43 research outputs found
Impact of depth of placement of mineral fertilizer micro-dosing on growth, yield and partial nutrient balance in pearl millet cropping system in the Sahel
No full textA study was carried out in the rainy seasons of 2008 and 2009 in Niger to investigate the effects of fertilizer microdosing
on root development, yield and soil nutrient exploitation of pearl millet. Different rates of diammonium
phosphate (DAP) were applied to the soil at different depths and it was found that although micro-dosing with
DAP increased grain yield over the unfertilized control to a similar level as broadcast DAP, doubling the
micro-dosage did not increase it further. Increasing the depth of fertilizer application from 5 to 10 cm resulted
in significant increases in root length density, and deep application of fertilizer resulted in higher yields, although
the increases were generally not significant. It was postulated that the positive effect of micro-dosing resulted from
better exploitation of soil nutrients because of the higher root volume. Levels of nutrients exported from the soil
were at least as high in plants receiving micro-dosing as the unfertilized control, and plants receiving microdosing
exported 5–10 times more phosphorus from the soil than the amount added through fertilization
Sorghum genotypes, microdosing and striga management to improve productivity under water management technologies in Burkina Faso
No full textLast rainy season was the third year of the experiment. However we observed during the three seasons contrasting performance of the crop related not only to the treatments but also to the cropping environment. In fact delayed planting in years 1 and 3 negatively affected crop establishment but also final yield. Late planting exposed the young seedlings to rats and other animals whose population has developed following the favorable environment created by regeneration of shrubs in the bocage. Late maturity has exposed the grains to birds who have multiplied profusely due to the same rasion. This was strongly expressed in rainy season of 2016, which caused the record of more than 80% of damaged head in addition to the poor plant establishment resulting in the poor grain yield reported
Soil fertility management demonstration protocol Rainy season 2015
No full textOver exploitation of soil and absence of fallow system expose soil to degradation. In addition climate variability is another threat. Under such conditions use of copping innovation may be the alternative. However in contrast with other continents and regions, farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and particularly in WCA use almost no production inputs such as inorganic fertilizer, pesticide and improved varieties, which has contributed to low agricultural productivity. For example, average fertilizer input rates in West and Central African region are a mere 8 kg ha-1 compared to 100 kg, 120 kg, and 70 kg ha-1 for the World, Asia and India, respectively (Bationo, et al., 2006). Decline in soil fertility and the associated low productivity in the region could also be attributed to continuous cropping and monoculture among others
Identify best options of millet production through environment by millet genotype analysis under microdosing for improved management in farmers' field in Niger
No full textThe objectives of this activity are (1) identify site specific best bet options to improve millet productivity and productions in Niger and by the same way raise awareness of farmers to enhance adoption. (2) to identify best bet options of millet production through environment by genotype analysis under improved management in farmers' field in Niger using planned comparison approac
Integrated use of fertilizer micro-dosing and Acacia tumida mulching increases millet yield and water use efficiency in Sahelian semi-arid environment
No full textLimited availability of soil organic amendments and unpredictable rainfall, decrease crop yields drastically in the Sahel. There is, therefore, a need to develop an improved technology for conserving soil moisture and enhancing crop yields in the Sahelian semi-arid environment. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the mulching effects of Acacia tumida pruning relative to commonly applied organic materials in Niger on millet growth, yields and water use efficiency (WUE) under fertilizer micro-dosing technology. We hypothesized that (1) A. tumida pruning is a suitable mulching alternative for crop residues in the biomass-scarce areas of Niger and (2) combined application of A. tumida mulch and fertilizer micro-dosing increases millet yield and water use efficiency. Two fertilizer micro-dosing options (20 kg DAP ha-1, 60 kg NPK ha-1) and three types of organic mulches (millet straw, A. tumida mulch, and manure) and the relevant control treatments were arranged in factorial experiment organized in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Fertilizer micro-dosing increased millet