The document discusses experiences with integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) in Africa. It summarizes key experiences from research at the Africa Rice Center and IITA on soil fertility issues in Africa. The speaker's vision is to promote ISFM in cereal-legume rotations using participatory approaches, and integrate ISFM principles into conservation agriculture with links to climate change. The talk outlines experiences with developing nitrogen-efficient crop varieties and measuring their root growth under varying nitrogen applications.
Integrated soil fertility management: definition and impact on productivity a...SIANI
This document discusses integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) in sub-Saharan Africa. It defines ISFM as the application of soil fertility practices adapted to local conditions, including the use of fertilizer, organic inputs, and improved crops, to maximize nutrient use efficiency and productivity. The paper explores: (1) expected fertilizer responses under different soil types; (2) combining organic resources with fertilizer; and (3) adapting practices to local conditions like soil acidity or drought. Examples are provided for sorghum, millet, legume-maize, and cassava systems. Both crop yields and soil carbon impacts of ISFM are examined.
This document discusses strategies for increasing agricultural productivity, climate change adaptation, and greenhouse gas mitigation in Kenyan agriculture. It finds that many land management practices can provide "triple wins" by increasing yields and profits, reducing production variability to help farmers adapt to climate change, and increasing carbon sequestration in soils to mitigate climate change. Modeling of practices like improved residues, fertilizer use, fallow rotations, water harvesting, and livestock feeding show increases in soil organic carbon levels and maize yields. Integrated packages of practices generally improve profits the most. However, some arid area strategies have costs that outweigh benefits. Maintaining 75% of residues can sequester more carbon but is less profitable than removing 50%
This document discusses a new rice production system called System of Organic Based Aerobic Rice Intensification (SOBARI) that aims to increase soil biological activity and rice productivity in Indonesia in a more sustainable way. SOBARI uses organic fertilizers like compost to enhance soil health while reducing inorganic fertilizer use by at least 25%. It also uses aerobic soil conditions and reduced water irrigation, which can save 30-50% of water while maintaining yields of 8-12 tons/hectare, 50-150% higher than traditional flooded rice systems. This is achieved through increased root growth and soil biodiversity under aerobic conditions. SOBARI is being adopted widely in several Indonesian provinces and shows promise
Physiological and Molecular basis of NUEShantanu Das
1) Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) refers to the efficiency with which a plant acquires nitrogen from the soil and utilizes it for growth and grain production. Improving NUE is important to reduce environmental pollution from nitrogen loss and decrease production costs.
2) NUE is a complex trait influenced by both internal genetic factors and external environmental conditions. It has two main components - nitrogen uptake efficiency and nitrogen utilization efficiency. Key physiological and molecular mechanisms controlling NUE include nitrogen transport, assimilation, remobilization and storage.
3) Various approaches can be used to improve NUE in crops, including marker-assisted breeding to introgress quantitative trait loci associated with NUE, transgenic methods to modify expression of genes regulating
Urea-supergranules and phosphorus application increases irrigated rice yields...INNS PUBNET
Nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies are some of the main factors restricting irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity in Burkina Faso. Urea supergranules (USG) have been proven to increase rice yield but this increased productivity is likely to be constrained because P is becoming limiting in irrigated rice systems. Field experiments were carried out with rice variety Nerica 62N in Sourou valley in the wet season of 2012 and in the dry season of 2013. The effect of two sizes (1.8 and 2.7 g) of USG and five levels of phosphorus (0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kg P ha-1) were studied in a split plot design on rice yields. The use of USG 2.7 g did not significantly increase rice yields compare with USG 1.8 g in both seasons. P application significantly increased rice yields. The 1.8 g USG significantly increased the agronomic efficiency (AE) by 48.9% over the USG 2.7 g in the 2012 wet season while the increase in AE was 24.4% in the 2013 dry season. The best AE 42 kg kg-1 in 2012 and 25 kg kg-1 in 2013 were obtained with 50P and 30P. This study suggests that USG can be used by farmers in small rate (USG 1.8 g) to improve nitrogen use efficiency and the application of 30 kg P kg-1 seems to be adequate to increase yield in irrigated rice cropping system.
This document summarizes research on using switchgrass and perennial grasses for biofuel production. The main conclusion is that the US can displace over 30% of current petroleum consumption by 2030 using crop residues and biomass from perennial crops like switchgrass to produce cellulosic ethanol. Research has shown that switchgrass is well-suited as a biofuel feedstock because it is native, low-input, high-yielding, supports soil and wildlife conservation, and can be harvested with existing farm equipment. USDA and university researchers have made progress in improving switchgrass through breeding programs and optimizing its management through studies of harvest timing, nitrogen fertilization needs, and cultivar evaluations.
PhD research presentation at the workshop of the Climate Food and Farming Network, Dec. 2-4 at Aarhus University, Foulum. The Climate Food and Farming Network is an initiative of Copenhagen U., Aarhus U., and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.
Integrated soil fertility management: definition and impact on productivity a...SIANI
This document discusses integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) in sub-Saharan Africa. It defines ISFM as the application of soil fertility practices adapted to local conditions, including the use of fertilizer, organic inputs, and improved crops, to maximize nutrient use efficiency and productivity. The paper explores: (1) expected fertilizer responses under different soil types; (2) combining organic resources with fertilizer; and (3) adapting practices to local conditions like soil acidity or drought. Examples are provided for sorghum, millet, legume-maize, and cassava systems. Both crop yields and soil carbon impacts of ISFM are examined.
This document discusses strategies for increasing agricultural productivity, climate change adaptation, and greenhouse gas mitigation in Kenyan agriculture. It finds that many land management practices can provide "triple wins" by increasing yields and profits, reducing production variability to help farmers adapt to climate change, and increasing carbon sequestration in soils to mitigate climate change. Modeling of practices like improved residues, fertilizer use, fallow rotations, water harvesting, and livestock feeding show increases in soil organic carbon levels and maize yields. Integrated packages of practices generally improve profits the most. However, some arid area strategies have costs that outweigh benefits. Maintaining 75% of residues can sequester more carbon but is less profitable than removing 50%
This document discusses a new rice production system called System of Organic Based Aerobic Rice Intensification (SOBARI) that aims to increase soil biological activity and rice productivity in Indonesia in a more sustainable way. SOBARI uses organic fertilizers like compost to enhance soil health while reducing inorganic fertilizer use by at least 25%. It also uses aerobic soil conditions and reduced water irrigation, which can save 30-50% of water while maintaining yields of 8-12 tons/hectare, 50-150% higher than traditional flooded rice systems. This is achieved through increased root growth and soil biodiversity under aerobic conditions. SOBARI is being adopted widely in several Indonesian provinces and shows promise
Physiological and Molecular basis of NUEShantanu Das
1) Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) refers to the efficiency with which a plant acquires nitrogen from the soil and utilizes it for growth and grain production. Improving NUE is important to reduce environmental pollution from nitrogen loss and decrease production costs.
2) NUE is a complex trait influenced by both internal genetic factors and external environmental conditions. It has two main components - nitrogen uptake efficiency and nitrogen utilization efficiency. Key physiological and molecular mechanisms controlling NUE include nitrogen transport, assimilation, remobilization and storage.
3) Various approaches can be used to improve NUE in crops, including marker-assisted breeding to introgress quantitative trait loci associated with NUE, transgenic methods to modify expression of genes regulating
Urea-supergranules and phosphorus application increases irrigated rice yields...INNS PUBNET
Nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies are some of the main factors restricting irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity in Burkina Faso. Urea supergranules (USG) have been proven to increase rice yield but this increased productivity is likely to be constrained because P is becoming limiting in irrigated rice systems. Field experiments were carried out with rice variety Nerica 62N in Sourou valley in the wet season of 2012 and in the dry season of 2013. The effect of two sizes (1.8 and 2.7 g) of USG and five levels of phosphorus (0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kg P ha-1) were studied in a split plot design on rice yields. The use of USG 2.7 g did not significantly increase rice yields compare with USG 1.8 g in both seasons. P application significantly increased rice yields. The 1.8 g USG significantly increased the agronomic efficiency (AE) by 48.9% over the USG 2.7 g in the 2012 wet season while the increase in AE was 24.4% in the 2013 dry season. The best AE 42 kg kg-1 in 2012 and 25 kg kg-1 in 2013 were obtained with 50P and 30P. This study suggests that USG can be used by farmers in small rate (USG 1.8 g) to improve nitrogen use efficiency and the application of 30 kg P kg-1 seems to be adequate to increase yield in irrigated rice cropping system.
This document summarizes research on using switchgrass and perennial grasses for biofuel production. The main conclusion is that the US can displace over 30% of current petroleum consumption by 2030 using crop residues and biomass from perennial crops like switchgrass to produce cellulosic ethanol. Research has shown that switchgrass is well-suited as a biofuel feedstock because it is native, low-input, high-yielding, supports soil and wildlife conservation, and can be harvested with existing farm equipment. USDA and university researchers have made progress in improving switchgrass through breeding programs and optimizing its management through studies of harvest timing, nitrogen fertilization needs, and cultivar evaluations.
PhD research presentation at the workshop of the Climate Food and Farming Network, Dec. 2-4 at Aarhus University, Foulum. The Climate Food and Farming Network is an initiative of Copenhagen U., Aarhus U., and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.
Effect of cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer on the growth and yield of h...Premier Publishers
The high cost of inorganic fertilizer and continuous decline in soil fertility results to low crop yield hence, the need to supplement mineral fertilizer with organic manure. Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Gubi, Bauchi State, Nigeria, to investigate the effects of different levels of cattle manure, CM, (0, 5 and 10 t/ha) and NPK (0, 200 and 400kg/ha) on the growth, yield and yield components of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). These treatment combinations were replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. CM levels had significant effect (P≤0.05) on number of leaves per plant and plant height. However, NPK levels also had significant effect on many characters in both 2013 and 2014 but lower mean values were recorded in 2013. In 2014, significant interactions were observed in mean number of leaves, plant height, husk weight and yield (t/ha). The highest seed yield (5.65t/ha) was obtained when 5t/ha CM was used, which was statistically similar (5.60t/ha) to 400kg/ha inorganic fertilizer used. The application of 5t/ha CM or 400kg/ha NPK is recommended for improved production of hybrid maize in the study area.
