Studying soils

A lack of soil data is still a problem for much of Africa. Launched in 2008, the Africa Soil Information Service (AfSIS) is trying to fill these data gaps. It contains the most comprehensive set of soil data in Africa, with over 28,000 sampling locations and supports soil labs in 10 African countries. The results are being used to map soil properties in Africa, such as soil organic carbon, nutrient content and texture. This information can help decision makers make better and more informed choices about how and where to boost agricultural production, including what types and amount of fertilisers to use and the potential for carbon sequestration in different soils.