO-P1, and ANGO-P02 were characterized by eluviation and illuviation as dominant pedogenic processes while in pedon TSA-P02 shrinking and swelling were the pedo-genic processes. Weathering indices identified ANGO-P01 as the most highly weathered, while TSA-P02 was the least weathered and had better fertility indicators. According to USDA Taxonomy, the soils were classified as Ultisols, Vertisols, and Alfisols, corresponding to Acrisols, Alisols, Vertisols, and Luvisols in the WRB for Soil Resources. All studied soils were marginally suitable for potato production (S3f) due to dominant fertility constraints but with varying minor limitations in climate, topography, and soil physical properties. The findings hence recommended targeted soil fertility management to enhance productivity and sustainability in potato cultivation.

Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a critical crop for food security and economic growth in Tsangano and Angónia Districts, Central Mozambique. Challenges like inconsistent yields and variable quality are often linked to suboptimal soil conditions, which limit production. This study aimed to classify and evaluate the suitability of soils for potato cultivation in Tete Province, where detailed soil assessments remain limited. Four pedons—TSA-P01 and TSA-P02 in Tsangano and ANGO-P01 and ANGO-P02 in Angónia—were examined for bulk density, texture, pH, organic carbon, and nutrient content using a combination of pedological methods and laboratory soil analysis. To determine each site’s potential for growing Irish potatoes, these factors were compared to predetermined land suitability standards. The pedons were very deep (>150 cm) and had textures ranging from sandy clay loam to sandy loam. TSA-P02 had the lowest bulk density (0.78 Mg m⁻³) and the highest available water capacity (182.0 mm m⁻¹). The soil pH ranged from 5.6 to 7.9, indicating neutral to slightly acidic conditions. Nutrient analysis revealed low total nitrogen (0.12–0.22%), varying soil organic carbon (0.16–2.73%), and cation exchange capacity (10.1–11.33 cmol⁽⁺⁾ kg⁻¹). Pedons TSA-P01, ANGO-P1, and ANGO-P02 were characterized by eluviation and illuviation as dominant pedogenic processes, while in pedon TSA-P02, shrinking and swelling were the dominant pedogenic processes. Weathering indices identified ANGO-P01 as most highly weathered, while TSA-P02 was least weathered and had better fertility indicators. According to USDA Taxonomy, the soils were classified as Ultisols, Vertisols, and Alfisols, corresponding to Acrisols, Alisols, Vertisols, and Luvisols in the WRB for Soil Resources. All studied soils were marginally suitable for potato production (S3f) due to dominant fertility constraints, but with varying minor limitations in climate, topography, and soil physical properties. The findings hence recommended targeted soil fertility management to enhance productivity and sustainability in potato cultivation.

Introduction: Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) production in the tropical highlands of Mozambique is severely constrained by acidic soils with high phosphorus (P) fixation and prohibitive mineral fertilizer costs. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is a promising sustainable alternative, yet its impact on daily nutrient uptake kinetics and accumulation dynamics remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of integrated fertilization, combining inorganic fertilizers, vermicompost, and a phosphate-solubilizing bio-inoculant ( Klebsiella variicola ), on the accumulation and use efficiency of macro- and micronutrients. Methods: Field experiments were conducted over two seasons at three sites (Ntengo-wa-Mbalame, Rinze, and CITTA). Eleven fertilization treatments combining mineral fertilizers, vermicompost, and Bio-Rock P inoculated with Klebsiella variicola were evaluated. Plants were destructively sampled at 28, 40, 70, and 120 DAP to assess nutrient accumulation. Regression models estimated accumulation rates and their peak periods, while nutrient-use efficiency and yield were evaluated using multivariate analysis. Results: Results demonstrated that INM, specifically T7 (50% mineral N + vermicompost + Bio-Rock P), significantly enhanced nutrient acquisition, achieving nitrogen (N) and P recovery efficiencies statistically equivalent to full mineral fertilization (T5). Under favorable seasonal conditions, peak K accumulation reached 10.23 g plant⁻¹ at CITTA. The estimated maximum daily uptake rates based on fitted models (R ² > 0.95) identified maximum daily uptake rates occurring between 80 and 130 days after planting (DAP), identifying the critical physiological window for nutrient demand. Biotic stress from late blight ( Phytophthora infestans ) in the second season truncated the uptake period and anticipated peak demand rates, yet INM treatments maintained superior internal efficiency (IE), suggesting a physiological optimization of nutrient partitioning to tubers under stress. Discussion: These findings demonstrate that INM, through the synergy between bio-inoculants and organic amendments, optimizes potato nutritional dynamics and resilience, providing a robust and sustainable framework for food security in the sub-Saharan highlands.

Weathered acidic soils are characterized by severe phosphorus (P) fixation and aluminum (Al³⁺) toxicity, limiting crop productivity. Integrated nutrient management (INM), combining mineral fertilizers, organic amendments, and biofertilizers, offers a promising strategy to overcome these constraints. Unlike conventional single-site fertilizer comparisons, this study examined how mineral, organic, and phosphate-solubilizing biological inputs interact with contrasting acidic soil environments across successive seasons, allowing simultaneous assessment of immediate crop productivity and residual soil fertility. Field experiments were conducted over two consecutive cropping seasons (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) at three sites in Tete Province, Mozambique: Ntengo-wa-mbalame, Rinzi, and Angónia Research and Technology Transfer Centre (CITTA). The experiment followed a 2 × 3 × 11 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Eleven treatments comprising mineral N, P, K, and S fertilizers, vermicompost, and a multifunctional multi-strain phosphate-solubilizing biofertilizer (Bio-Rock P) were evaluated. Soil chemical properties and crop performance were influenced by site and season (p ≤ 0.001). Ntengo-wa-mbalame had the most favorable fertility, achieving a maximum yield of 34.96 t ha⁻¹ in Year 1, whereas high acidity and exchangeable Al at Rinzi restricted canopy development and increased small, non-commercial tubers (<45 mm). Across sites, exclusive mineral fertilization showed numerical trends toward greater soil pH declines (up to 26%), whereas INM treatments maintained more stable soil pH levels (declines limited to 2.2–10.8%) and significantly reduced toxic exchangeable Al³⁺ down to 0.03 cmol_c kg⁻¹, likely through organo-metallic complexation. Treatments combining mineral inputs, vermicompost, and biofertilizers, particularly T7, showed strong residual effects, increasing available P from 55.34 to 87.02 mg kg⁻¹ by Year 2 while maintaining marketable tuber yields and nutrient recovery statistically comparable to or exceeding mineral fertilization. PCA showed that P agronomic efficiency (P-AE) was positively associated with biomass, tuber number, and total tuber yield. Overall, INM improved nutrient availability, moderated soil acidity and Al toxicity, and supported potato productivity, providing an ecologically sustainable strategy for fragile tropical agrosystems.