Control release fertilizers are coated fertilizers that release nutrients over an extended period of time at a rate driven primarily by temperature and moisture of the root zone. It has been estimated that slow-release fertilizers comprise only 8-10% of the total fertilizers used in Europe, 1% in the USA and only 0.25% in the World. Dong and Wang (2007) reported that in Japan 70% of polymer coated controlled-release fertilizers are used in rice. Polymer coated fertilizers are a type of control release fertilizers, which are solid or other nutrient core, coated with various polymers. Fertilizer use efficiency can be increased by application of polymer coated fertilizer compared to common fertilizers due to very less nutrient losses. Most common three marketed products are Nutricote, Osmocote and Polyon. Pawel (2013) found that the polymer-coated fertilizers are not straight nitrogen but NPK fertilizers, particularly when containing secondary and micronutrients, the rate of release of the different nutrients, N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg and micronutrients, are generally slow, controlled-release and stabilized fertilizers not stated. Parvathi (2018) reported that customised fertilizers are multi- nutrient carriers facilitating the application of the complete range of plant nutrients in right proportion to suit the specific requirements of a crop during its stages of growth.
Nelson et al. (2012) reported that application of nitrogen @ 120 kg/ha by polymer coated urea (PCU) with non coated urea (NCU) in the ratio of 75:25(PCU:NCU) recorded the highest wheat grain yield (5370 kg/ha) and lowest with ammonium nitrate (5110 kg/ha). Dong and Wang (2007) reported that application of polymer coated nitrogen fertilizer recorded the highest Nitrogen Use Efficiency (70.54%), Nitrogen Agronomic Efficiency (32.56 kg/ha) and Nitrogen Physiological efficiency (46.16 kg/ha) compared to uncoated common fertilizers in rice crop. Prasad et al. (2012) reported that application of nano zinc fertilizers showed significantly better results in germination, shoot and root growth and Seed vigour Index over common zinc sulphate and control treatment. They also reported that application of NPK+ZnO (Nano) @2g/15 l resulted the highest plant height (43.80 cm), no. of pods per plant (16.80) and no. of filled pods per plant (15) which were significantly superior over rest of the treatments in groundnut crop.
It can be concluded that application of polymer coated fertilizers increase the Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE), Nitrogen Agronomic Efficiency and Nitrogen Physiological efficiency, they increase the % recovery of nutrients and finally the growth and yield of crops. Nano-fertilizer certainly has the potential to improve agriculture production and they release the fertilizer slowly and extend the fertilizer effective period resulted in higher crop yields. Use of Customized Fertilizers can maximize nutrient use efficiency and ultimately improve soil fertility.
Conservation agriculture aims to conserve, improve, and make more efficient use of natural resources through integrated soil, water, and biological management combined with minimal disturbance and external inputs. It is based on three principles: minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotations. Adopting conservation agriculture can increase soil organic matter, improve soil quality, boost crop yields, reduce erosion, and decrease costs through lower fuel and labor needs. The approach is applicable worldwide in a variety of climates and for many crops.
Integrated Use of NPS Fertilizer and Compost on Yield and Yield Component of ...Premier Publishers
The field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of combined application of NPS fertilizer and compost on yield and yield components of maize at Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia during 2017/18 main cropping season. The experiment involved factorial combinations of five rates of NPS fertilizer (0/0/0, 23/17.25/3.2, 46/34.5/6.4, 69/51.75/9.6, 92/69/12.8 kg ha-1 N/P2O5/S) and five rates of compost based on N-equivalence of recommended fertilizer rate (0, 2.3, 4.6, 6.9 and 9.2 ton ha-1) laid out in 5×5 factorial arrangements in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Combined application of NPS fertilizer and compost significantly (P<0.05) affected number of grains per row, grain yield and above ground biomass. However, number of ears per plant, ear length, number of grains per ear, ear diameter, thousand grain weight and harvest index were not affected by combined application of NPS fertilizer and compost. The highest grain yield (8453.2 kg ha-1) was obtained from combined application of 92/69/12.8 kg ha-1 N/P2O5/Sand 9.2ton ha-1 compost. The yield was increased by 223.54% over control and 24.1% over recommended NPS fertilizer. In conclusion, combined application of 69/51.75/9.6 kg ha-1 N/P205/S (75%) and 4.6ton ha-1 (50%) compost can sustain the maize production in the study area and similar agro ecology.
Effect of Rates and Time of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Yield and Yiel...Premier Publishers
A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of rates and time of nitrogen fertilizer application on yield and yield components of sorghum in northern Ethiopia. The treatments consisted of four rates of nitrogen (23, 46, 69 and 92 kg N ha-1) and three time of N application (1/2 dose at sowing and 1/2 dose at mid-vegetative, 1/2 dose at mid-vegetative and 1/2 dose at booting stage, 1/3 dose at sowing, 1/3 dose at mid vegetative and 1/3 dose at booting stage). The main effect of rate of N application showed significantly the highest days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, panicle length and biomass yield (10716 kg ha-1) at 92 kg N ha-1. Similarly, the highest days to flowering, leaf area index (2.86) and panicle weight were obtained from three split application and the maximum biomass yield (10142 kg ha-1) was recorded from two split application of N (1/2 dose each at mid-vegetative and at booting stage). The interaction of rates and time of application of nitrogen had significantly the highest 1000 kernels weight (44.67 g), grain yield (4635 kg ha-1) and harvest index from 69 kg N ha-1 in three split application. Economic analysis showed that maximum net benefit of 33053.23 ETB ha-1 from 69kg N ha-1 in three split application. Based on the results, it can be concluded that application of 69 kg N ha-1 in three splits to be appropriate to increase the productivity of sorghum in the study area.
Impacts of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Inoculation Configurations on...AI Publications
The main objective of this study is determine the responses of Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L). Verdc.] to application methods of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria inoculant and time of sowing after inoculation in Agbani area of Enugu, South East Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources management, Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 2015 and 2016 planting season. The experiment was a 2 × 3 factorial trial in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of two different rhizobacteria inoculant application methods (seed applied method and soil applied method) and three different periods of sowing after inoculation (0 min, 15 mins and 30 mins) in all possible combinations (six treatment The obtained results revealed that Bambara groundnut cultivated on soils fertilized with ten grams of rhizobacteria inoculant per planting hole significantly (p < 0.05) had highest vegetative growth, number of nodules per plant and yield traits in both planting season. The main effect of time of sowing indicated that plants sown 30 minutes after inoculation significantly (p < 0.05) gave the tallest plants and leaf area index per plant in 2015 and 2016 planting season than the other time regime. The interaction effect of rhizobacteria inoculant application methods and time of sowing after inoculation were observed to be significant (p < 0.05) in 2015 and 2016 planting season. The results showed that the plants on soil with combined use of soil applied method of inoculation treatment and 30 minutes after inocualtion before planting significantly (p < 0.05) had the highest vegetative growth, number of nodules per plant and yield parameters than the other interaction effect. The combined use of soil applied method of inoculation treatment and 30 minutes after inocualtion before planting is recommended for the cultivation of Bambara groundnut in Agbani Area South East Nigeria.
This document discusses integrated nutrient management (INM) in rice-based cropping systems. INM aims to optimize nutrient supply from all sources, including organic materials, inorganic fertilizers, and biofertilizers. It maintains soil productivity while protecting the environment. The key components of INM discussed are organic manures like FYM and compost, green manures, biofertilizers like Rhizobium and Azotobacter, and chemical fertilizers. Long-term studies show that combining optimal chemical fertilizer doses with organic amendments like FYM increases rice yields by 0.4-0.7 tons/ha compared to chemical fertilizers alone. INM improves soil properties, nutrient availability, and crop yields in a
Presentation by Aracely Castro at the 2012 Agriculture and Rural Development Day (ARDD) in Rio de Janiero, Learning Event No. 3, Session 1: How can sustainable intensification of livestock production through improved feeding practices help realize livelihood and environmental benefits? http://www.agricultureday.org
Oil palm composted biomass: preparation, utilization, handling and storageFiona9864
1) Oil palm composted biomass is produced by composting oil palm wastes like empty fruit bunches.
2) The composting process is carried out through various stages as microorganisms break down the organic material. Initially mesophilic bacteria dominate, followed by thermophilic bacteria that raise temperatures.
3) Fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes all play important roles at different stages of decomposition. The finished compost is stable and can be used as fertilizer to improve soil properties.
This document summarizes an experiment comparing conventional oil palm monocropping to diversified oil palm agroforestry systems in the Brazilian Amazon. The experiment involves three 6-hectare plots testing different oil palm planting densities and intercropping with around 17 other species. Preliminary findings after 3-5 years show higher soil carbon stocks and oil palm yields in the agroforestry systems compared to monocropping and secondary forest. The use of nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs for pruning and mulching appears to improve soil fertility and increase palm productivity without external inputs. While more research is still needed, initial results suggest diversified agroforestry may provide environmental and economic benefits over conventional monoc
precision water and nutrient management for preventing nitrate pollutionchethanhgowda
This document summarizes precision water and nutrient management methods for rice cultivation, including establishment method, fertilizer source and application timing, quantity, and method. It discusses the effects of transplanting, SRI, and aerobic methods on water and nitrogen losses. Slow release fertilizers like SCU, PCU, and nitrification inhibitors can reduce nitrogen losses. Split fertilizer applications based on growth stage and LCC, SPAD, or STCR methods can increase nitrogen use efficiency over uniform applications. Drip irrigation scheduling also impacts yield, water and nitrogen use efficiency.
