Soil nutrient depletion is quite severe in Sub-Saharan Africa. More than 10 kg N, 4 kg P2O5 and 10 kg K2O per hectare per year are lost from the soil. Increased demand for agricultural commodities generated by an expanding population has resulted in intensification of cultivation and decreased periods of fallow. Fertility decline is inevitable with intensive continuous cropping. A negative net nutrient balance for many cropping systems indicates the mining of nutrients from the soil and suggests that improved nutrient management may be needed to avoid depleting soil productivity. This paper reviews some of the causes of soil nutrient losses and the variety of soil-and water-management techniques necessary for achieving sustainable agricultural production.