Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: a success with a shadow

Over the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis being placed on crop yields and economic income as the direct benefits from fertilizer micro-dosing technology. There is increasing concern about the sustainability of this technology in smallholder Sahelia...

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Main Authors: Ibrahim, A., Abaidoo, Robert C., Fatondji, D., Opoku, A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Informa UK Limited 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77850
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author Ibrahim, A.
Abaidoo, Robert C.
Fatondji, D.
Opoku, A.
author_browse Abaidoo, Robert C.
Fatondji, D.
Ibrahim, A.
Opoku, A.
author_facet Ibrahim, A.
Abaidoo, Robert C.
Fatondji, D.
Opoku, A.
author_sort Ibrahim, A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Over the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis being placed on crop yields and economic income as the direct benefits from fertilizer micro-dosing technology. There is increasing concern about the sustainability of this technology in smallholder Sahelian cropping systems. This study was designed in the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to establish nutrient balances under fertilizer micro-dosing technology and their implications on soil nutrient stocks. Two fertilizer micro-dosing treatments [2 g hill−1 of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 6 g hill−1 of compound fertilizer Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) (15-15-15)] and three rates of manure (100 g hill−1, 200 g hill−1 and 300 g hill−1) and the relevant control treatments were arranged in a factorial experiment organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. On average, millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) grain yield increased by 39 and 72% for the plots that received the fertilizer micro-dosing of 6 g NPK hill−1 and 2 g DAP hill−1, respectively, in comparison with the unfertilized control plots. The average partial nutrients balances for the two cropping seasons were −37 kg N ha−1yr−1, −1 kg P ha−1yr−1 and −34 kg K ha−1yr−1 in plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1, and −31 kg N ha−1yr−1, −1 kg P ha−1yr−1 and −27 kg K ha−1yr−1 for 6 g NPK hill−1. The transfer of straw yields accounted for 66% N, 55% P and 89% K for removal. The average full nutrient balances for the two cropping seasons in fertilizer microdosing treatments were −47.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1, −6.8 kg P ha−1 yr−1 and −21.3 kg K ha−1 yr−1 which represent 7.8, 24.1 and 9.4% of N, P and K stocks, respectively. The nutrient stock to balance ratio (NSB) for N decreased from 13 to 11 and from 15 to 12 for the plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1 and 6 g NPK hill−1, respectively. The average NSB for P did not exceed 5 for the same plots. It was concluded that fertilizer micro-dosing increases the risk of soil nutrient depletion in the Sahelian low-input cropping system. These results have important implications for developing an agro-ecological approach to addressing sustainable food production in the Sahelian smallholder cropping system.
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spelling CGSpace778502023-12-08T19:25:22Z Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: a success with a shadow Ibrahim, A. Abaidoo, Robert C. Fatondji, D. Opoku, A. sustainability pearl millet soil fertility soil nutrient balances fertilizer micro-dosing nutrient stocks Over the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis being placed on crop yields and economic income as the direct benefits from fertilizer micro-dosing technology. There is increasing concern about the sustainability of this technology in smallholder Sahelian cropping systems. This study was designed in the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to establish nutrient balances under fertilizer micro-dosing technology and their implications on soil nutrient stocks. Two fertilizer micro-dosing treatments [2 g hill−1 of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 6 g hill−1 of compound fertilizer Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) (15-15-15)] and three rates of manure (100 g hill−1, 200 g hill−1 and 300 g hill−1) and the relevant control treatments were arranged in a factorial experiment organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. On average, millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) grain yield increased by 39 and 72% for the plots that received the fertilizer micro-dosing of 6 g NPK hill−1 and 2 g DAP hill−1, respectively, in comparison with the unfertilized control plots. The average partial nutrients balances for the two cropping seasons were −37 kg N ha−1yr−1, −1 kg P ha−1yr−1 and −34 kg K ha−1yr−1 in plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1, and −31 kg N ha−1yr−1, −1 kg P ha−1yr−1 and −27 kg K ha−1yr−1 for 6 g NPK hill−1. The transfer of straw yields accounted for 66% N, 55% P and 89% K for removal. The average full nutrient balances for the two cropping seasons in fertilizer microdosing treatments were −47.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1, −6.8 kg P ha−1 yr−1 and −21.3 kg K ha−1 yr−1 which represent 7.8, 24.1 and 9.4% of N, P and K stocks, respectively. The nutrient stock to balance ratio (NSB) for N decreased from 13 to 11 and from 15 to 12 for the plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1 and 6 g NPK hill−1, respectively. The average NSB for P did not exceed 5 for the same plots. It was concluded that fertilizer micro-dosing increases the risk of soil nutrient depletion in the Sahelian low-input cropping system. These results have important implications for developing an agro-ecological approach to addressing sustainable food production in the Sahelian smallholder cropping system. 2016-05-03 2016-11-24T09:16:30Z 2016-11-24T09:16:30Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77850 en Open Access Informa UK Limited Ibrahim, A., Abaidoo, R.C., Fatondji, D. & Opoku, A. (2016). Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: a success with a shadow. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 62(3), 277-288.
spellingShingle sustainability
pearl millet
soil fertility
soil nutrient balances
fertilizer micro-dosing
nutrient stocks
Ibrahim, A.
Abaidoo, Robert C.
Fatondji, D.
Opoku, A.
Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: a success with a shadow
title Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: a success with a shadow
title_full Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: a success with a shadow
title_fullStr Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: a success with a shadow
title_full_unstemmed Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: a success with a shadow
title_short Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: a success with a shadow
title_sort fertilizer micro dosing increases crop yield in the sahelian low input cropping system a success with a shadow
topic sustainability
pearl millet
soil fertility
soil nutrient balances
fertilizer micro-dosing
nutrient stocks
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77850
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