11.combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers to increase yiel...Alexander Decker
1) The study investigated the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil properties and barley yield in Ethiopia.
2) It found that applying both organic (farm yard manure) and inorganic (NP or NPK) fertilizers led to the highest barley production, yielding over 49 quintals per hectare.
3) Applying only inorganic fertilizers or only organic fertilizers also increased yields compared to the control of no fertilizers, but the combination of both organic and inorganic fertilizers worked best for increasing soil fertility and barley production sustainably.
Combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers to increase yield o...Alexander Decker
1) The study investigated the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil properties and barley yield in Ethiopia.
2) It found that applying both organic (farm yard manure) and inorganic fertilizers (NP or NPK) led to the highest barley production, yielding over 49 quintals per hectare.
3) Applying only inorganic fertilizers or only organic fertilizers also increased yields compared to the control of no fertilizers, but the combination led to the greatest increases in soil fertility and barley production.
Enhanced efficiency phosphorous fertilizers on the coffee crop in sandy soilAI Publications
Crops are generally cultivated in deficient phosphorus soils in the tropics. Phosphorus (P) is essential to crop development and has a low efficient use in fertilizer management. The need to increase P fertilization efficiency justify studies evaluating the performance of enhanced efficiency P fertilizers. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate coffee growth, plant P contents, and agronomic P fertilization efficiency. The treatments, randomly designed with three replicates, were arranged in a 2x5 factorial scheme: two P sources (Triple Superphosphate – TSP and Policote coated TSP – TSP+Policote) and five P rates (0; 5; 10; 15 and 20 g P2O5.plot-1). The experimental plot was formed by a pot with 14 kg of sandy soil. All treatments were homogenized with the plot's soil. Then, coffee seedlings were transplanted. Coffee growth, plant P content and accumulation, and agronomic P fertilization efficiency were affected by phosphorus fertilization. TSP+Policote promoted higher leaf and plant dry matter yield and P accumulation in coffee than conventional P fertilizer. The higher agronomic efficiency and apparent P recovery efficiency index, observed with TSP+Policote, explain the higher coffee plant growth observed with Policote coated P fertilizer. The obtained results demonstrated that Policote coated P fertilizer can be used as an enhanced efficiency fertilizer. Results show that Policote coated P fertilizer is a more efficient way to deliver the required P to plants.
The development of Plant Nutrient Management to increase the quantity of plant nutrients in farming systems and thus crop productivity is a major challenge for food security and rural development.The depletion of nutrient stocks in the soil is a major but often hidden form of land degradation. On the other hand, excessive application of nutrients or inefficient management means an economic loss to the farmer and can cause environmental problems, especially if large quantities of nutrients are lost from the soil-plant system into water or air.
Increasing agricultural production by improving plant nutrition management, together with a better use of other production factors is thus a complex challenge. Nutrient management implies managing all nutrient sources - fertilisers, organic manures, waste materials suitable for recycling nutrients, soil reserves, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and bio-fertilizers in such a way that yield is not knowingly increased while every effort is made to minimise losses of nutrients to environment
Conservation agriculture useful for meeting future food demands and also contributing to sustainable agriculture.
Conservation agriculture helps to minimizing the negative environmental effect and equally important to increased income to help the livelihood of those employed in agril. Production.
Introduction of conservation technologies (CT) was an important break through for sustaining productivity, It seeks to conserve, improve and make more efficient use of natural resources through integrated management of soil, water, crops and other biological resources in combination with selected external inputs.
Molecular approaches for improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereal crops.
1. NUE is important to improve as only 30-50% of applied nitrogen is taken up by plants, with the rest lost to the environment.
2. Studies have identified genes involved in nitrogen uptake, assimilation, remobilization and utilized QTL mapping to find genes controlling NUE traits.
3. Approaches to improve NUE include conventional breeding, quantitative trait loci mapping, genome-wide selection, and transgenic methods targeting genes such as glutamine synthetase, asparagine synthetase, and alanine aminotransferase.
Yogendra Katuwal on Influence of N levels on Yield of Improved and Hybrid Ric...Yogendra Katuwal
Not always increasing N dose can be economical. Use efficiency of hybrids and improved varieties vary greatly.
Prepared By:
Yogendra Katuwal a MSc.Ag (Agronomy) student in AFU, Rampur, Nepal.
Eco4Biz: Ecosystem services and biodiversity tools to support business decisi...Sustainable Brands
This document provides an overview of ecosystem services and biodiversity assessment tools to help businesses evaluate their impacts and dependencies on natural capital. It introduces the purpose and scope of the guide, and provides a decision tree to help companies select the most appropriate tool based on the scale of assessment needed (global, landscape, or product) and desired outputs (map, quantification, or checklist). The main section describes over 30 individual tools, categorized using this framework. The guide aims to encourage more companies to evaluate and manage their ecosystem impacts and dependencies.
The document summarizes a gender workshop led by Cheryl Simmons from USDA in Pakistan. It discusses how including a gender perspective can make agriculture research and soil fertility programs more effective. Participants were introduced to tools for gender analysis and learned about gender concepts like gender mainstreaming. They also had field visits where different groups identified challenges to agricultural productivity, showing how perspectives can vary by gender. The workshop aimed to more fully recognize women's important role in Pakistan's agriculture sector, where three-fourths of women work.
Effect of cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer on the growth and yield of h...Premier Publishers
The high cost of inorganic fertilizer and continuous decline in soil fertility results to low crop yield hence, the need to supplement mineral fertilizer with organic manure. Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Gubi, Bauchi State, Nigeria, to investigate the effects of different levels of cattle manure, CM, (0, 5 and 10 t/ha) and NPK (0, 200 and 400kg/ha) on the growth, yield and yield components of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). These treatment combinations were replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. CM levels had significant effect (P≤0.05) on number of leaves per plant and plant height. However, NPK levels also had significant effect on many characters in both 2013 and 2014 but lower mean values were recorded in 2013. In 2014, significant interactions were observed in mean number of leaves, plant height, husk weight and yield (t/ha). The highest seed yield (5.65t/ha) was obtained when 5t/ha CM was used, which was statistically similar (5.60t/ha) to 400kg/ha inorganic fertilizer used. The application of 5t/ha CM or 400kg/ha NPK is recommended for improved production of hybrid maize in the study area.
Control release fertilizers are coated fertilizers that release nutrients over an extended period of time at a rate driven primarily by temperature and moisture of the root zone. It has been estimated that slow-release fertilizers comprise only 8-10% of the total fertilizers used in Europe, 1% in the USA and only 0.25% in the World. Dong and Wang (2007) reported that in Japan 70% of polymer coated controlled-release fertilizers are used in rice. Polymer coated fertilizers are a type of control release fertilizers, which are solid or other nutrient core, coated with various polymers. Fertilizer use efficiency can be increased by application of polymer coated fertilizer compared to common fertilizers due to very less nutrient losses. Most common three marketed products are Nutricote, Osmocote and Polyon. Pawel (2013) found that the polymer-coated fertilizers are not straight nitrogen but NPK fertilizers, particularly when containing secondary and micronutrients, the rate of release of the different nutrients, N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg and micronutrients, are generally slow, controlled-release and stabilized fertilizers not stated. Parvathi (2018) reported that customised fertilizers are multi- nutrient carriers facilitating the application of the complete range of plant nutrients in right proportion to suit the specific requirements of a crop during its stages of growth.
Nelson et al. (2012) reported that application of nitrogen @ 120 kg/ha by polymer coated urea (PCU) with non coated urea (NCU) in the ratio of 75:25(PCU:NCU) recorded the highest wheat grain yield (5370 kg/ha) and lowest with ammonium nitrate (5110 kg/ha). Dong and Wang (2007) reported that application of polymer coated nitrogen fertilizer recorded the highest Nitrogen Use Efficiency (70.54%), Nitrogen Agronomic Efficiency (32.56 kg/ha) and Nitrogen Physiological efficiency (46.16 kg/ha) compared to uncoated common fertilizers in rice crop. Prasad et al. (2012) reported that application of nano zinc fertilizers showed significantly better results in germination, shoot and root growth and Seed vigour Index over common zinc sulphate and control treatment. They also reported that application of NPK+ZnO (Nano) @2g/15 l resulted the highest plant height (43.80 cm), no. of pods per plant (16.80) and no. of filled pods per plant (15) which were significantly superior over rest of the treatments in groundnut crop.
It can be concluded that application of polymer coated fertilizers increase the Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE), Nitrogen Agronomic Efficiency and Nitrogen Physiological efficiency, they increase the % recovery of nutrients and finally the growth and yield of crops. Nano-fertilizer certainly has the potential to improve agriculture production and they release the fertilizer slowly and extend the fertilizer effective period resulted in higher crop yields. Use of Customized Fertilizers can maximize nutrient use efficiency and ultimately improve soil fertility.
Conservation agriculture aims to conserve, improve, and make more efficient use of natural resources through integrated soil, water, and biological management combined with minimal disturbance and external inputs. It is based on three principles: minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotations. Adopting conservation agriculture can increase soil organic matter, improve soil quality, boost crop yields, reduce erosion, and decrease costs through lower fuel and labor needs. The approach is applicable worldwide in a variety of climates and for many crops.
Integrated Use of NPS Fertilizer and Compost on Yield and Yield Component of ...Premier Publishers
The field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of combined application of NPS fertilizer and compost on yield and yield components of maize at Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia during 2017/18 main cropping season. The experiment involved factorial combinations of five rates of NPS fertilizer (0/0/0, 23/17.25/3.2, 46/34.5/6.4, 69/51.75/9.6, 92/69/12.8 kg ha-1 N/P2O5/S) and five rates of compost based on N-equivalence of recommended fertilizer rate (0, 2.3, 4.6, 6.9 and 9.2 ton ha-1) laid out in 5×5 factorial arrangements in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Combined application of NPS fertilizer and compost significantly (P<0.05) affected number of grains per row, grain yield and above ground biomass. However, number of ears per plant, ear length, number of grains per ear, ear diameter, thousand grain weight and harvest index were not affected by combined application of NPS fertilizer and compost. The highest grain yield (8453.2 kg ha-1) was obtained from combined application of 92/69/12.8 kg ha-1 N/P2O5/Sand 9.2ton ha-1 compost. The yield was increased by 223.54% over control and 24.1% over recommended NPS fertilizer. In conclusion, combined application of 69/51.75/9.6 kg ha-1 N/P205/S (75%) and 4.6ton ha-1 (50%) compost can sustain the maize production in the study area and similar agro ecology.
Effect of Rates and Time of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Yield and Yiel...Premier Publishers
A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of rates and time of nitrogen fertilizer application on yield and yield components of sorghum in northern Ethiopia. The treatments consisted of four rates of nitrogen (23, 46, 69 and 92 kg N ha-1) and three time of N application (1/2 dose at sowing and 1/2 dose at mid-vegetative, 1/2 dose at mid-vegetative and 1/2 dose at booting stage, 1/3 dose at sowing, 1/3 dose at mid vegetative and 1/3 dose at booting stage). The main effect of rate of N application showed significantly the highest days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, panicle length and biomass yield (10716 kg ha-1) at 92 kg N ha-1. Similarly, the highest days to flowering, leaf area index (2.86) and panicle weight were obtained from three split application and the maximum biomass yield (10142 kg ha-1) was recorded from two split application of N (1/2 dose each at mid-vegetative and at booting stage). The interaction of rates and time of application of nitrogen had significantly the highest 1000 kernels weight (44.67 g), grain yield (4635 kg ha-1) and harvest index from 69 kg N ha-1 in three split application. Economic analysis showed that maximum net benefit of 33053.23 ETB ha-1 from 69kg N ha-1 in three split application. Based on the results, it can be concluded that application of 69 kg N ha-1 in three splits to be appropriate to increase the productivity of sorghum in the study area.
Impacts of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Inoculation Configurations on...AI Publications
The main objective of this study is determine the responses of Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L). Verdc.] to application methods of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria inoculant and time of sowing after inoculation in Agbani area of Enugu, South East Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources management, Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 2015 and 2016 planting season. The experiment was a 2 × 3 factorial trial in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of two different rhizobacteria inoculant application methods (seed applied method and soil applied method) and three different periods of sowing after inoculation (0 min, 15 mins and 30 mins) in all possible combinations (six treatment The obtained results revealed that Bambara groundnut cultivated on soils fertilized with ten grams of rhizobacteria inoculant per planting hole significantly (p < 0.05) had highest vegetative growth, number of nodules per plant and yield traits in both planting season. The main effect of time of sowing indicated that plants sown 30 minutes after inoculation significantly (p < 0.05) gave the tallest plants and leaf area index per plant in 2015 and 2016 planting season than the other time regime. The interaction effect of rhizobacteria inoculant application methods and time of sowing after inoculation were observed to be significant (p < 0.05) in 2015 and 2016 planting season. The results showed that the plants on soil with combined use of soil applied method of inoculation treatment and 30 minutes after inocualtion before planting significantly (p < 0.05) had the highest vegetative growth, number of nodules per plant and yield parameters than the other interaction effect. The combined use of soil applied method of inoculation treatment and 30 minutes after inocualtion before planting is recommended for the cultivation of Bambara groundnut in Agbani Area South East Nigeria.
This document discusses integrated nutrient management (INM) in rice-based cropping systems. INM aims to optimize nutrient supply from all sources, including organic materials, inorganic fertilizers, and biofertilizers. It maintains soil productivity while protecting the environment. The key components of INM discussed are organic manures like FYM and compost, green manures, biofertilizers like Rhizobium and Azotobacter, and chemical fertilizers. Long-term studies show that combining optimal chemical fertilizer doses with organic amendments like FYM increases rice yields by 0.4-0.7 tons/ha compared to chemical fertilizers alone. INM improves soil properties, nutrient availability, and crop yields in a
Presentation by Aracely Castro at the 2012 Agriculture and Rural Development Day (ARDD) in Rio de Janiero, Learning Event No. 3, Session 1: How can sustainable intensification of livestock production through improved feeding practices help realize livelihood and environmental benefits? http://www.agricultureday.org
Oil palm composted biomass: preparation, utilization, handling and storageFiona9864
1) Oil palm composted biomass is produced by composting oil palm wastes like empty fruit bunches.
2) The composting process is carried out through various stages as microorganisms break down the organic material. Initially mesophilic bacteria dominate, followed by thermophilic bacteria that raise temperatures.
3) Fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes all play important roles at different stages of decomposition. The finished compost is stable and can be used as fertilizer to improve soil properties.
This document summarizes an experiment comparing conventional oil palm monocropping to diversified oil palm agroforestry systems in the Brazilian Amazon. The experiment involves three 6-hectare plots testing different oil palm planting densities and intercropping with around 17 other species. Preliminary findings after 3-5 years show higher soil carbon stocks and oil palm yields in the agroforestry systems compared to monocropping and secondary forest. The use of nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs for pruning and mulching appears to improve soil fertility and increase palm productivity without external inputs. While more research is still needed, initial results suggest diversified agroforestry may provide environmental and economic benefits over conventional monoc
precision water and nutrient management for preventing nitrate pollutionchethanhgowda
This document summarizes precision water and nutrient management methods for rice cultivation, including establishment method, fertilizer source and application timing, quantity, and method. It discusses the effects of transplanting, SRI, and aerobic methods on water and nitrogen losses. Slow release fertilizers like SCU, PCU, and nitrification inhibitors can reduce nitrogen losses. Split fertilizer applications based on growth stage and LCC, SPAD, or STCR methods can increase nitrogen use efficiency over uniform applications. Drip irrigation scheduling also impacts yield, water and nitrogen use efficiency.
11.combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers to increase yiel...Alexander Decker
1) The study investigated the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil properties and barley yield in Ethiopia.
2) It found that applying both organic (farm yard manure) and inorganic (NP or NPK) fertilizers led to the highest barley production, yielding over 49 quintals per hectare.
3) Applying only inorganic fertilizers or only organic fertilizers also increased yields compared to the control of no fertilizers, but the combination of both organic and inorganic fertilizers worked best for increasing soil fertility and barley production sustainably.
Combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers to increase yield o...Alexander Decker
1) The study investigated the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil properties and barley yield in Ethiopia.
2) It found that applying both organic (farm yard manure) and inorganic fertilizers (NP or NPK) led to the highest barley production, yielding over 49 quintals per hectare.
3) Applying only inorganic fertilizers or only organic fertilizers also increased yields compared to the control of no fertilizers, but the combination led to the greatest increases in soil fertility and barley production.
Enhanced efficiency phosphorous fertilizers on the coffee crop in sandy soilAI Publications
Crops are generally cultivated in deficient phosphorus soils in the tropics. Phosphorus (P) is essential to crop development and has a low efficient use in fertilizer management. The need to increase P fertilization efficiency justify studies evaluating the performance of enhanced efficiency P fertilizers. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate coffee growth, plant P contents, and agronomic P fertilization efficiency. The treatments, randomly designed with three replicates, were arranged in a 2x5 factorial scheme: two P sources (Triple Superphosphate – TSP and Policote coated TSP – TSP+Policote) and five P rates (0; 5; 10; 15 and 20 g P2O5.plot-1). The experimental plot was formed by a pot with 14 kg of sandy soil. All treatments were homogenized with the plot's soil. Then, coffee seedlings were transplanted. Coffee growth, plant P content and accumulation, and agronomic P fertilization efficiency were affected by phosphorus fertilization. TSP+Policote promoted higher leaf and plant dry matter yield and P accumulation in coffee than conventional P fertilizer. The higher agronomic efficiency and apparent P recovery efficiency index, observed with TSP+Policote, explain the higher coffee plant growth observed with Policote coated P fertilizer. The obtained results demonstrated that Policote coated P fertilizer can be used as an enhanced efficiency fertilizer. Results show that Policote coated P fertilizer is a more efficient way to deliver the required P to plants.
The development of Plant Nutrient Management to increase the quantity of plant nutrients in farming systems and thus crop productivity is a major challenge for food security and rural development.The depletion of nutrient stocks in the soil is a major but often hidden form of land degradation. On the other hand, excessive application of nutrients or inefficient management means an economic loss to the farmer and can cause environmental problems, especially if large quantities of nutrients are lost from the soil-plant system into water or air.
Increasing agricultural production by improving plant nutrition management, together with a better use of other production factors is thus a complex challenge. Nutrient management implies managing all nutrient sources - fertilisers, organic manures, waste materials suitable for recycling nutrients, soil reserves, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and bio-fertilizers in such a way that yield is not knowingly increased while every effort is made to minimise losses of nutrients to environment
Conservation agriculture useful for meeting future food demands and also contributing to sustainable agriculture.
Conservation agriculture helps to minimizing the negative environmental effect and equally important to increased income to help the livelihood of those employed in agril. Production.
Introduction of conservation technologies (CT) was an important break through for sustaining productivity, It seeks to conserve, improve and make more efficient use of natural resources through integrated management of soil, water, crops and other biological resources in combination with selected external inputs.
Molecular approaches for improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereal crops.
1. NUE is important to improve as only 30-50% of applied nitrogen is taken up by plants, with the rest lost to the environment.
2. Studies have identified genes involved in nitrogen uptake, assimilation, remobilization and utilized QTL mapping to find genes controlling NUE traits.
