A literature and case-based meta-analyses of soil management practices and systems for maintaining or improving soil productivity in SSA is also being undertaken. The project is synthesizing results from fertilizer response, soil conservation and ISFM field trials targeted at improving soil productivity in SSA. The data is being compiled from the network of about 20 long-term trials maintained by AfNet, from field trials conducted by TSBF, from past and current trials conducted on field stations by the NARS of the 5 targeted countries (e.g. FURP & FEP in Kenya), from trials conducted by other organizations (e.g. Sasakawa Global 2000, IITA and others), and from the published literature.

The NUANCES project has developed a meta-database on past research on African Farming Systems and the AfSIS project aims to build on this by adding information and results from, field experiments on soil and crop management practices and ISFM technologies. The meta-database will also gradually be populated with data and information from farm surveys and experiments conducted by the AfSIS project (and above mentioned programs and projects).

Apart from this AfSIS will build a structured database with data from its own and other field trials and the will analyze the data statistically to derive key determinants of crop response and resource use efficiency and will provide evidence of the efficacy of various soil management practices for improving crop and livestock production, under specific soil and climatic conditions in SSA. These databases are being fully incorporated into the central AfSIS database system and information products tailored to different user groups.