INTEGRATING SOIL REMEDIATION AND SMART NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN CLIMATE-SMART AGROECOLOGY TO CLOSE THE GLOBAL YIELD GAP

Abstract

Global cereal production must increase by approximately 43 million metric tons annually by 2050 to meet projected demand, yet current yield trajectories leave a 39% gap while agricultural systems continue to degrade soils and emit substantial greenhouse gases. This review synthesizes climate-smart agroecological strategies that simultaneously address productivity shortfalls, soil degradation, and climate mitigation by integrating soil remediation with smart nutrient management. Drawing on global FAO datasets, meta-analyses of field experiments, and molecular assessments of soil microbial communities, we evaluate five core approaches: precision agriculture, regenerative practices (no-till and cover cropping), biochar application, agroforestry, and integrated nutrient management. Quantitative synthesis shows that no-till increased soil organic carbon by 18% and total nitrogen by 21% in the top 10 cm. Cover-crop mixtures enhanced water infiltration by up to 629% and raised yields by 13%, whereas sole cover crops reduced yields by approximately 4%. Biochar alone improved crop yield by 15.1% and by 48.4% when combined with mineral fertilizers, while reducing nitrous oxide emissions by 16.2% and delivering the largest gain in soil organic carbon (+39%). Optimal biochar performance was associated with pyrolysis temperatures of 401–500 °C and feedstock C:N ratios of 31–100. Legume-based rotations increased equivalent yield by 38% and cut nitrous oxide emissions by 39%. Agroforestry systems sequestered between 0.29 and 15.21 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Precision agriculture raised nitrogen use efficiency by 10–25%. By systematically comparing these practices across yield, soil carbon, nutrient efficiency, and greenhouse-gas metrics, and by linking outcomes to microbial mechanisms, this review identifies context-specific levers for sustainable intensification. Integrated application of soil remediation and smart nutrient management within a climate-smart framework offers a viable pathway to close the global yield gap while enhancing carbon sequestration and reducing emissions. Long-term, multi-site trials across tropical and subtropical systems remain essential to refine deployment guidelines and quantify trade-offs under future climate scenarios.