3. Approaches to improve NUE include conventional breeding, quantitative trait loci mapping, genome-wide selection, and transgenic methods targeting genes such as glutamine synthetase, asparagine synthetase, and alanine aminotransferase.
Yogendra Katuwal on Influence of N levels on Yield of Improved and Hybrid Ric...Yogendra Katuwal
Not always increasing N dose can be economical. Use efficiency of hybrids and improved varieties vary greatly.
Prepared By:
Yogendra Katuwal a MSc.Ag (Agronomy) student in AFU, Rampur, Nepal.
Eco4Biz: Ecosystem services and biodiversity tools to support business decisi...Sustainable Brands
This document provides an overview of ecosystem services and biodiversity assessment tools to help businesses evaluate their impacts and dependencies on natural capital. It introduces the purpose and scope of the guide, and provides a decision tree to help companies select the most appropriate tool based on the scale of assessment needed (global, landscape, or product) and desired outputs (map, quantification, or checklist). The main section describes over 30 individual tools, categorized using this framework. The guide aims to encourage more companies to evaluate and manage their ecosystem impacts and dependencies.
The document summarizes a gender workshop led by Cheryl Simmons from USDA in Pakistan. It discusses how including a gender perspective can make agriculture research and soil fertility programs more effective. Participants were introduced to tools for gender analysis and learned about gender concepts like gender mainstreaming. They also had field visits where different groups identified challenges to agricultural productivity, showing how perspectives can vary by gender. The workshop aimed to more fully recognize women's important role in Pakistan's agriculture sector, where three-fourths of women work.
This document outlines objectives to develop commercially competitive cassava enterprises and reduce unemployment among youth. It aims to resolve root shortage issues for HQCF processing plants by establishing networks of nearby cassava outgrowers. Youth and smallholder farmers are being empowered through training and demonstration plots to use improved practices. Data is being collected on traditional versus modern cassava production costs. Specific youth groups and processing facilities partnering in four states are listed, showing land areas cultivated, varieties grown, and production costs and profits compared between traditional and mechanized methods. Additional processing plants planned for the next year are outlined. The overall goal is to build a sustainable and profitable structure for all value chain actors.
The document summarizes tips for effective time management presented by Lade Oke of IITA-HRS. It discusses common time management challenges such as feeling overwhelmed, not having enough time, and being stressed. It provides 23 tips for dealing with these challenges, including setting priorities, planning ahead, avoiding distractions, and learning to say no. The key messages are that everyone needs time management strategies, the focus should be on productivity and accountability, and priorities and deadlines help with effectiveness. With commitment to practicing the tips, people can better manage their time.
Analyze and synthesize the structure and performance of the Nigerian cassava sector to identify appropriate interventions to improve sector performance and vertically integrate the sector agents to internal and international market opportunities
Raise productivity through scaling-up and scaling-out of the most successful market-oriented cassava production innovations to a new generation of business-oriented cassava farmers, engaged in commercial cassava production, with sustainable link to reliable demand
Advance the application and adaptation of proofed commercially successful market-oriented cassava processing and quality management innovations to make Nigerian cassava products competitive in local and international markets
This document summarizes the progress made in developing and field testing a bioherbicide technology using Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae (Fos) for controlling the parasitic weed Striga in Africa. Extensive field validation trials across agro-ecological zones in Nigeria have demonstrated the efficacy of Fos in controlling Striga. Biosafety tests on 25 crop plants and analysis of mycotoxin production showed that Fos is safe and host-specific to Striga. The technology has potential for integration into existing Striga management practices and commercialization.
The document discusses approaches for developing soil fertility management recommendations based on analyses of soil and agronomic data. It describes different methods including soil testing, diagnostic trials, agronomic trials, and decision support systems. The goal is to identify soil health constraints, determine limiting nutrients, establish appropriate fertilizer application rates, and develop individualized recommendations for farmers. The document emphasizes developing recommendations that account for variability in soils, crops, and farming conditions.
The document discusses the synergies between climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa's agriculture sector. It finds that agriculture practices can both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help farmers adapt to climate impacts. Many common practices provide benefits for mitigation, adaptation, and income generation. However, Africa's potential for agricultural mitigation is currently not realized due to barriers like high transaction costs and lack of institutional support. The document calls for continued pilot programs and capacity building to better integrate adaptation and mitigation in Sub-Saharan African agriculture.
Synergies Between Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change:What is the pot...Claudia Ringler
This presentation describes first how climate change compromises food security and then explains the role of agriculture in greenhouse gas emissions. The crux is what
synergies exist between adaptation and mitigation, with recommendations for implementation.
This document summarizes a seminar presentation on the use of nano fertilizers in agriculture. It defines nano-fertilizers as fertilizers made of nano-sized nutrient molecules coated in a polymer coating that releases nutrients when needed. Some key advantages discussed are increased nutrient use efficiency, lower requirement for chemical fertilizers, and higher crop yields. Potential disadvantages include unknown health and environmental risks. The conclusion is that with further research and addressing of risks, nano-fertilizers have potential to help feed more people sustainably.
This document summarizes a seminar presentation on the use of nano fertilizers in agriculture. It defines nano-fertilizers as fertilizers made of nano-sized nutrient molecules coated in a polymer coating that releases nutrients when needed. Some key advantages discussed are increased nutrient use efficiency, lower requirement for chemical fertilizers, and higher crop yields. Potential disadvantages include unknown health and environmental risks. The conclusion is that with further research and awareness of risks, nano-fertilizers have potential to help feed more people sustainably.
The document discusses intercropping and integrated nutrient management in pulses. It describes the benefits of intercropping such as reducing pests and weeds, conserving soil moisture, and improving soil fertility. Integrated nutrient management involves using soil nutrients, fertilizers, organic manures, compost, and biofertilizers to maintain soil productivity. Adopting these practices can improve crop yields and nutrient use efficiency while maintaining the health of soils. However, some constraints to their adoption by farmers include lack of organic manures, biofertilizers, and knowledge.
Fertilizer microdosing technology in sorghum, millet and maize production at ...IJASRD Journal
World population is alarmingly increasing, to feed the growing population, farmers must increase food production. Mineral fertilizer application takes the lion-share on crop productivity. However, due to the high cost of fertilizer, majority of African farmers add smaller than the recommended rate. Therefore, the farmers must adopt a technology that is environmentally friendly and minimizes dose of fertilizer keeping productivity higher than conventional fertilization. Microdosing (small and affordable quantities) fertilizer application produces higher grain yield as compared to control and banding application. Application of 0.3g NPK to 6g of NPK per pocket could increase yield of millet in range of 31.3% to 90.3 %. Similarly, application of 0.3 g NPK to 4 g NPK per pocket could increase yield of sorghum 40.9 % to 83 %. Microdosing fertilizer application is feasible and profitable than conventional fertilizer application. However, fertilizers in Africa are found in 50 kg package, which are not affordable by the poor resource farmers. The availability of fertilizer in affordable package is very crucial in expanding the technology. Moreover, the farmers must have the opportunity to inventory credit like warrantage system so that they borrow money to use it for input cost and store the crops after harvest when the price of the crops are low and resell them when the prices are higher. The use of the microdosing method brings entire changes to the existing fertilizer application methods; hence, there is a need for a strong linkage among researchers, farmers, and policy makers.
Conservation agriculture for resource use efficiency and sustainability BASIX
The Green Revolution era focused on enhancing the production and productivity of crops. New challenges demand that the issues of efficient resource use and resource conservation receive high priority to ensure that past gains can be sustained and further enhanced to meet the emerging needs. Extending some of the resource-conserving interventions developed for the agricultural crops are the major challenges for researchers and farmers alike. The present paper shares recent research experiences on resource conservation technologies involving tillage and crop establishment options and associated agronomic practices which enable farmers in reducing production costs, increase profitability and help them move forward in the direction of adopting conservation agriculture.
Evergreen Agriculture means placing trees on farms. These systems, indigenous to Africa, can boost crop yields, provide alternative incomes, resplenish soil fertility, increase soil carbon retention, and protect biodiversity. With these systems, food security becomes attainable; the land becomes more fertile; and the farm is better protected against extreme weather events.
This slideshow presents the latest evidence about the impact of evergreen agriculture.
Enhancing NUE through site specific nutrient management and in problematic soilsSangramsingRrajput
This document discusses techniques to improve nutrient use efficiency (NUE) through site specific nutrient management and in problematic soils. It defines NUE and discusses common indices used to measure it, like agronomic efficiency and physiological efficiency. Reasons for low NUE in India are outlined. Techniques to improve NUE discussed include fertigation, foliar application, nanotechnology, nutrient briquettes, and seed priming. Fertigation and seed priming are described in more detail regarding their advantages and processes. The overall document focuses on defining NUE and exploring soil-specific and technological methods to enhance NUE.
Presentation by Sue Edwards (Institute for Sustainable Development, Ethiopia), at the 2012 Agriculture and Rural Development Day in Rio de Janiero, Learning Event No. 1, Session 4: Ecological Intensification – Key Success Factors of the Award Winning Tigray Project in the Ethiopian Highlands
with Hans Herren (Co-Chair , IAASTD) – The Eco-functional Intensification Principles of Organic Conservation Agriculture (based on push and pull) in Africa and
Andre Leu (President, IFOAM) – The intensification of ecological functions that increase the adaptation and mitigation potential of agriculture (based on Pasture Cropping in Australia and long term comparative research studies from around the globe)
Integrated Management of Soil Fertility - Prerequisite for Increased Agricult...SIANI
This document discusses integrated soil fertility management (ISFM), defining it as "a set of soil fertility practices that include fertilizer, organic inputs, and improved seeds combined and adapted to local conditions." It aims to maximize nutrient use efficiency and productivity while improving soil carbon. The paper covers mineral fertilizer responses under varying soil conditions, combining organic inputs with fertilizer, and integrating legumes. It provides examples for African farming systems and discusses both crop productivity and impacts on soil carbon stocks from each practice. Finally, it notes that fully achieving ISFM is difficult and the realistic goal is to "move towards" ISFM through demonstrations, education, and addressing non-responsive soils and supply chain issues.
