Evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro-dosing technology on millet production in Niger, West Africa

Micro-dosing technology has been developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and its partners to help subsistence farmers in the Sahel improve inorganic fertilizer application. However, the ICRISAT's recommendations regarding fertilizer application thr...

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Autores principales: Hayashi, K, Abdoulaye, Tahirou, Gerard, Bruno G., Bationo, B. André
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2008
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43425
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author Hayashi, K
Abdoulaye, Tahirou
Gerard, Bruno G.
Bationo, B. André
author_browse Abdoulaye, Tahirou
Bationo, B. André
Gerard, Bruno G.
Hayashi, K
author_facet Hayashi, K
Abdoulaye, Tahirou
Gerard, Bruno G.
Bationo, B. André
author_sort Hayashi, K
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Micro-dosing technology has been developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and its partners to help subsistence farmers in the Sahel improve inorganic fertilizer application. However, the ICRISAT's recommendations regarding fertilizer application through this technology are only applicable at sowing and do not allow any flexibility in terms of labor and/or capital management. In rural areas, fertilizer cannot always be applied at sowing due to financial and labor constraints. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the timing of fertilizer application on millet production. A 2-year on-station experiment and a 1-year on-farm field experiment were conducted in the western region of Niger, West Africa. Even under the heterogeneous climatic conditions of the region during our experimental period, the results showed that the trend was the same as observed in previous studies: millet production improved through fertilizer application compared to the control (without fertilizer). The harvest index was also higher compared to that of the control. This increased production was consistently the same for all application timings. The marginal value–cost ratio on the investment calculated using a budgeting analysis for the on-farm experiment showed that – regardless of application timing – millet farmers who fertilized their fields with inorganic fertilizer made more profit than those who did not (control). This was also true for farmers who were unable to fertilize at sowing – delayed application was still the more profitable option relative to the no fertilizer control. Our results indicate that small subsistence farmers can be offered more options for inorganic fertilizer application timing using the micro-dosing technology. Delayed inorganic fertilizer application can help small farmers who are often labor constrained at the sowing period improve their yields as well as their economic returns.
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spelling CGSpace434252024-08-27T10:35:43Z Evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro-dosing technology on millet production in Niger, West Africa Hayashi, K Abdoulaye, Tahirou Gerard, Bruno G. Bationo, B. André application timing fertilizers micro-dosing technology marginal value-cost ratio (mvcr) millet production Micro-dosing technology has been developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and its partners to help subsistence farmers in the Sahel improve inorganic fertilizer application. However, the ICRISAT's recommendations regarding fertilizer application through this technology are only applicable at sowing and do not allow any flexibility in terms of labor and/or capital management. In rural areas, fertilizer cannot always be applied at sowing due to financial and labor constraints. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the timing of fertilizer application on millet production. A 2-year on-station experiment and a 1-year on-farm field experiment were conducted in the western region of Niger, West Africa. Even under the heterogeneous climatic conditions of the region during our experimental period, the results showed that the trend was the same as observed in previous studies: millet production improved through fertilizer application compared to the control (without fertilizer). The harvest index was also higher compared to that of the control. This increased production was consistently the same for all application timings. The marginal value–cost ratio on the investment calculated using a budgeting analysis for the on-farm experiment showed that – regardless of application timing – millet farmers who fertilized their fields with inorganic fertilizer made more profit than those who did not (control). This was also true for farmers who were unable to fertilize at sowing – delayed application was still the more profitable option relative to the no fertilizer control. Our results indicate that small subsistence farmers can be offered more options for inorganic fertilizer application timing using the micro-dosing technology. Delayed inorganic fertilizer application can help small farmers who are often labor constrained at the sowing period improve their yields as well as their economic returns. 2008-03 2014-09-24T08:42:07Z 2014-09-24T08:42:07Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43425 en Limited Access Springer Hayashi, K., Abdoulaye, T., Gerard, B. et al. Evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro-dosing technology on millet production in Niger, West Africa. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 80, 257–265 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9141-3
spellingShingle application timing
fertilizers
micro-dosing technology
marginal value-cost
ratio (mvcr)
millet production
Hayashi, K
Abdoulaye, Tahirou
Gerard, Bruno G.
Bationo, B. André
Evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro-dosing technology on millet production in Niger, West Africa
title Evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro-dosing technology on millet production in Niger, West Africa
title_full Evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro-dosing technology on millet production in Niger, West Africa
title_fullStr Evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro-dosing technology on millet production in Niger, West Africa
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro-dosing technology on millet production in Niger, West Africa
title_short Evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro-dosing technology on millet production in Niger, West Africa
title_sort evaluation of application timing in fertilizer micro dosing technology on millet production in niger west africa
topic application timing
fertilizers
micro-dosing technology
marginal value-cost
ratio (mvcr)
millet production
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43425
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