Land degradation threatens food production especially in smallholder farming systems predominant in sub-Saharan Africa. Monitoring the effects of agricultural land uses is critical to guide sustainable intensification (SI). There are various indicators of sustainable land use (SLU), but conventional methods to quantify their metrics are complex and difficult to deploy for rapid and large-scale assessments. Considering that SLU indicators are dependent on agricultural practices, which can be rapidly identified and quantified, we propose a framework for SLU assessment that includes indirect quantifications of prioritized indicators (crop productivity, soil organic carbon (SOC), acidification, erosion, nutrient balance) using agricultural practices; and a SLU index derived from the integration of these indicators. The application of the framework to a case study, consisting of 1319 farm plots in Tanzania, reveals that SOC and N balance were the main contributors to the SLU gap. Only 2.2% of the plots qualified as being used sustainably. The framework proved to be sensitive to practices commonly used by farmers, thus providing an opportunity to identify practices needed to revert land degradation. Further application of the framework as a decision-support tool can enhance the efficiency of SI investments, by targeting practices which effectively enhance food production and preserve land.

We extend our gratitude to all farmers who participate in the interview. We thank Henry Mwololo for his support in data processing. We are grateful to the Belgium Directorate General for Development Cooperation, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for support to projects covering sustainable land use activities. The case study was hosted by Africa RISING-NAFAKA partnership project funded by USAID Feed the Future program.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1926150

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Generose Nziguhebahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4227-2242

Julius Adewopohttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4831-2823

Cargele Massohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3980-6832

Nsharwasi Nabahunguhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2104-3777

Haroon Sseguyahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9963-3147

Godfrey Taulyahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5690-0492

bernard vanlauwehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6016-6027

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1926150

Natural Resource Management; Plant Production and Health

Crop Husbandry; Crop Systems; Soil Fertility

Acidification; Erosion; Crops; Soils; Carbon; Crop Production; Sustainable Land Use

Africa; East Africa

Ethiopia

Eastern Africa Hub; Central Africa Hub

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability