Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils
A number of studies across sub-Saharan Africa have recently reported poor crop responses and low agronomic use efficiencies of applied nitrogen (AEN), phosphorus (AEP) and potassium (AEK). However, the conditions under which non-responsiveness occurs, its underlying causes and its probability of occ...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Cambridge University Press
2022
|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118134 |
| _version_ | 1855519674750468096 |
|---|---|
| author | Sileshi, Gudeta W. Kihara, Job Maguta Tamene, Lulseged D. Vanlauwe, Bernard Phiri, Elijah Jama, Bashir |
| author_browse | Jama, Bashir Kihara, Job Maguta Phiri, Elijah Sileshi, Gudeta W. Tamene, Lulseged D. Vanlauwe, Bernard |
| author_facet | Sileshi, Gudeta W. Kihara, Job Maguta Tamene, Lulseged D. Vanlauwe, Bernard Phiri, Elijah Jama, Bashir |
| author_sort | Sileshi, Gudeta W. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | A number of studies across sub-Saharan Africa have recently reported poor crop responses and low agronomic use efficiencies of applied nitrogen (AEN), phosphorus (AEP) and potassium (AEK). However, the conditions under which non-responsiveness occurs, its underlying causes and its probability of occurrence on different soil types are not well understood. Using data from 542 sites and 14 soil types in 23 African countries, we provide novel insights into the linkage between lack of response to applied N, P and K, the mineralogy of soils and their resilience to erosion. We estimated mean responses as well as the probabilities (ϕ) of no response in terms of response ratio (RR), yield gain (YG) and agronomic efficiency. Here we defined ‘no response’ as zero agronomic response to fertilizer inputs in a given site and year indexed by either RR ≤ 1, AEN ≤ 0, AEP ≤ 0 or AEK ≤ 0. The highest risks of no response were recorded on the iron-rich Plinthosols (ϕ = 0.26) followed by the aluminium-rich Alisols (ϕ = 0.16) and the erosion-prone Lixisols (ϕ = 0.16) and Leptosols (ϕ = 0.13). In terms of yield gains, the highest risk of low response (i.e., YG ≤ 0.5) was recorded on Alisols (ϕ = 0.47) and the lowest on Fluvisols (ϕ = 0.05). Cambisols, Fluvisols, Luvisols and Nitisols were deemed highly responsive to NPK fertilizer. The risks of no response were significantly higher on soils derived from siliceous than mafic parent materials, soil types with low resilience to erosion, soils with low-activity clays and high P fixation capacity. It is concluded that maize grain yields can exceed 3 t ha-1 with high probability (ϕ > 0.80) on Andosols, Nitisols and Vertisols, but with very low probability (ϕ < 0.30) on Alisols and Arenosols. It is also concluded that across soil types and agroecological zones, the risk of no response is up to two times more on farmers’ fields than on research stations. Here, we discuss the implications of these finding for the design and location of future agronomic trials. We also provide insights to guide the targeting of fertilizer subsidies where nutrients can be more efficiently used. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace118134 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| publisherStr | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1181342025-11-11T17:45:03Z Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils Sileshi, Gudeta W. Kihara, Job Maguta Tamene, Lulseged D. Vanlauwe, Bernard Phiri, Elijah Jama, Bashir crop production soil management fertilizer application producción vegetal manejo del suelo aplicación de abonos A number of studies across sub-Saharan Africa have recently reported poor crop responses and low agronomic use efficiencies of applied nitrogen (AEN), phosphorus (AEP) and potassium (AEK). However, the conditions under which non-responsiveness occurs, its underlying causes and its probability of occurrence on different soil types are not well understood. Using data from 542 sites and 14 soil types in 23 African countries, we provide novel insights into the linkage between lack of response to applied N, P and K, the mineralogy of soils and their resilience to erosion. We estimated mean responses as well as the probabilities (ϕ) of no response in terms of response ratio (RR), yield gain (YG) and agronomic efficiency. Here we defined ‘no response’ as zero agronomic response to fertilizer inputs in a given site and year indexed by either RR ≤ 1, AEN ≤ 0, AEP ≤ 0 or AEK ≤ 0. The highest risks of no response were recorded on the iron-rich Plinthosols (ϕ = 0.26) followed by the aluminium-rich Alisols (ϕ = 0.16) and the erosion-prone Lixisols (ϕ = 0.16) and Leptosols (ϕ = 0.13). In terms of yield gains, the highest risk of low response (i.e., YG ≤ 0.5) was recorded on Alisols (ϕ = 0.47) and the lowest on Fluvisols (ϕ = 0.05). Cambisols, Fluvisols, Luvisols and Nitisols were deemed highly responsive to NPK fertilizer. The risks of no response were significantly higher on soils derived from siliceous than mafic parent materials, soil types with low resilience to erosion, soils with low-activity clays and high P fixation capacity. It is concluded that maize grain yields can exceed 3 t ha-1 with high probability (ϕ > 0.80) on Andosols, Nitisols and Vertisols, but with very low probability (ϕ < 0.30) on Alisols and Arenosols. It is also concluded that across soil types and agroecological zones, the risk of no response is up to two times more on farmers’ fields than on research stations. Here, we discuss the implications of these finding for the design and location of future agronomic trials. We also provide insights to guide the targeting of fertilizer subsidies where nutrients can be more efficiently used. 2022 2022-02-15T10:35:31Z 2022-02-15T10:35:31Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118134 en Open Access application/pdf Cambridge University Press Sileshi, G.W.; Kihara, J.; Tamene, L.; Vanlauwe, B.; Phiri, E.; Jama, B. (2022) Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils. Experimental Agriculture On line First Paper (08 February 2022) 17 p. ISSN: 0014-4797 |
| spellingShingle | crop production soil management fertilizer application producción vegetal manejo del suelo aplicación de abonos Sileshi, Gudeta W. Kihara, Job Maguta Tamene, Lulseged D. Vanlauwe, Bernard Phiri, Elijah Jama, Bashir Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils |
| title | Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils |
| title_full | Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils |
| title_fullStr | Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils |
| title_short | Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils |
| title_sort | unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied n and p fertilizers on african soils |
| topic | crop production soil management fertilizer application producción vegetal manejo del suelo aplicación de abonos |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118134 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sileshigudetaw unravellingcausesofpoorcropresponsetoappliednandpfertilizersonafricansoils AT kiharajobmaguta unravellingcausesofpoorcropresponsetoappliednandpfertilizersonafricansoils AT tamenelulsegedd unravellingcausesofpoorcropresponsetoappliednandpfertilizersonafricansoils AT vanlauwebernard unravellingcausesofpoorcropresponsetoappliednandpfertilizersonafricansoils AT phirielijah unravellingcausesofpoorcropresponsetoappliednandpfertilizersonafricansoils AT jamabashir unravellingcausesofpoorcropresponsetoappliednandpfertilizersonafricansoils |