1) Zinc and iron deficiencies affect approximately 2 billion people globally and are a major cause of malnutrition, particularly in developing countries where cereal-based diets provide most calories.
2) Biofortification through agronomic practices such as fertilization can increase micronutrient concentrations in crops and provide a potentially sustainable solution. Application of zinc-containing fertilizers to the soil and foliage has been shown to reliably increase zinc levels in grains across multiple countries.
3) Foliar application of zinc at different crop growth stages affects the distribution and concentration of zinc deposited in different grain tissues. Higher nitrogen fertilization can also influence grain zinc and iron concentrations.
The need for nutrient efficient rice varieties Status and prospectsSenthil Natesan
The documents discuss the need for nutrient efficient rice varieties in India. Modern agriculture is increasingly taxing on nature and fertilizer sources are becoming depleted. While yields have increased through fertilizer use, productivity must now rise through nutrient efficient varieties. Rice is a particularly important crop for India. Breeding efforts aim to develop varieties that can grow well with less fertilizer input by efficiently acquiring and utilizing nutrients. Traits related to deficiency sensing, tolerance and nutrient recycling are priorities. Evaluating landraces and wild relatives may provide useful genes for nutrient efficiency. Both conventional and molecular breeding approaches can contribute to producing varieties suited for the future of sustainable agriculture.
Organic soybean production relies on crop rotation, cover crops, green manures, and livestock manures to build soil fertility and manage pests without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Soybeans are well-suited for organic systems but should not be the sole crop, and work best in rotation with forages like alfalfa that supply nitrogen. Additional nutrients may be needed and can come from rock powders like lime, rock phosphate, and sulfate of potash. With proper management, organic soybean yields can match conventional yields while reducing costs. Premium prices provide incentives for organic production.
Organic soybean production relies on crop rotations, cover crops, green manures, and livestock manures to build soil fertility and nutrient levels without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Key aspects include rotating soybeans with nitrogen-fixing legumes like alfalfa to replenish soil nitrogen, using winter cover crops to improve soil quality between cash crops, and incorporating livestock manures which provide nutrients and organic matter to soils. Organic farmers may also use rock powders like lime, rock phosphate, and sulfate of potash as supplementary nutrient sources to ensure balanced crop nutrition.
Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is a critically important concept in the evaluation of crop production systems. Many agricultural soils of the world are deficient in one or more of the essential nutrients to support healthy and productive plant growth. Efficiency can be defined in many ways and easily increased food production could be achieved by expanding the land area under crops and by increasing yields per unit area through intensive farming. Environmental nutrient use efficiency can be quite different than agronomic or economic efficiency and maximizing efficiency may not always be effective. Worldwide, elemental deficiencies for essential macro and micro nutrients and toxicities by Al, Mn, Fe, S, B, Cu, Mo, Cr, Cl, Na, and Si have been reported.
As part of the seminar held by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) under the title of "Fertilizer policy in Egypt and options for improvements".
This document summarizes the role of seeds in transforming agriculture in the Philippines, with a focus on rice. It outlines the Philippine seed system and related laws/regulations. It describes the evolution of rice varieties released and trends in adoption of modern varieties. Key issues are identified such as insufficient seed availability, adoption challenges, and cost/price issues. Recommendations include improving production/distribution systems, continuing research, increasing farmer education, and reviewing seed pricing policies.
Similar to Developing ISFM Options for Smallholder Agriculture in Africa: Experiences from WA (20)
(1) IITA is the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, established in 1967 and headquartered in Ibadan, Nigeria with 21 stations in 30 countries. (2) IITA adopted DataCite DOIs in 2017 through the British Library Consortium to create a trusted institutional data repository meeting FAIR data principles. (3) IITA mints DOIs through an automatic Python script integrating with its Cassavabase database, and manually through its Fabrica portal, to increase data visibility, citation, and improve data management practices.
This document summarizes Samwel Muiruri Kariuki's research at IITA Kenya on inducing early flowering in cassava. The document discusses two methods: using LED light supplementation to induce flowering within 4 months, compared to 10 months without light; and developing a CMV-inducible CRISPR-Cas9 system to edit cassava genes in a virus-activated manner. Preliminary results show light supplementation significantly increased the number of flowering plants compared to the control. The researcher is working to assemble constructs using a CMV promoter to drive Cas9 expression and test them in Nicotiana benthamiana transformations. The goal is to create a virus-inducible gene editing system for cassava.
The document discusses methods for producing yam mother plants and cuttings for propagation. It describes selecting healthy mother plants with balanced nutrient content and avoiding nitrogen fertilizer before taking cuttings. Cuttings should contain a node, leaf, and stem pieces and be treated with fungicide before planting. With good management, cuttings can root within 10 days without hormones.
The document discusses conserving the Ibadan Malimbe, an endemic bird species found only in Nigeria that is endangered. It describes the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture's (IITA) efforts to conserve the species, which include hosting an Important Bird Area, monitoring the bird population, restoring habitat, and raising awareness. IITA's research has found declining numbers of Ibadan Malimbe due to forest isolation, clearance for agriculture and development, competition with other species, and increased nest destruction, threatening the estimated 2,500 remaining individuals.
This document summarizes a study on identifying the preferences of cassava product ("gari") end users in Benue State, Nigeria. The study found that farmers preferred cassava varieties with heavy, long roots that are not rotten or woody, while processors preferred varieties with white, dry peeled roots and less water in the mash. Marketers and consumers preferred gari that is shiny, dry, heavy, sweet with no lumps or smooth and white in color. The preferences identified will help breeders develop new cassava varieties that meet the needs of all end users.
The document discusses a study on the perception of quality in yam landraces among value chain actors in yam producing areas of Nigeria. It finds that Faketsa, Igum, Opoko, and Ushu are the most commonly cultivated varieties for pounded yam and yam flour production. Yam flour is typically processed from fresh yams through washing, peeling, cutting, drying, and grinding. Smoothness and mouldability are key factors in accepting pounded yam and yam fufu. The study recommends further research on Faketsa's qualities for pounded yam and yam flour to aid variety selection for these products.
1. The study evaluated the quality attributes of cookies flavored with Aidan (Tetrapleura tetraptera) as a substitute for vanilla. 2. Results showed that increasing the substitution level of Aidan for vanilla increased proximate nutrients but decreased carbohydrates and energy. 3. Cookies with 75% Aidan substitution had similar taste and crispness to the 100% vanilla cookie but were most acceptable overall to consumers.
This document reports on a study that analyzed the chemical, functional, and pasting properties of flours produced from four varieties of unripe plantain. The objectives were to determine the chemical composition, functional properties, pasting properties, and color parameters of the different plantain flours. Materials and methods included obtaining four varieties of plantain, producing the flours using various processing steps, and analyzing the flours for moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber, starch, sugar, minerals, functional properties using various tests, pasting properties using a rapid visco analyzer, and color parameters. The results showed differences between varieties in the measured properties, with some varieties having higher nutritional or functional qualities. The conclusions were that the
The document studied the effect of different drying methods on the carotenoid content of yellow maize varieties. It found that air drying maize grains under shade at 20°C was the most effective method for retaining carotenoids, as it exposed the grains to milder environmental conditions compared to sun drying and oven drying. Analysis of variance showed significant differences in carotenoid levels between drying methods and maize varieties. Air drying was recommended over other methods to preserve high pro-vitamin A content in maize grains.
This document summarizes a survey of dried plantain chip processors in Ondo State, Nigeria. It describes the background and methods used in the survey. Key findings include that most processors are women between the ages of 25-40 who view chip processing as difficult work. Common challenges included the time-consuming nature, pest infestation during storage, and weather issues during drying. The conclusion recommends addressing animal contamination during drying and limiting the use of toxic preservatives to improve product quality and safety.
The document examines the effect of crop diversification on food and nutrition security among smallholder farming households in Nigeria. It analyzes data from the 2015 Nigerian General Household Survey on 2,041 households. It finds that crop diversification has a positive impact on dietary diversity, increasing it by 10.9%, but negatively impacts subjective food security. However, households with greater crop diversification had a 53.8% higher likelihood of being food secure. The study thus concludes that while crop diversification improves nutrition, broader support is still needed for farming households to ensure food security.
The document summarizes a study on the apparent retention of carotenoids in ogi flour made from different provitamin A maize genotypes. It finds that PVA SYN HGBC0 showed the highest carotenoid and provitamin A retention after processing ogi flour, making it the best genotype studied for producing nutritious ogi. The study aims to establish how processing affects carotenoid levels in ogi, an important food in Nigeria, to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in children.
The document assessed the level of consumption of pro-vitamin A cassava products among rural households in Nigeria. It found low levels of consumption of products like tapioca, flakes, and vitamin-fortified baked goods. Consumption varied by state, with Akwa Ibom having the highest levels. It recommends increasing production of value-added products and nutritional education campaigns to boost consumption and reduce vitamin A deficiency.
Professor Janice Olawoye had a 38-year career as a Professor of Rural Sociology at the University of Ibadan, where she served in various administrative roles including Head of Department and Dean. She supervised 30 PhDs and many other students and published over 70 papers. Professor Olawoye also consulted for international development organizations and worked with IITA on workshops, advisory boards, and fellowship programs. She is married with four sons and six grandchildren.
inqaba Biotec is Africa's leading genomics company that aims to catalyze Africa's prosperity through genomics. It offers core services including oligonucleotide synthesis, DNA sequencing using ABI3130XL, ABI3500XL, and Illumina MiSeq platforms, SNP genotyping, bioinformatics, and molecular diagnostic solutions. inqaba Biotec works to address challenges African researchers face regarding logistics, technical know-how, cost, and support through its partnerships and local services. Its vision is to remain a leading genomics company in Africa.
