Maize grain yield as affected by the severity of soil erosion under semi-arid conditions and granitic sandy soils of Zimbabwe

► Soil was excavated to represent erosion levels. ► Two fertiliser levels were used. ► Maize yields declined significantly with increase in erosion. ► Increasing fertiliser amounts yields benefits on uneroded and slightly eroded soils. ► Fertilisers cannot mask erosion effects after ∼10 cm of topsoil have been lost.