Evaluation of farm-level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize-bean farming systems in Uganda and Tanzania

We conducted an ex ante evaluation of soil fertility management strategies on soil organic matter (SOM), nitrogen balance, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and profitability under three important scenarios: (1) inorganic fertilizers, (2) organic manure, and (3) combined organic manure and inorganic f...

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Autores principales: Birnholz, Celine A., Mwongera, Caroline, Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia, Mwungu, Chris Miyinzi
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Center for Tropical Agriculture 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91204
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author Birnholz, Celine A.
Mwongera, Caroline
Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia
Mwungu, Chris Miyinzi
author_browse Birnholz, Celine A.
Mwongera, Caroline
Mwungu, Chris Miyinzi
Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia
author_facet Birnholz, Celine A.
Mwongera, Caroline
Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia
Mwungu, Chris Miyinzi
author_sort Birnholz, Celine A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description We conducted an ex ante evaluation of soil fertility management strategies on soil organic matter (SOM), nitrogen balance, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and profitability under three important scenarios: (1) inorganic fertilizers, (2) organic manure, and (3) combined organic manure and inorganic fertilizers. Focus group discussions and household surveys were used to collect data in Rakai, Uganda, and Lushoto, Tanzania. We assessed impact for three farm types (small scale, medium scale, and large scale) using a bioeconomic model: FarmDESIGN. Our main findings are as follows. First, whereas in Lushoto the combined use of organic manure and inorganic fertilizers contributed the most to SOM relative to the baseline for all farm types, in Rakai the same scenario had greater impacts for only medium- and large-scale farms. For small-scale farms, improvement in SOM mostly came from the use of inorganic fertilizers. Second, in both countries, nitrogen balance increased across all scenarios and farm types. Third, the increase in SOM and nitrogen balance was accompanied by an increase in GHG emissions, especially for scenarios with manure or combining manure and inorganic fertilizers. Fourth, impacts were mixed in terms of profitability. In Lushoto, Tanzania, the smallscale farm has the lowest operating profit, while the large-scale farm has the highest. In Rakai, Uganda, gross margins from crops contributed the largest share to farm profitability. Our findings not only suggest increased soil fertility with the adoption of improved management strategies but also highlight potential trade-offs in terms of increased emissions and reduced profitability for some farm types. Taking into account both synergies and trade-offs when promoting soil fertility management strategies might yield successful efforts.
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spelling CGSpace912042025-11-05T18:03:44Z Evaluation of farm-level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize-bean farming systems in Uganda and Tanzania Birnholz, Celine A. Mwongera, Caroline Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia Mwungu, Chris Miyinzi soil fertility fertilidad del suelo climate change mitigation profitability rentabilidad farming systems We conducted an ex ante evaluation of soil fertility management strategies on soil organic matter (SOM), nitrogen balance, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and profitability under three important scenarios: (1) inorganic fertilizers, (2) organic manure, and (3) combined organic manure and inorganic fertilizers. Focus group discussions and household surveys were used to collect data in Rakai, Uganda, and Lushoto, Tanzania. We assessed impact for three farm types (small scale, medium scale, and large scale) using a bioeconomic model: FarmDESIGN. Our main findings are as follows. First, whereas in Lushoto the combined use of organic manure and inorganic fertilizers contributed the most to SOM relative to the baseline for all farm types, in Rakai the same scenario had greater impacts for only medium- and large-scale farms. For small-scale farms, improvement in SOM mostly came from the use of inorganic fertilizers. Second, in both countries, nitrogen balance increased across all scenarios and farm types. Third, the increase in SOM and nitrogen balance was accompanied by an increase in GHG emissions, especially for scenarios with manure or combining manure and inorganic fertilizers. Fourth, impacts were mixed in terms of profitability. In Lushoto, Tanzania, the smallscale farm has the lowest operating profit, while the large-scale farm has the highest. In Rakai, Uganda, gross margins from crops contributed the largest share to farm profitability. Our findings not only suggest increased soil fertility with the adoption of improved management strategies but also highlight potential trade-offs in terms of increased emissions and reduced profitability for some farm types. Taking into account both synergies and trade-offs when promoting soil fertility management strategies might yield successful efforts. 2018 2018-02-27T14:33:12Z 2018-02-27T14:33:12Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91204 en Open Access application/pdf International Center for Tropical Agriculture Birnholz C; Mwongera C; Shikuku KM; Mwungu C. 2018. Evaluation of farm-level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize-bean farming systems in Uganda and Tanzania. Working Paper. CIAT Publication No. 467. International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Nairobi, Kenya. 22 p.
spellingShingle soil fertility
fertilidad del suelo
climate change mitigation
profitability
rentabilidad
farming systems
Birnholz, Celine A.
Mwongera, Caroline
Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia
Mwungu, Chris Miyinzi
Evaluation of farm-level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize-bean farming systems in Uganda and Tanzania
title Evaluation of farm-level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize-bean farming systems in Uganda and Tanzania
title_full Evaluation of farm-level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize-bean farming systems in Uganda and Tanzania
title_fullStr Evaluation of farm-level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize-bean farming systems in Uganda and Tanzania
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of farm-level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize-bean farming systems in Uganda and Tanzania
title_short Evaluation of farm-level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize-bean farming systems in Uganda and Tanzania
title_sort evaluation of farm level impacts of soil fertility management strategies in maize bean farming systems in uganda and tanzania
topic soil fertility
fertilidad del suelo
climate change mitigation
profitability
rentabilidad
farming systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91204
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AT shikukukelvinmashisia evaluationoffarmlevelimpactsofsoilfertilitymanagementstrategiesinmaizebeanfarmingsystemsinugandaandtanzania
AT mwunguchrismiyinzi evaluationoffarmlevelimpactsofsoilfertilitymanagementstrategiesinmaizebeanfarmingsystemsinugandaandtanzania