Stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa

A number of studies have recommended application of large quantities of manure alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, yield responses of cereals such as maize are very modest even at manure application rates exceeding 10 t ha−1 year−1. We conducted a...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Sileshi, Gudeta W., Nhamo, N., Mafongoya, P.L., Tanimu, J.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78834
_version_ 1855526480250929152
author Sileshi, Gudeta W.
Nhamo, N.
Mafongoya, P.L.
Tanimu, J.
author_browse Mafongoya, P.L.
Nhamo, N.
Sileshi, Gudeta W.
Tanimu, J.
author_facet Sileshi, Gudeta W.
Nhamo, N.
Mafongoya, P.L.
Tanimu, J.
author_sort Sileshi, Gudeta W.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description A number of studies have recommended application of large quantities of manure alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, yield responses of cereals such as maize are very modest even at manure application rates exceeding 10 t ha−1 year−1. We conducted a meta-analysis of data from 64 studies across 14 countries in SSA in order to explore variability in nutrient concentrations, stoichiometry and maize yield responses to animal manure. We observed novel instances of stoichiometry and correlations between organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations, and elemental ratios in manure. In 27% of the manure samples the C:N ratio was greater than 25 indicating that N will be potentially unavailable to crops due to net immobilization. In over 94% of the manure samples, the N:P and C:P ratios were <15 and <200 indicating net P mineralization. Therefore, decomposition rates and crop responses are likely to be N-limited rather than P-limited in the majority of the manure applied. Our analyses also demonstrate that manure application rates and N and P concentrations are less important than C:N and N:P ratios in determining maize yield response to manure. Therefore, emphasis in the future should not be on increasing manure application rates but on approaches that ensure favourable C:N and N:P ratios. Our findings also suggest the need for feeding animals with high quality diet to get better quality manure, higher crop yields and improve household food security in SSA.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace78834
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2017
publishDateRange 2017
publishDateSort 2017
publisher Springer
publisherStr Springer
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace788342024-05-01T08:17:35Z Stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa Sileshi, Gudeta W. Nhamo, N. Mafongoya, P.L. Tanimu, J. carbon sequestration greenhouse gases nutrient cycling animal manure stoichiometry maize yield A number of studies have recommended application of large quantities of manure alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, yield responses of cereals such as maize are very modest even at manure application rates exceeding 10 t ha−1 year−1. We conducted a meta-analysis of data from 64 studies across 14 countries in SSA in order to explore variability in nutrient concentrations, stoichiometry and maize yield responses to animal manure. We observed novel instances of stoichiometry and correlations between organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations, and elemental ratios in manure. In 27% of the manure samples the C:N ratio was greater than 25 indicating that N will be potentially unavailable to crops due to net immobilization. In over 94% of the manure samples, the N:P and C:P ratios were <15 and <200 indicating net P mineralization. Therefore, decomposition rates and crop responses are likely to be N-limited rather than P-limited in the majority of the manure applied. Our analyses also demonstrate that manure application rates and N and P concentrations are less important than C:N and N:P ratios in determining maize yield response to manure. Therefore, emphasis in the future should not be on increasing manure application rates but on approaches that ensure favourable C:N and N:P ratios. Our findings also suggest the need for feeding animals with high quality diet to get better quality manure, higher crop yields and improve household food security in SSA. 2017-01 2017-01-18T13:44:43Z 2017-01-18T13:44:43Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78834 en Limited Access Springer Sileshi, G.W., Nhamo, N., Mafongoya, P.L. & Tanimu, J. Stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 1-15.
spellingShingle carbon sequestration
greenhouse gases
nutrient cycling
animal manure
stoichiometry
maize yield
Sileshi, Gudeta W.
Nhamo, N.
Mafongoya, P.L.
Tanimu, J.
Stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa
title Stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa
title_full Stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa
title_fullStr Stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa
title_full_unstemmed Stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa
title_short Stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa
title_sort stoichiometry of animal manure and implications for nutrient cycling and agriculture in sub saharan africa
topic carbon sequestration
greenhouse gases
nutrient cycling
animal manure
stoichiometry
maize yield
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78834
work_keys_str_mv AT sileshigudetaw stoichiometryofanimalmanureandimplicationsfornutrientcyclingandagricultureinsubsaharanafrica
AT nhamon stoichiometryofanimalmanureandimplicationsfornutrientcyclingandagricultureinsubsaharanafrica
AT mafongoyapl stoichiometryofanimalmanureandimplicationsfornutrientcyclingandagricultureinsubsaharanafrica
AT tanimuj stoichiometryofanimalmanureandimplicationsfornutrientcyclingandagricultureinsubsaharanafrica