MAIZE YIELDS RESPONSE TO APPLICATION OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC INPUT UNDER ON-STATION AND ON-FARM EXPERIMENTS IN CENTRAL KENYA

SUMMARYThis study investigated the feasibility of using sole organics or a combination of organics with inorganic fertilizer to improve maize production in on-station and on-farm experiments in central Kenya. In the on-station experiment, combined application of Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena trichandra and Tithonia diversifolia at 30 kg N ha−1 plus inorganic fertilizer (30 kg N ha−1) consistently gave significantly higher maize grain yields than the recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer (60 kg N ha−1). Sole application of calliandra, leucaena and tithonia also increased maize yields more than the recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer. In the on-farm experiment, calliandra, leucaena, tithonia and cattle manure either alone or combined with inorganic fertilizer increased maize yields with a similar magnitude to that of inorganic fertilizer. These organic resources could therefore be used to supplement inorganic fertilizer as a whole or in part. There was a yield gap between on-station and on-farm trials with on-station yields having, on average, 65% greater yields than the on-farm yields. There is therefore potential for increasing yields at the farm level by closing the yield gap.

Download Full-text

Factors Affecting the Fertilizer-use Decision of Maize Farmers in Ghana

Journal of Sustainable Development ◽

10.5539/jsd.v8n9p273 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 273 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alexandra Hill ◽

Barrett E. Kirwan

Keyword(s):

Property Rights ◽

Inorganic Fertilizer ◽

Farming Practices ◽

Yield Gap ◽

Irrigation Systems ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Fertilizer Use ◽

Maize Yields ◽

Subsidy Program ◽

Growing Conditions

<p>This work examines the factors that influence whether or not a farmer applies inorganic fertilizer in the Ghanaian context. Current maize yields in Ghana average only one-third of their estimated potential, but this yield gap can be reduced by improving farming practices and growing conditions in Ghana; specifically, yields in Ghana can likely be increased by intensifying the use of inorganic fertilizer, other inputs, and irrigation systems. Recently, Ghana introduced a fertilizer subsidy program to help increase fertilizer-use rates. This paper examines alternate instruments for increasing fertilizer use by determining farm-holder characteristics correlated with inorganic fertilizer use. The results show that the farmer's distance from the closest weekly market, whether the farmer has a pre-harvest contract, and whether the farmer has property rights on the field have a significant effect on fertilizer use.</p>

Download Full-text

Effects of decaying leaf litter and inorganic fertilizer on growth and development of maize (Zea mays L.)

Journal of Agricultural Sciences Belgrade ◽

10.2298/jas1402117c ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 117-127

Author(s):

Kanayo Chukwuka ◽

Israel Ogunsumi ◽

Maxwell Obiakara ◽

Olubukola Ojo ◽

Ufereh Uka

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Growth And Development ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Inorganic Fertilizer ◽

Maize Production ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Maize Yields ◽

Completely Randomized Design ◽

And Control ◽

Screen House

The effects of decaying leaf litter of Tithonia diversifolia and Vernonia amygdalina as organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer (NPK 15-15-15) and their combination effects on the growth and development of maize were studied in a screen house. Twenty-four experimental bags filled with 20 kg of loamy soil were laid out in a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications for each treatment which included: 250 g of decaying leaves of T. diversifolia as mulch (T1), 250 g of decaying leaves of V. amygdalina (T2), 1.52 g of NPK (inorganic) fertilizer (T3), a mixture of 250 g of decaying leaves of T. diversifolia and 1.52 g of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer (T4), a mixture of V. amygdalina and 1.52 g of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer (T5) and control (T6). The significant growth as well as maize yields were obtained from T3 treated maize seedlings, and this was closely followed by T4 treated seedlings. The study showed that the decaying leaf litter as an organic fertilizer in maize production in a screen house conditions did not give better yield than NPK treatment alone.

Download Full-text

ON-FARM EXPERIMENTS WITH MAIZE-MUCUNA SYSTEMS IN THE LOS TUXTLAS REGION OF VERACRUZ, MEXICO. I. MUCUNA BIOMASS AND MAIZE GRAIN YIELD

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479702001126 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 5-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

M. EILITTÄ ◽

L. E. SOLLENBERGER ◽

R. C. LITTELL ◽

L. W. HARRINGTON

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Mucuna Pruriens ◽

Los Tuxtlas ◽

Control Data ◽

Maize Production ◽

Labour Costs ◽

Maize Grain ◽

On Farm

Maize (Zea mays)-mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) systems have been promoted to the smallholder farmers of the Los Tuxtlas region of southeastern Veracruz, Mexico. To determine on-farm performance, an agronomic assessment was conducted in 1995–97 replicating farmer conditions in four fields. Treatments were first- and second-season maize with first-season mucuna (system Zm-Mp/Zm), first-season maize with first- and second-season mucuna (system Zm-Mp/Mp), second-season maize following first-season mucuna (system Mp/Zm), and first- and second-season maize, no mucuna control. Data on mucuna biomass amount and quality as well as maize yield, yield components, and nutrient status were collected. Highest mucuna biomass was obtained in system Mp/Zm (leaf-stem-mulch biomass in 1996/97, 7.34 t ha−1, 147 kg ha−1 N), followed by systems Zm-Mp/Mp (5.06 t ha−1, 101 kg N ha−1) and Zm-Mp/Zm (2.75 t ha−1, 50 kg N ha−1). Second-season maize yield was increased over that of the control by 45–58% (0.15–0.23 t ha−1) in system Zm-Mp/Zm and by 118% (0.60 t ha−1) in system Mp/Zm. Mucuna did not increase first-season maize yield. Climatic constraints make second-season maize production risky and yield increases due to mucuna are low in absolute terms, perhaps not offsetting labour costs (systems Zm-Mp/Zm and Mp/Zm) or loss of first-season maize (Mp/Zm).

Download Full-text

ON-FARM EXPERIMENTS WITH MAIZE-MUCUNA SYSTEMS IN THE LOS TUXTLAS REGION OF VERACRUZ, SOUTHERN MEXICO. II. MUCUNA VARIETY EVALUATION AND SUBSEQUENT MAIZE GRAIN YIELD

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479702001114 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 19-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

M. EILITTÄ ◽

L. E. SOLLENBERGER ◽

R. C. LITTELL ◽

L. W. HARRINGTON

Keyword(s):

Biomass Production ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Growth Period ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Mucuna Pruriens ◽

Los Tuxtlas ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

Maize Production ◽

Maize Grain ