Understanding variability in soybean yield and response to P-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers' fields in northern Nigeria

Soybean yields could benefit from the use of improved varieties, phosphate-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants. In this study, we evaluated the results of widespread testing of promiscuous soybean varieties with four treatments: no inputs (control); SSP fertilizer (P); inoculants (I) and SSP plus in...

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Autores principales: Ronner, E., Franke, A.C., Vanlauwe, Bernard, Dianda, M., Edeh, E., Ukem, B., Bala, A., Heerwaarden, Joost van, Giller, Kenneth E.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75563
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author Ronner, E.
Franke, A.C.
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Dianda, M.
Edeh, E.
Ukem, B.
Bala, A.
Heerwaarden, Joost van
Giller, Kenneth E.
author_browse Bala, A.
Dianda, M.
Edeh, E.
Franke, A.C.
Giller, Kenneth E.
Heerwaarden, Joost van
Ronner, E.
Ukem, B.
Vanlauwe, Bernard
author_facet Ronner, E.
Franke, A.C.
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Dianda, M.
Edeh, E.
Ukem, B.
Bala, A.
Heerwaarden, Joost van
Giller, Kenneth E.
author_sort Ronner, E.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Soybean yields could benefit from the use of improved varieties, phosphate-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants. In this study, we evaluated the results of widespread testing of promiscuous soybean varieties with four treatments: no inputs (control); SSP fertilizer (P); inoculants (I) and SSP plus inoculants (P + I) among smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria in 2011 and 2012. We observed a strong response to both P and I, which significantly increased grain yields by 452 and 447 kg ha−1 respectively. The additive effect of P + I (777 kg ha−1) resulted in the best average yields. Variability in yield among farms was large, which had implications for the benefits for individual farmers. Moreover, although the yield response to P and I was similar, I was more profitable due to its low cost. Only 16% of the variability in control yields could be explained by plant establishment, days to first weeding, percentage sand and soil exchangeable magnesium. Between 42% and 61% of variability in response to P and/or I could be explained by variables including year, farm size, plant establishment, total rainfall and pH. The predictive value of these variables was limited, however, with cross-validation R2 decreasing to about 15% for the prediction between Local Government Areas and 10% between years. Implications for future research include our conclusion that averages of performance of technologies tell little about the adoption potential for individual farmers. We also conclude that a strong agronomic and economic case exists for the use of inoculants with promiscuous soybean, requiring efforts to improve the availability of good quality inoculants in Africa.
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spelling CGSpace755632024-05-01T08:15:44Z Understanding variability in soybean yield and response to P-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers' fields in northern Nigeria Ronner, E. Franke, A.C. Vanlauwe, Bernard Dianda, M. Edeh, E. Ukem, B. Bala, A. Heerwaarden, Joost van Giller, Kenneth E. bradyrhizobium soybeans grain legumes sustainable agriculture Soybean yields could benefit from the use of improved varieties, phosphate-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants. In this study, we evaluated the results of widespread testing of promiscuous soybean varieties with four treatments: no inputs (control); SSP fertilizer (P); inoculants (I) and SSP plus inoculants (P + I) among smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria in 2011 and 2012. We observed a strong response to both P and I, which significantly increased grain yields by 452 and 447 kg ha−1 respectively. The additive effect of P + I (777 kg ha−1) resulted in the best average yields. Variability in yield among farms was large, which had implications for the benefits for individual farmers. Moreover, although the yield response to P and I was similar, I was more profitable due to its low cost. Only 16% of the variability in control yields could be explained by plant establishment, days to first weeding, percentage sand and soil exchangeable magnesium. Between 42% and 61% of variability in response to P and/or I could be explained by variables including year, farm size, plant establishment, total rainfall and pH. The predictive value of these variables was limited, however, with cross-validation R2 decreasing to about 15% for the prediction between Local Government Areas and 10% between years. Implications for future research include our conclusion that averages of performance of technologies tell little about the adoption potential for individual farmers. We also conclude that a strong agronomic and economic case exists for the use of inoculants with promiscuous soybean, requiring efforts to improve the availability of good quality inoculants in Africa. 2016-02 2016-06-03T11:32:38Z 2016-06-03T11:32:38Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75563 en Limited Access image/gif Elsevier Ronner, E., Franke, A.C., Vanlauwe, B., Dianda, M., Edeh, E., Ukem, B., ... & Giller, K.E. (2016). Understanding variability in soybean yield and response to P-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers’ fields in northern Nigeria. Field Crops Research, 186, 133-145.
spellingShingle bradyrhizobium
soybeans
grain legumes
sustainable agriculture
Ronner, E.
Franke, A.C.
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Dianda, M.
Edeh, E.
Ukem, B.
Bala, A.
Heerwaarden, Joost van
Giller, Kenneth E.
Understanding variability in soybean yield and response to P-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers' fields in northern Nigeria
title Understanding variability in soybean yield and response to P-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers' fields in northern Nigeria
title_full Understanding variability in soybean yield and response to P-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers' fields in northern Nigeria
title_fullStr Understanding variability in soybean yield and response to P-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers' fields in northern Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Understanding variability in soybean yield and response to P-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers' fields in northern Nigeria
title_short Understanding variability in soybean yield and response to P-fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers' fields in northern Nigeria
title_sort understanding variability in soybean yield and response to p fertilizer and rhizobium inoculants on farmers fields in northern nigeria
topic bradyrhizobium
soybeans
grain legumes
sustainable agriculture
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75563
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