Global food production must increase by 70% to feed the projected growth in the world’s population from about seven to nine billion people by 2050. This cannot be achieved without increasing land productivity and conserving soil, nutrient and water resources in the face of the severe challenges posed, including climate change, soil erosion and salinization, and drought and flooding - all of which contribute to reducing the quantity and quality of soil and water resources. Integrated soil fertility management, commonly referred to as ISFM, is presented in this book as a key contributor to farmers’ low soil and crop productivity and especially for the main staples that include maize, beans, rice, cassava, bananas, sorghum, millet and other crops. In this context ISFM is de¬fined as a set of soil fertility management practices that include the integrated use of mineral fertilizers, organic inputs, and improved germplasms combined with the knowledge on how to adapt these practices to local conditions which are aimed at optimizing efficient agronomic use of the applied nutrients and thereby improving crop productivity. It is hoped that the information presented in this book provides valuable guidance to scientists and land managers in both the public and private sectors, as well as to government and institutional policy and decision-makers involved in addressing land management issues for climate smart agriculture and the conservation of natural resources for agricultural productivity and food security.

Dr. Jai Parkash Singh, M.SC.(Ag), Ph.D.in Agronomy, presently working as subject-matter specialist/Senior Scientist (Agronomy) at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Haidergarh, Barabanki (U.P.) under Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad (U.P.) . Junior research fellowship was awarded by ICAR in the seed technology as well as university gold medal also awarded by the university. Dr. Singh also served as research associate in the Directorate of Research/Directorate of Extension under NDUA&T, Faizabad (U.P.). He is specialized in the field of soil fertility management and quality of scented rice. He has a excellent work experience of nine years of research/extension both and 12 years' experience in extension works on mandate of Krishi Vigyan Kendras. As a Extension scientist he trained number of progressive farmers/practising farmers in the training courses, in off/on campus trainings, in rural youth trainings, extension functionairs/field workers etc. He addressed number of farmers/extension personnels in different Kisan Mela, Kisan Gosthies etc. as a resource person. He also has experiences in conducting front-line demonstrations, cluster demonstrations, on form research/testing in different crops likewise paddy, sugarcane, wheat, pigeon pea, field pea, lentil, chickpea, mentha, urd, moong, banana, vegetables etc. He is expertise in usar soil reclaimation through different means. He has published eight research papers in reputed journals of international/national, 15 abstracts etc., 65 popular articles, nine extension folders, two booklets, 10 pamphlets etc.