Conventional wisdom has linked declining soil fertility with increased population pressure, especially in areas with fragile ecosystems, such as the Sahel. The government of Burkina Faso has developed a soil fertility action plan, which is currently in its pre-implementation phase. Lack of phosphorous and low organic matter content have been identified as the main problems affecting soils in Burkina, and the action plan encourages farmers to improved their crop management practices. This paper discusses the results of a soil fertility management programme which covered two zones with different population densities.