grain yield on average by 28 %. This millet grain yield increased further by 37 % with combined application of fertilizer micro-dosing and organic mulch. Grain yield increases relative to the unmulched control were 51 % for manure, 46 % for A. tumida mulch and 36 % for millet mulch. Leaf area index and root length density were also greater under mulched plots. Fertilizer micro-dosing increased WUE of millet on average by 24 %, while the addition of A. tumida pruning, manure and millet increased WUE on average 55, 49 and 25 %, respectively. We conclude that combined application of micro-dosing and organic mulch is an effective fertilization strategy to enhance millet yield and water use efficiency in low-input cropping systems and that A. tumida pruning
could serve as an appropriate mulching alternative for further increasing crop yields and water use efficiency in the biomass-scarce and drought prone environment such as the Sahel. However, the economic and social implications and the long-term agronomic effects of this agroforestry tree in Sahelian millet based system have to be explored further
Hill placement of manure and fertilizer micro-dosing improves yield and water use efficiency in the Sahelian low input millet-based cropping system
No full texttInadequate nutrient supply and insufficient rainfall are the most important limiting factors for crop pro-duction in the Sahelian agro-ecological zones. Targeted technology application may help to improvethe efficient use of limited nutrient and water resources. The objective of this study was to determinethe optimal combination of fertilizer micro-dosing and manure application rates for improved milletyield and enhanced water use efficiency in low input millet-based cropping system. A two-year fieldexperiment was conducted at a research station in Niger using a randomized complete block designwith three replications. The treatments consisted of the factorial combination of: (i) two fertilizer micro-dosing options (20 kg ha−1of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 60 kg ha−1of NPK corresponding to2 g hill−1of DAP and 6 g hill−1of NPK, respectively), (ii) cattle manure at four application rates (0 kg ha−1,1000 kg ha−1, 2000 kg ha−1, 3000 kg ha−1) and (iii) two methods of manure application (broadcasting andhill placement). Millet grain yields under fertilizer micro-dosing combined with manure was increasedon average by 59%, 83% and 113% for 1000 kg ha−1, 2000 kg ha−1and 3000 kg ha−1, respectively com-pared with fertilizer micro-dosing alone. Combined applications of manure and fertilizer micro-dosingincreased water use efficiency significantly. Hill placement of manure increased total dry matter on aver-age by 23% and water use efficiency by 35% relative to manure broadcasting. The total root length densitywas increased by 66% and 42% in hill placement of manure at 25 cm and 50 cm, respectively, from the hillcentre compared with manure broadcast. These results indicate that millet production with the fertil-izer micro-dosing technology can be improved further by hill-placement of manure. The combination of2000 kg ha−1of manure and 20 kg DAP ha−1hill-placed were most promising for increasing millet yieldand the efficient use of limited nutrients and water in Sahelian millet based systems. There is need fortesting this technology further together with farmers to valuate its effectiveness
Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: A success with a shadow
No full textOver the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis being placed
on crop yields and economic income as the direct benefits from fertilizer micro-dosing technology. There
is increasing concern about the sustainability of this technology in smallholder Sahelian cropping
systems. This study was designed in the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to establish nutrient balances
under fertilizer micro-dosing technology and their implications on soil nutrient stocks. Two fertilizer
micro-dosing treatments [2 g hill−1 of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 6 g hill−1 of compound fertilizer
Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) (15-15-15)] and three rates of manure (100 g hill−1, 200 g hill−1 and
300 g hill−1) and the relevant control treatments were arranged in a factorial experiment organized in a
randomized complete block design with three replications. On average, millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)
R.Br.) grain yield increased by 39 and 72% for the plots that received the fertilizer micro-dosing of 6 g NPK
hill−1 and 2 g DAP hill−1, respectively, in comparison with the unfertilized control plots. The average
partial nutrients balances for the two cropping seasons were −37 kg N ha−1yr−1, −1 kg P ha−1yr−1 and
−34 kg K ha−1yr−1 in plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1, and −31 kg N ha−1yr−1, −1 kg P
ha−1yr−1 and −27 kg K ha−1yr−1 for 6 g NPK hill−1. The transfer of straw yields accounted for 66% N, 55% P