Janice E. Olawoye presented on adaptation to climate change and indigenous and formal mitigation strategies. She discussed how climate change negatively impacts people through changes in weather patterns, threats to food security and health. Indigenous communities have adapted through practices like multiple cropping and migration. However, increased frequency and intensity of climate events requires more formal strategies like afforestation, drought-resistant crops, and early warning systems. Adaptation is needed to support livelihoods as traditional strategies are no longer sufficient. Gender must also be considered in climate policies and projects to address women's increased burdens. Individual actions like conserving resources and research can contribute to addressing this challenge.
The document discusses managing climate-driven biological risks through a One Health approach. It outlines strategies such as developing early warning and rapid response systems through a farmer interface app connected to pest forecasting tools. The document also discusses building capacity, especially among youth, on modeling species distributions under climate change scenarios. Climate change is expected to impact insect distributions and life cycles, threatening food security. An integrated approach considering human, animal, and ecosystem health is needed to address emerging risks.
More from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (20)
Dandelion Hashtable: beyond billion requests per second on a commodity serverAntonios Katsarakis
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Developing ISFM Options for Smallholder Agriculture in Africa: Experiences from WA
1. Developing ISFM Options for Smallholder
Agriculture in Africa: Experiences from WA
Sylvester OIKEH (Ph D)
Africa Rice Center (WARDA)
Cotonou, Benin
Seminar for the Position of IITA Soil Fertility Specialist
22 September 2008, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria
2. Outline of Presentation
• Background
• Historical perspectives on soil
fertility
• Key soil fertility research at IITA
• Concept of ISFM
• My vision
3. Outline of Presentation Cont‟d
• Linking vision with key experiences
• Resource mobilization efforts
• Conclusion
5. What is Soil Fertility?
• Capacity of the soil to supply
nutrients (N, P, K and other essential
nutrients) to the crop
• Mixture of soil chemical, physical
and biological factors affecting land
potential
• Major problem: Inherent low fertility
of African soils
6. Macronutrient Application Vs. Losses in Africa
5.0 4.4
Million tons per year 4.5 Loss
4.0 Applied
3.5 3.0
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0 0.8
0.5
0.5 0.3 0.2
0.0
N P K
Nutrients Source: Sanchez et al. 1997)
• In the developed world, overuse of fertilizer & manure is damaging envt.
• In SSA, low use of fertilizer is a major cause of environmental degradation
and poverty.
• Africa losses USD 4 billion/yr due to soil nutrient mining.
8. Fertilizer Use Around the Globe
Netherlands Source: FAOSTAT, July 2003;
Vietnam Norman Borlaug, 2004
Japan
UK
China
France
Brazil
USA
India
South Africa
Cuba
Benin
Malawi Fertilizer use: 8 kg per ha
Ethiopia
Mali in Sub-Sahara Africa is the
Burkina Faso
Nigeria
lowest in the world
Tanzania
Mozambique
Guinea
Ghana
Uganda
600 Kg/ha
• Fertilizer Summit, 2006: „to increase the fertilizer use from 8 to 50 kg ha nutrients
0 100 200 300 400 500
-1
by 2015‟.
• Fertilizer is a “golden bullet” to power African Green Revolution (Adesina, 2007)
9. Historical Perspectives in
Addressing Soil Fertility Problems
Period Paradigm Role of fertilizer Role of organic Experiences
inputs
1960s External Use of fertilizer Organic resources Limited success
& input alone will ↑ and played a minor role because of Shortfall
1970s Paradigm sustain yields in infrastructure,
policy, etc.
1980s Organic Fertilizer played a Organic resources Limited adoption; OM
input minimal role are main source of production requires
Paradigm nutrients (Alley excessive land &
farming system) labor
1990s Sanchez’ Fertilizer use was Organic resources Difficulties to access
2nd essential to were the entry organic resources
Paradigm eliminate the main point; but served hampered adoption
nutrient functions beside (e.g. improved fallow)
constraints nutrients release
2000s ISFM Fertilizer is a Access to organic On-going!
Paradigm major entry point resources has both (Here we are!)
to ↑ yields and social and
supply needed economic
Annon (2007) org. inputs dimensions
10. Key Soil Fertility Research at IITA
• Diagnostic studies on identification
deficient nutrients in production
systems across agroecologies
• Fertilizer response studies, but mostly
on cereals (maize); limited on roots
and tubers
• Alley farming/ improved fallow (limited
adoption)
• Cereal-legume rotations (include ISFM)
• Use of phosphate rock in legume
rotation systems (limited promotion)
11. Concept of ISFM
The application of soil fertility
management practices (appropriate
fertilizer + organic input + improved
germplasm) and the knowledge to
adapt these to local conditions to
optimize fertilizer and organic
resource- use efficiency and crop
productivity
12. ISFM + Enabling environment
Integrated Soil Fertility Management Strategy
Institutions
Integrated Pest Soil Conservation
and policy
management water management
ISFM
Ecosystem
Resilient germplasm /
Services
fertilizer (Org+Inorg)
Markets
13. Vision
• Promote ISFM in cereal-legume
rotations with focus on
promiscuous soybean-maize
systems in Africa using
participatory approaches
• Integrating mineral fertilizer
component of ISFM package
based on site-specific fertilizer
balanced management practices
14. Vision cont‟d
• Integrate ISFM principles into
conservation agriculture in SSA with
linkage to climate change/ land
degradation
• Transform IITA Nutrition lab to a
center of excellence for Bio-
fortification studies
15. Vision cont‟d
• Review and establish ISFM
guidelines for roots and tubers
(particular focus on yam &
cassava)
16. Promote ISFM in cereal-legume
rotations using participatory approach
Key issues:
• Limited N-use efficient crop varieties
• Dynamic nature of N in farmers‟ fields
• Limited use of available ISFM options
17. Promote ISFM in cereal-legume
rotations using participatory approach
Experiences: N-use efficient crop varieties
(Screened maize cultivars under variable N
to identify N-efficient cultivar)
18. N Vs. Root Length Density
Source: Oikeh, Kling, Horst, & Chude (1999). Field Crop Res. 62: 1-13
0-15
Soil depth (cm)
15-30
30-45
45-60
60-75
0 g/plant
2.26 g/plant
a • N application stimulated root
production in surface soil at
1994/35 DAS
75-90 early growth stage
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
0-15
Soil depth (cm)
15-30
30-45
0 g/plant
45-60 0.56 g/plant
2.26 g/plant
• Greater root growth and
60-75 distribution observed at 30 kg N
1994/silking
75-90 ha-1 (0.56 g/plant) than at 0N or
120N
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Root length density (cm cm-3)
19. Root Length Density of Maize varieties
Plant ht RLE DM
Cultivar (cm) (mm/day) (g/plant)
0-15 (25 DAP)
Soil depth (cm)
25-28 DAP 35DAP
15-30
EV8728 61.5 74.5 17.8
30-45
87TZPB 57.5 69.8 15.2
45-60
SPL 63.5 79.6 18.0
60-75
35 DAS 8644-27 61.3 73.9 15.2
75-90
(HYB)
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
TZB 59.5 70.8 14.3
(CTL)
LSD 1.6 3.1 2.4
TZB (p=0.1)
Soil depth (cm)
0-15
8644
15-30 • Varietal differences in RL at 35DAS
30-45 SPL
45-60 TZPB • All improved cvs. had better RL and
EV8728 growth than the check
60-75
75-90 Silking • TZPB & SPL had better root systems
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
in lower depth at silking
Root length density (cm cm-3) Source: Oikeh, Kling, Horst, & Chude (1999). Field
Crop Research. 62: 1-13
20. Phenology, grain yield, HI, and N efficiency
parameters of maize cultivars as influenced by N
ASI LGF Grain yield HI N-util. eff. N-use eff.
Cultivar (d) (d) (Mg ha-1) (%) (%) (kg grain/kg avail. N)
EV8728 3.4 48.0 5.0 40 50 18.5
87TZPB 5.3 45.6 4.8 36 46 16.6
SPL 3.1 43.4 5.0 41 50 17.4
8644-27 5.2 47.9 5.2 43 54 18.5
TZB-SR 4.2 46.1 4.7 35 45 16.6
SED 0.2* 0.5** 0.1+ 0.5** 0.7** 0.5*
CV (%) 3 3 16 9 9 20
Source: Oikeh and Horst 2001: In: W.J Horst et al. (eds.). Plant Nutrition: Food security and sustainability of agroecosystems.
Development in Plant and Soil Science Book Series. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.
21. Mean N uptake over time as
influenced by N
N N uptake (kg ha-1)
Cultivar (kg ha-1) 35 DAP Midsilk Grain Stover NHI (%) Total N
0 11 42 29 18 60 47
30 18 54 47 25 65 72
120 19 86 87 39 69 126
SED 1* 3** 2** 1** 1** 3**
EV8728 17 59 57 26 68 82
87TZPB 15 70 56 29 65 85
SPL 19 55 59 27 68 86
8644-27 15 63 53 26 66 79
TZB-SR 14 56 48 29 58 77
SED 1* 4* 3* 1 ns 1** 3ns
Source: Oikeh, Carsky, Kling, Chude, & Horst (2003). Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 100: 181-191.
