Strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the Sahel: A case study from Niger, West Africa

Soils used for rainfed cereal production in Niger are sandy, deficient in major nutrients (N and P), and also low in organic matter content. Scarce rainfall with an unpredictable distribution in space and time makes crop and nutrient management difficult. Observations were made in 1996 and 1997 on m...

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Autores principales: Gandah, M., Bouma, Jetske, Brouwer, J., Hiernaux, Pierre H.Y., Duivenbooden, N. van
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2003
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/30020
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author Gandah, M.
Bouma, Jetske
Brouwer, J.
Hiernaux, Pierre H.Y.
Duivenbooden, N. van
author_browse Bouma, Jetske
Brouwer, J.
Duivenbooden, N. van
Gandah, M.
Hiernaux, Pierre H.Y.
author_facet Gandah, M.
Bouma, Jetske
Brouwer, J.
Hiernaux, Pierre H.Y.
Duivenbooden, N. van
author_sort Gandah, M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Soils used for rainfed cereal production in Niger are sandy, deficient in major nutrients (N and P), and also low in organic matter content. Scarce rainfall with an unpredictable distribution in space and time makes crop and nutrient management difficult. Observations were made in 1996 and 1997 on management by a Fulani tribal household, based on manure application through corralling and on use of fallow. Field corralling of cattle left between 1.5 and 17Mgha-1 of manure on limited areas of the fields. Millet grain yields were increased from 500kgha-1 in areas manured 6 or more years ago to 1100kgha-1 in recently manured areas. Drought during the growing season of 1997 limited the effects of manure application on grain and straw yields. Soil carbon and nitrogen levels were higher at depths below 0.20m in sites where manure was applied 4-5 years ago (M4), while pH and P were higher in 0-0.10m of the soil profile in practices where manure was applied the same year (M0). Nutrient management in 1997 could have been improved by reducing the locally very high manure rates in order to fertilize a two or three times larger area and consequently improve yields over a larger area and reduce risks of nutrient leaching and crop damage from droughts.
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spelling CGSpace300202024-04-25T06:00:54Z Strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the Sahel: A case study from Niger, West Africa Gandah, M. Bouma, Jetske Brouwer, J. Hiernaux, Pierre H.Y. Duivenbooden, N. van soil management farm yard manure pennisetum glaucum soil fertility sandy soils Soils used for rainfed cereal production in Niger are sandy, deficient in major nutrients (N and P), and also low in organic matter content. Scarce rainfall with an unpredictable distribution in space and time makes crop and nutrient management difficult. Observations were made in 1996 and 1997 on management by a Fulani tribal household, based on manure application through corralling and on use of fallow. Field corralling of cattle left between 1.5 and 17Mgha-1 of manure on limited areas of the fields. Millet grain yields were increased from 500kgha-1 in areas manured 6 or more years ago to 1100kgha-1 in recently manured areas. Drought during the growing season of 1997 limited the effects of manure application on grain and straw yields. Soil carbon and nitrogen levels were higher at depths below 0.20m in sites where manure was applied 4-5 years ago (M4), while pH and P were higher in 0-0.10m of the soil profile in practices where manure was applied the same year (M0). Nutrient management in 1997 could have been improved by reducing the locally very high manure rates in order to fertilize a two or three times larger area and consequently improve yields over a larger area and reduce risks of nutrient leaching and crop damage from droughts. 2003-03 2013-06-11T09:25:52Z 2013-06-11T09:25:52Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/30020 en Limited Access Elsevier Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment;94(3): 311-319
spellingShingle soil management
farm yard manure
pennisetum glaucum
soil fertility
sandy soils
Gandah, M.
Bouma, Jetske
Brouwer, J.
Hiernaux, Pierre H.Y.
Duivenbooden, N. van
Strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the Sahel: A case study from Niger, West Africa
title Strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the Sahel: A case study from Niger, West Africa
title_full Strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the Sahel: A case study from Niger, West Africa
title_fullStr Strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the Sahel: A case study from Niger, West Africa
title_full_unstemmed Strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the Sahel: A case study from Niger, West Africa
title_short Strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the Sahel: A case study from Niger, West Africa
title_sort strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the sahel a case study from niger west africa
topic soil management
farm yard manure
pennisetum glaucum
soil fertility
sandy soils
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/30020
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