Assessment of the use of Integrated Soil Fertility Management Practices among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract— This study assessed the adoption and utilization of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) practices among smallholder maize farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, with specific focus on: (i) determining the effect of households' socio-economic factors on farmers' uptake and use of ISFM technologies; and (ii) ascertaining the various soil fertility management strategies employed by smallholder farmers. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 300 respondents across six communities in three Local Government Areas (Lafia, Doma, and Nasarawa Eggon). Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and a 5-point Likert scale. The logistic regression results showed that age (p=0.022), education (p=0.001), annual income (p=0.032), extension contact (p=0.005), and association membership (p=0.033) significantly influenced ISFM adoption. Regarding soil fertility management strategies, chemical fertilizer use dominated at 89%, followed by combined organic-inorganic application (81.7%) and crop rotation (78%). The study concludes that ISFM adoption is shaped by socio-economic and institutional factors, with fragmented adoption of practices characterized by heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers while underutilizing complementary soil health practices. Strengthening extension systems, improving input accessibility, enhancing farmer capacity through targeted training, and promoting integrated approaches that combine organic and inorganic nutrient sources are recommended to promote sustainable soil fertility management among smallholder maize farmers in the study area.