22. Promote ISFM in cereal-legume
rotations using participatory approach
Experiences: Dynamic nature of N in
farmers„ fields
Livelihood analysis:
5 Villages in 3 States, NGS, Nigeria
Major constraints as ranked by farmers:
• Low soil fertility/lack of fertilizers
• Striga hermonthica infestation
• Early season drought causing replanting
24. Managing N Dynamics Using
ISFM Package
ISFM with Stylo
organic inputs (fallen
leaves + roots) slowed
down N mineralization
and N losses in soil-
plant system
Source: Oikeh, Chude, Carsky, Weber, & Horst (1998). Experimental Agriculture 34: 73-83
26. Mean Mineral N Balance (loss)
160 from Soil-plant System
•
140
120
35 – 122 kg N ha-1
lost (leaching)
•
N loss (kg ha-1)
100
SPL had >
80 capacity to take up
N during
60 grainfilling period
thus minimizing N
40 losses
20 • SPL had deep fine
root system
0
87TZPB-SR
EV8728-SR
8644-27
TZB-SR
SPL
Cultivars
Nl/g = (Nup(t2) + Nmin(t2)) (Nfert + Nmin(t1) + N(rain)) Source: Oikeh, Carsky, Kling, Chude, & Horst (2003).
Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 100: 181-191.
27. Model Maize (Ideotype)
for African Savanna (e.g. SPL)
Adapted: Oikeh, Kling, Horst, & Chude (1999). Field Crop Res. 62: 1-13
• High seedling vigor and dense root system in
surface soil at early growth stage
• Fine, deep, and dense root system late in
season with extended N absorption into
grainfilling
• Short ASI and LGF
• > one ear per plant under low N
• High grain yield and harvest index
• Good grain processing quality (Oikeh, Kling, & Okoruwa
(1998). N fertilizer management effects on maize grain quality in West Africa. Crop
Science 38:1056-1061)
28. What Next ?
• Promote grain legume-cereal ISFM
Africa-wide using participatory
approaches
• Develop new ideotypes of crops for
Africa using experience from maize
ideotype
• Use existing models to predict
nutrient flow and out-scaling ISFM
options
29. Integrating mineral fertilizer
component of ISFM options based on
site-specific FBMP
Key issues:
• Limited fertilizer recommendations
based on site-specific variability in soil
fertility
• Fertilizer applications based on crop
responses/ agroecologies lead to over
or under-application in some fields
30. Integrating mineral fertilizer
component of ISFM options based on
site-specific FBMP
Experiences: Cultivar response to fertilizer
(cultivar fertilizer) across agroecologies
31. N Vs. Dry-matter Yield
Source: Oikeh, Kling, Horst, & Chude (1997). Proceedings 5th Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Maize Conf.,
Arusha, Tanzania 3-7 June 1996. CIMMYT, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, pp 163-167
Dry-matter Yield
16 Total
14
12
Y =8.8 + 6.0N - 1.3N2 R2=1.0
• 5 maize cultivars
screened under 4 N
Yield (t ha-1)
10 levels for 2 yrs
8 • 60 kg N ha-1
Grain adequate for maize
6 production under the
Y =2.8 + 3.5N - 0.8N2 R2=0.99 conditions of the
4
experimental site
2
0
0 30 60 90 120
Nitrogen rate
(kg ha-1)
32. NPK vs. Mean Grain Yield of 4
NERICAs Humid Forest, Nigeria
6
NERICA yield (Mg ha-1) c
60 kg/ha N
5
13 kg/ha P b
4
25 kg/ha K
3
a
2
1
0 N60-P13-K25 N120-P26-K25
Zero N60-P13-K25 N120-P26-
Fertilizer treatment K25
N60-P13-K25= 60 kg N, 13 kg P and 25 kg K per ha
N120-P26-K25= 120 kg N, 26 kg P and 25 kg K per ha.
Source: Oikeh et al. (2006). Fertilizer summit, 2006
33. What Next ?
Integrate mineral fertilizer
component of ISFM options
based on site-specific nutrient
content and crop requirement
34. Integrate ISFM principles into conservation
agriculture in SSA with linkage to climate
change/ land degradation
Key issues:
• Climate change
• Land degradation
• Declining soil fertility
35. Integrate ISFM principles into conservation
agriculture in SSA with linkage to climate
change/ land degradation
Experience: Cowpea-NERICA Ecotechnology
(example of ISFM option developed
with farmers in NGS, Benin)
36. Organic inputs
Farmer‟s 80-day Cowpea (Katchè) 75-day Dual-purpose Cowpea
85-day NERICA 8
(Resilient, N-use efficient)
+
Mineral N (20 kg ha-1)
38. Cowpea Rotation Vs. Soil-N at
21 and 42 DAS in 5 farmers‟ Fields
NO3-N (T21; kg ha-1) Nmin (T42; kg ha-1)
Rotation
Soil Depth (cm) Soil Depth (cm)
0 – 15 15 – 30 0 – 15 15 – 30
IT89KD-288 11.0 12.8 31.0 26.2
IT90-277-2 17.7 8.6 33.1 22.7
IT97-568-11 20.6 15.1 40.5 25.7
IT97K-1069-6 11.6 14.3 36.4 28.2
IT93K-452-1 15.6 13.9 28.0 23.5
Katechè (local) 12.7 8.5 25.0 27.0
Fallow 12.6 10.4 24.9 22.7
SE (Rot Depth) 2.78 3.31
Source: Oikeh, Niang, Abaidoo, Houngnandan, Koichi, Kone, & Toure (??). Cowpea-NERICA Rice Ecotechnology for
Sustainable Management of Degraded Tropical Savanna Soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal (in preparation).
39. Mean NERICA8 Yield Vs. Previous Cowpea
(5 farmers‟ fields, NGS, Benin)
1.2
1
Grain Yield (Mg.ha -1)
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
IT90-277-2 IT97-568-11 IT97K-1089-6 IT93K-452-1 Local (Katché) Fallow
•
Previous crops
Previous cowpea (IT97-568-11) + 20N gave 2.4 times > yield than
previous fallow + 0N (CTL) in Cowpea-NERICA Ecotechnology
Source: Oikeh, Niang, Abaidoo, Houngnandan, Toure & Mariko (2008). Abstract Submitted to Annual Meeting of CSA Societies, USA
40. N Fertilizer Replacement Value of
Previous Cowpea cv. IT97-568-11
2.5
26 kg/ha N replacement
Grain Yield (Mg ha -1)
2 (N savings to the farmer)
from NERICA8 Vs. N
1.5
response curve
1
0.5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
N Level (kg ha-1)
Source: Oikeh, Niang, Abaidoo, Houngnandan, Toure & Mariko (2008). Abstract Submitted to Annual Meeting of CSA Societies, USA
42. Transform IITA Nutrition lab to center of
excellence for Bio-fortification studies
Key issues:
• Analyses of samples in
advanced lab
• High transaction costs in
developing micronutrients
enhanced crops
43. Transform IITA Nutrition lab to center of
excellence for Bio-fortification studies
Experience:
“Micronutrient
Enhancement of Maize to
Reduce Hidden Hunger”
Calcium
Deficiency
Ricket, WHO
Iron Deficiency Anemia, WHO
44. Summary of Findings
• Evaluated 49 late- & early-maturing
maize across 3 contrasting ecologies for
2 yrs for Fe & Zn conc.
• Mean Fe: 16.5 – 23.1 mg kg-1 Late maize
• Mean Zn: 16.1 – 23.9 mg kg-1 “
• Mean Fe: 16.9 – 20.7 mg kg-1 Early maize
• Mean Zn: 18.2 – 21.2 mg kg-1 “
• Evaluated bioavailable Fe using a Model
Gut (mimic digestive system; Glahn et al. 1996)
Sources: 1. Oikeh, Menkir, & Maziya-Dixon (2003). Journal of Plant Nutrition. 26: 2307 – 2319.
2. Oikeh, Menkir, Maziya-Dixon, Welch, Glahn, & Gauch JR. (2004). Journal of Agric. Science (Camb.). 142: 543 – 551.
45. A Cartoon of the In Vitro
Digestion/Caco-2 Cell Culture Model
(Glahn et al. 1996)
500 mg maize sample
Pepsin Digestion
pH 2, 1 h, 37 C (50 mL tube)
Insert ring
Pancreatin-Bile Digestion
Culture well pH 6.8 – 7.0, 2 h, 37 C
Dialysis membrane Soluble iron
15K MWCO
Caco-2 cells
Harvest cells for ferritin determination
24 h post start of Panc/Bile digestion
46.
47. ANOVA of location, variety and G E interactions
on Fe bioavailability from Early-maturing maize
% of total
variation
Pr>F
Source Fe Fe
bioav. bioav. Fe bioav.
(%) LOG (%)
Loc 0.444 0.523 <1
Var 0.006 0.029 12
VxL 0.586 0.353 10
CV 35 7
(%)
Sources: Oikeh, Menkir, Maziya-Dixon, Welch, & Glahn (2003). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 51: 3688-3694
52. What next?
Literature review on soil fertility studies
on roots and tubers
Conduct ISFM studies on roots and tubers
Develop ISFM guidelines for roots and
tubers production in Africa
53. Resource Mobilization Efforts
(2006-2008)
Project Donor Value Partner
Smallholder rice-based livelihood and UNDP $ 5.0m Min. of Agric.
income enhancement project for Liberia Liberia/WARD
A/IITA/ AVRDC
Alleviating rural poverty through IFAD $ 1.5m IRRI/WARDA
improving rice production in E. & S.
Africa
Enhancing smallholder access to IFAD $ 1.5m WARDA
NERICA seed for alleviating rural
poverty in WCA
Development of sustainable rice MOP $ 0.18m WARDA
farming systems in LAC soils in West Japan
African lowlands: Nutrients cycling in
sawah vs. non-sawah rice farming
systems
NUE Rice for Africa USAID $4.0m AATF/ARCAR
DIA/ WARDA
54. Conclusion
The vision of African Leaders: “to
increase the fertilizer use from 8 to 50 kg
ha-1 nutrients by 2015” (Fertilizer
Summit, 2006) can only be actualized
with the right enabling environments,
with the right people in the right places