TITLE:
Improving Rice Productivity in Liberia through Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM)
AUTHORS:
Melvin W. Bee
KEYWORDS:
Improving, Rice, Productivity, Liberia, Integrated, Soil, Fertility
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.2,
February
5,
2026
ABSTRACT: Agriculture departments in Liberia, along with partner organizations in the development of the agricultural sector, are using Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) modeling, soil diagnostics, and sensitivity analysis to address soil fertility issues and thereby improving rice productivity. Through a Mitscherlich, based yield model, the study investigated nitrogen response under differing organic matter inputs, whereas the nutrient, use efficiency (NUE) and carbon (SOC) long, term soil organic carbon (SOC) trajectories were utilized for quantifying the agronomic and ecological benefits. The combination of 24 t/ha of organic matter along with the medium nitrogen (6090 kg/ha) gave 2045% more yields compared to the use of only mineral fertilizer and also increased NUE by 815%. The SOC results indicate that the continued supply of organic matter helps to reduce carbon loss and maintain soil structure, where 4 t/ha OM contributes to SOC growth by more than 0.5 percentage points over ten years. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis suggests that system performance is highly affected by rainfall variation (20%) and soil acidity (pH less than 5.5), which means that water management and the application of phosphorus and lime should be considered carefully. Fertilizer subsidies, banded P vouchers, labor, saving OM strategies, and ISFM starter kits, are among the measures that fertilizer policy scenarios point to as greatly facilitating the adoption of farmers, among other things. Generally, the results of the study highlight ISFM as a strong, environmentally friendly, and economically efficient method for enhancing sustainable rice intensification in Liberia, which holds definite soil fertility policy, extension systems, and agricultural development planning at the national level implications.