Review of fertilizer use in Nigeria

Fertilizer use started in the early 1960s in Nigeria.

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when it was not feasible to improve grain yield of the arable crops by the use of the animal manure

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or leguminous cover crops. Trials in agricultural centers provided scientific basis for the use of N.P and K fertilizer in the 1970s for cereals, roots, tubers and selected vegetables.
Most of the fertilizers which are compacts were imported. The establishment of the NAFCON in 1987 resulted in local production of fertilizer in Nigeria.

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Fertilizer use on crops have blanket recommendations based on field trails or research farms and tested in adopted researches.
Fertilizer formulation of 2:1:1 ratio are recommended for cereal while 1:1:1 are used for tree crops, example is the 15:15:15 sometimes with inclusion of Mg and Zn, 12:12:12:17:2 (N: P: Mg: Zn).
Soil testing for diagnosis of soil nutrient status for peasant farmers is in its infancy in Nigeria. There is adequate research data to back the use of soil testing for the fertilizer recommendation, even soil pH plus N, P and K characteristics can be useful in rational and economic fertilizer in Nigeria.
The development of Organic Base Fertilizer (OBF)

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has a promise for reducing cost of chemical fertilizers, it has an advantage in improving physical, chemical and microbiological properties of the soil as well as micro-nutrient supply. Ca and Mg content in the organic base fertilizer will reduce hazard from the use of lime materials. It is suggested that the money spent by federal government on fertilizer subsidy should be invested in providing a highly subsidized soil testing services to farmers.