Mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications: Implications for yield responses in Ethiopia
Lack of accurate information about soil nutrient deficiencies coupled with limited access to appropriate fertilizers could lead to mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies (requirements) and fertilizer applications. Such anomalies and mismatches are likely to have important implications for agric...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
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International Association of Agricultural Economists
2022
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141167 |
| _version_ | 1855514221405536256 |
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| author | Abay, Kibrom A. Abay, Mehari Hiluf Amare, Mulubrhan Berhane, Guush Aynekulu, Ermias |
| author_browse | Abay, Kibrom A. Abay, Mehari Hiluf Amare, Mulubrhan Aynekulu, Ermias Berhane, Guush |
| author_facet | Abay, Kibrom A. Abay, Mehari Hiluf Amare, Mulubrhan Berhane, Guush Aynekulu, Ermias |
| author_sort | Abay, Kibrom A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Lack of accurate information about soil nutrient deficiencies coupled with limited access to appropriate fertilizers could lead to mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies (requirements) and fertilizer applications. Such anomalies and mismatches are likely to have important implications for agricultural productivity. In this article we use experimental (spectral soil analysis) data from Ethiopia to examine farmers’ response to soil nutrient deficiencies and its implications for yield responses. We find that farmers’ response to macronutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) deficiencies is not always consistent with agronomic recommendations. For example, we find that farmers in our sample are applying nitrogen fertilizers to soils lacking phosphorus, potentially due to lack of information on soil nutrient deficiencies or lack of access to appropriate fertilizers in rural markets. On the other hand, farmers respond to perceivably poor-quality and acidic soils by applying higher amount of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. We further show that such mismatches between fertilizer applications and soil macronutrient deficiencies are potentially yield-reducing. Those farmers matching their soil nutrient deficiencies (requirements) and fertilizer application are likely to enjoy additional yield gains. Marginal yield response associated with nitrogen (phosphorus) application increases with nitrogen (phosphorus) deficiency in soils. Similarly, we find that farmers’ response to acidic soils is not yield-enhancing. These findings suggest that such mismatches may explain heterogeneities in marginal returns to chemical fertilizers and the observed low adoption rates of chemical fertilizers in sub-Saharan Africa. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace141167 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | International Association of Agricultural Economists |
| publisherStr | International Association of Agricultural Economists |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1411672025-10-26T13:02:06Z Mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications: Implications for yield responses in Ethiopia Abay, Kibrom A. Abay, Mehari Hiluf Amare, Mulubrhan Berhane, Guush Aynekulu, Ermias fertilizers soil nutrient deficiency soil degradation fertilizer application nutrients soil analysis soil quality yields Lack of accurate information about soil nutrient deficiencies coupled with limited access to appropriate fertilizers could lead to mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies (requirements) and fertilizer applications. Such anomalies and mismatches are likely to have important implications for agricultural productivity. In this article we use experimental (spectral soil analysis) data from Ethiopia to examine farmers’ response to soil nutrient deficiencies and its implications for yield responses. We find that farmers’ response to macronutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) deficiencies is not always consistent with agronomic recommendations. For example, we find that farmers in our sample are applying nitrogen fertilizers to soils lacking phosphorus, potentially due to lack of information on soil nutrient deficiencies or lack of access to appropriate fertilizers in rural markets. On the other hand, farmers respond to perceivably poor-quality and acidic soils by applying higher amount of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. We further show that such mismatches between fertilizer applications and soil macronutrient deficiencies are potentially yield-reducing. Those farmers matching their soil nutrient deficiencies (requirements) and fertilizer application are likely to enjoy additional yield gains. Marginal yield response associated with nitrogen (phosphorus) application increases with nitrogen (phosphorus) deficiency in soils. Similarly, we find that farmers’ response to acidic soils is not yield-enhancing. These findings suggest that such mismatches may explain heterogeneities in marginal returns to chemical fertilizers and the observed low adoption rates of chemical fertilizers in sub-Saharan Africa. 2022-03 2024-04-12T13:37:23Z 2024-04-12T13:37:23Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141167 en https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134449 Open Access International Association of Agricultural Economists Abay, Kibrom A.; Abay, Mehari Hiluf; Amare, Mulubrhan; Berhane, Guush; and Aynekulu, Ermias. 2022. Mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications: Implications for yield responses in Ethiopia. Agricultural Economics 53(2): 215-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12689 |
| spellingShingle | fertilizers soil nutrient deficiency soil degradation fertilizer application nutrients soil analysis soil quality yields Abay, Kibrom A. Abay, Mehari Hiluf Amare, Mulubrhan Berhane, Guush Aynekulu, Ermias Mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications: Implications for yield responses in Ethiopia |
| title | Mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications: Implications for yield responses in Ethiopia |
| title_full | Mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications: Implications for yield responses in Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications: Implications for yield responses in Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications: Implications for yield responses in Ethiopia |
| title_short | Mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications: Implications for yield responses in Ethiopia |
| title_sort | mismatch between soil nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer applications implications for yield responses in ethiopia |
| topic | fertilizers soil nutrient deficiency soil degradation fertilizer application nutrients soil analysis soil quality yields |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141167 |
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