Too little nitrogen (N) is a threat to crop productivity and soil fertility in subSaharan Africa (SSA). Nitrogen budgets (NB) and nitrogen use e ciency (NUE) are critical tools for assessing N dynamics in agriculture and have received little or no attention in the region. Data were collected from smallholder farmers clustered into two categories, farmers applying and farmers not applying N fertilizers. NB were calculated using the Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS) model approach for field and farm spatial scales. The results showed spatial variabilities in NB and NUE at the field level (maize and rice) across all the catchments. At the field level, N balances were negative for the two crops in all the catchments. Similarly, at the farm gate, a deficit of −78.37 kg N ha−1 was observed, an indicator of soil N mining. NUE values at the field scale varied across the catchments for both crops, with values for maize grown without N ranging from 25.76 to 140.18%. Even with the application of mineral N at higher levels in rice fields compared to maize fields, NUE values ranged between 81.92 and 224.6%. Our study revealed that the Lake Victoria region suers from ine cient N cycling due to depleted soil N pools and low synchrony between N input and N removal. Therefore, a challenge lies in exploiting more sustainable N sources for farmers in the region for sustainable farming systems. The NB and NUE provide critical information to agriculture stakeholders to develop environmental, agronomic, and economically viable N management solutions.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1023579

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

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

https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1023579

Natural Resource Management

Agronomy; Crop Systems; Food Security; Plant Breeding; Plant Production; Soil Fertility

Cropping Systems; Fertilizers; Nitrogen; Nutrient Management; Soil Exhaustion; East Africa

Africa; Central Africa; East Africa

Burundi; Kenya; Rwanda; Tanzania; Uganda

Central Africa Hub

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems