Effect of Soil Fertility Management and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate on Maize Yield in Smallholder Farmers Fields

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.M. Tabu . ◽  
R.K. Obura . ◽  
A. Bationo . ◽  
L. Mumera .
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate

SEQUENCING INTEGRATED SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE CROP INTENSIFICATION BY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN ZIMBABWE

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. NEZOMBA ◽  
F. MTAMBANENGWE ◽  
R. CHIKOWO ◽  
P. MAPFUMO
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Integrated Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Maize Grain

SUMMARYResearch has proved that integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) can increase crop yields at the field and farm scales. However, its uptake by smallholder farmers in Africa is often constrained by lack of technical guidelines on effective starting points and how the different ISFM options can be combined to increase crop productivity on a sustainable basis. A 4-year study was conducted on sandy soils (<10% clay) on smallholder farms in eastern Zimbabwe to assess how sequencing of different ISFM options may lead to incremental gains in soil productivity, enhanced efficiency of resource use, and increase crop yields at field scale. The sequences were primarily based on low-quality organic resources, nitrogen-fixing green manure and grain legumes, and mineral fertilizers. To enable comparison of legume and maize grain yields among treatments, yields were converted to energy (kilocalories) and protein (kg) equivalents. In the first year, ‘Manure-start’, a cattle manure-based sequence, yielded 3.4 t ha−1of maize grain compared with 2.5 and 0.4 t ha−1under a woodland litter-based sequence (‘Litter-start’) and continuous unfertilized maize control, respectively. The ‘Manure-start’ produced 12 × 106kilocalories (kcal); significantly (p< 0.05) out-yielding ‘Litter start’ and a fertilizer-based sequence (‘Fertilizer-start’) by 50%. A soyabean-based sequence, ‘Soya-start’, gave the highest protein production of 720 kg against <450 kg for the other sequencing treatments. In the second year, the sequences yielded an average of 5.7 t ha−1of maize grain, producing over 19 × 106kcal and 400 kg of protein. Consequently, the sequences significantly out-performed farmers’ designated poor fields by ~ fivefold. In the third year, ‘Soya-start’ gave the highest maize grain yield of 3.7 t ha−1; translating to 1.5 and 3 times more calories than under farmers’ designated rich and poor fields, respectively. In the fourth year, ‘Fertilizer-start’ produced the highest calories and protein of 14 × 106kcal and 340 kg, respectively. Cumulatively over 4 years, ‘Manure-start’ and ‘Soya-start’ gave the highest calories and protein, out-performing farmers’ designated rich and poor fields. Sunnhemp (Crotalaria junceaL.)-based sequences, ‘Green-start’ and ‘Fertilizer-start’, recorded the highest gains in plant available soil P of ~ 4 mg kg−1over the 4-year period. Assessment of P agronomic efficiencies showed significantly more benefits under the ISFM-based sequences than under farmers’ designated rich and poor fields. Based on costs of seed, nutrients and labour, ‘Soya-start’ gave the best net present value over the 4 years, while ‘Fertilizer-start’ was financially the least attractive. Overall, the ISFM-based sequences were more profitable than fields designated as rich and poor by farmers. We concluded that ISFM-based sequences can provide options for farm-level intensification by different categories of smallholder farmers in Southern Africa.

scholarly journals DETERMINANTS OF THE DECISION TO ADOPT INTEGRATED SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BY SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF KENYA

2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAYNE MUGWE ◽  
DANIEL MUGENDI ◽  
MONICAH MUCHERU-MUNA ◽  
ROEL MERCKX ◽  
JONAS CHIANU ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Integrated Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Central Highlands

SUMMARYDeclining soil fertility is a major cause of low per capita food production on smallholder farms of sub-Saharan Africa. This study attempted to provide an empirical explanation of the factors associated with farmers' decisions to adopt or not to adopt newly introduced integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies consisting of combinations of organics and mineral fertilizer in Meru South district of the central highlands of Kenya. Out of 106 households interviewed, 46% were ‘adopters’ while 54% were ‘non-adopters’. A logistic regression model showed that the factors that significantly influenced adoption positively were farm management, ability to hire labour and months in a year households bought food for their families, while age of household head and number of mature cattle negatively influenced adoption. The implication of these results is that the adoption of ISFM practices could be enhanced through targeting of younger families where both spouses work on the farm full-time and food insecure households. It is also important to target farmers that lack access to other sources of soil fertility improvement. Examples include farmers that do not own cattle or those owning few and who, therefore, have limited access to animal manure.

scholarly journals Evaluation De La Performance Des Pratiques De Gestion De La Fertilite Des Sols Dans Le Bassin De La Riviere Okpara Au Benin

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (33) ◽  
pp. 370
Author(s):  
M.A. Akpo ◽  
A. Saidou ◽  
I. Balogoun ◽  
I. Yabi ◽  
L.B. Bio Bigou
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Yield Level

A good management of agricultural land based on scientific knowledge and farmer indigenuous knowledge is necessary to ensure sustainable agricultural production. Our research aims to evaluate the performance of farmers' strategies and improved soil fertility management practices in improving level of crop yields in the basin of the Okpara River in Benin. Surveys using semi-structured questionnaire were conducted from October 11 to November 30, 2015 on a sample of 1048 farmers belonging to socio-cultural groups Tchabè, Mahi, Ditamari, Lokpa, Bariba and Fulani. Informations collected concerned farmers' soil fertility management practices and soil fertility improvement strategies introduced by the extension services. Crop rotation, long term natural fallow, fallow with perennial crops especially cashew trees, cassava "fallow" and cereal and leguminuous intercropping (respectively 91.11; 41.66; 48.53; 54.61 and 86.25% of respondents) are endogenous soil fertility management practices. However, mineral and organic fertilizers (respectively 25.45 and 20.38% of respondents) are improved soil fertility management practices introduced. Generally 42% of respondent mentioned that indigenuous soil fertility management practices could improve only by 25% crop (especially maize) yield level against 98.5% of respondents who mentioned that improved soil fertility management practices could improve by 50% of the crop yield level. Considering the efficiency of these soil fertility management practices our study suggests some issues to be taken into account for better land management in the study area.

ADOPTION DYNAMICS OF TITHONIA DIVERSIFOLIA FOR SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT IN PILOT VILLAGES OF WESTERN KENYA

2008 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
EVELYNE KIPTOT
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Tithonia Diversifolia ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Logit Regression ◽  
Logit Regression Model ◽  
Adoption Dynamics

SUMMARYThis paper presents the results of a study that was undertaken to assess adoption dynamics of Tithonia diversifolia in Siaya and Vihiga districts of western Kenya from 1997 to 2004. The study was undertaken among a random sample of 120 farmers from eight pilot villages exposed to the technology. Descriptive statistics and a logit regression model were used to analyse data. The findings show that more farmers in pilot villages of Siaya are taking up the use of Tithonia than in Vihiga. As of 2004, 52% of farmers in Siaya were adopters compared to only 8% in Vihiga. Results of the logit regression model show that the use of Tithonia biomass for soil fertility management (SFM) is more likely to be adopted in a context where there is a scarcity of animal manure, farmers are willing to plant it on farms and hire casual labour. The use of Tithonia by smallholder farmers for SFM is therefore a promising low-cost option that can be scaled up to areas where farmers face similar constraints.

scholarly journals Soil fertility management among smallholder farmers in Mount Kenya East region

Heliyon ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. e06488
Author(s):  
Amos W. Wawire ◽  
Ádám Csorba ◽  
József A. Tóth ◽  
Erika Michéli ◽  
Márk Szalai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
East Region
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