and 89% K for removal. The average full nutrient balances for the two cropping seasons in fertilizer microdosing
treatments were −47.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1, −6.8 kg P ha−1 yr−1 and −21.3 kg K ha−1 yr−1 which represent
7.8, 24.1 and 9.4% of N, P and K stocks, respectively. The nutrient stock to balance ratio (NSB) for N
decreased from 13 to 11 and from 15 to 12 for the plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1 and
6 g NPK hill−1, respectively. The average NSB for P did not exceed 5 for the same plots. It was concluded
that fertilizer micro-dosing increases the risk of soil nutrient depletion in the Sahelian low-input cropping
system. These results have important implications for developing an agro-ecological approach to
addressing sustainable food production in the Sahelian smallholder cropping syste
Contribution of previous legumes to soil fertility and millet yields in West African Sahel
No full textStudies on combined effects of 4 legume crops residues and rock phosphate application on pearl millet
yield were undertaken on sandy acid soil field from 2012 to 2015 at ICRISAT Sahelian center (ISC)-
Sadore, Niger. The objective of the experiment was to assess the best combination of legume species x
rate of crop residue x rock phosphate doses that can sustainably improve pearl millet yield in cereal
monoculture system with a low input cost and minimum soil tillage. Over 3 years, the residual effect of
previous legume crop residue significantly improved not only the grain yield (P<0.001) and dry residue
yields (P<0.001) but also the growth parameters of pearl millet than millet mono-cropping. Treatments
with or without natural rock phosphate did not show any statistical differences on millet yield while
adding a micro dose of urea improved significantly the yield (P<0.001). The interaction effects of
preceding legume crops in rotation with millet and restitution of dry residue on the earlier mentioned
parameters across 3 years mono-cropping were studied in this experiment
Determinants of fertilizer microdose-induced yield increment of pearl millet on an acid sandy soil.
No full textRecent studies have reported the benefits of fertilizer microdosing in increasing crop yields in low input
cropping systems. Little information is however available on the mechanisms underlying this effect.
The objective of this study was therefore to explore the root-based mechanisms governing the growth
enhancing phenomena of the fertilizer microdosing technology. A two-year experiment was conducted at
the International CropsResearch Institute for the Semi-AridTropics (ICRISAT),Research Station in Niger.
Four treatments comprising (i) 2 g hill−1 of diammonuim phosphate (DAP), (ii) 6 g hill−1 of compound
fertilizer NPK, (iii) broadcasting of 200 kg ha−1 of compound fertilizer NPK (recommended rate) and
(iv) unfertilized control was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. On
average, fertilizer microdosing treatments (2-g DAP hill−1 and 6-g NPK hill−1) achieved 86% and 79% of
the grain yields recorded from broadcasting of 200-kg NPK ha−1, respectively, in 2013 and 2014. The leaf
area index and leaf chlorophyll content significantly increased with fertilizer microdosing at the early stage
of millet growth. At the same stage, fertilizer microdosing enhanced the lateral root length density in the
topsoil (0–20 cm) by 72% and 40% at respective lateral distances of 25 cm and 50 cm from the centre of
the hill compared with broadcast of 200-kg NPK ha−1. Fertilizer microdosing did not significantly change
soil pH in the root zone. It is concluded that the positive effect of fertilizer microdosing in increasing millet
yield results from the better exploitation of soil nutrients due to early lateral roots proliferation within the
topsoil
Contribution of previous legumes to soil fertility and millet yields in West African Sahel
No full textStudies on combined effects of 4 legume crops residues and rock phosphate application on pearl millet
yield were undertaken on sandy acid soil field from 2012 to 2015 at ICRISAT Sahelian center (ISC)-
Sadore, Niger. The objective of the experiment was to assess the best combination of legume species x
rate of crop residue x rock phosphate doses that can sustainably improve pearl millet yield in cereal
monoculture system with a low input cost and minimum soil tillage. Over 3 years, the residual effect of
previous legume crop residue significantly improved not only the grain yield (P<0.001) and dry residue
yields (P<0.001) but also the growth parameters of pearl millet than millet mono-cropping. Treatments
with or without natural rock phosphate did not show any statistical differences on millet yield while
adding a micro dose of urea improved significantly the yield (P<0.001). The interaction effects of
preceding legume crops in rotation with millet and restitution of dry residue on the earlier mentioned
parameters across 3 years mono-cropping were studied in this experiment
