fertility decline as a result of continuous cropping and inappropriate cropping systems with very little or no external nutrient input to replenish soil fertility.Therefore, bean yield is generally low in most regions and is most likely to decline because of the ever increasing population density.In fact, under current farming systems in small holders' fields, soil nutrient balances are negative (Bationo et al. 2006), except in banana based systems (Wortmann and Kaizzi, 1998).Although bean grain yields are variable across countries and regions, they generally vary from 200 kgha -1 in less favorable environments to 700 kg ha -1 in more favorable environments when grown in pure stands, and about half of this when intercropped (Kimani et al., 2001).In ECSA, low soil fertility is the most important yield-limiting factor in most of the beanproducing regions.The major soil fertility related problems are found to be low available phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), and soil acidity, which is associated aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) toxicity.According to the Atlas of common bean production in Africa (Wortmann et al., 1998), P is deficient in 65 to 80% of soils and N in 60% of soils in bean production areas of Eastern and Southern Africa, while about 45 to 50% of soils are acidic with a pH less than 5.2, containing high levels of either Al or Mn.The details on the importance of the edaphic stresses for common bean production are presented in table 1.Low soil fertility causes considerable losses in productivity as the estimated bean production losses due to edaphic stresses in the ECSA are about 1,128 million tons per year (Table 1).Bean grows well in deep well drained, sandy loam, sandy clay loam or clay loam with clay content of between 15 and 35% with no nutrient deficiencies (Thung and Rao, 1999).The optimum soil pH range is 5.8 to 6.5 and Al saturation is below 10% (Lunze, 1994).It will not grow well in soils that are compacted, too alkaline or poorly drained.Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Bean-Based Cropping Systems of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa 241 to improve sustainably bean crop productivity and production in various production environments in ECSA.A range of technologies have been evaluated and developed to address the regional constraints, and efforts were made to promote the promising technologies widely.Several technologies have been developed through collaborative research efforts within PABRA.The objective has been developing strategies and technologies that enhance resilience to environmental stresses and improve bean productivity and product quality.These include: (i) development of diagnostic tools for soil fertility assessment that are adapted to local conditions; (ii) replenishing soil nutrient pools, maximizing on-farm recycling of nutrients, and reducing nutrient losses to the environment; and (iii) improving the efficiency of external inputs.As common bean can derive part of its N from the atmosphere under low input agriculture (Giller et al., 1998), improving biological nitrogen fixation using seeds inoculation with appropriate rhizobacteria and soil management was considered.Currently recommended ISFM options in bean based cropping systems include farmyard manure, compost, biomass transfer, green manure and cover crops, liming, phosphate rock (PR) and mineral fertilizers in different combinations with organic resources.The soil management options are complemented by utilization of resilient bean germplasm that perform well under low soil fertility conditions.This paper reviews ISFM options developed by the ECABREN and SBRN and the approaches for effective and efficient delivery of these technologies to farmers.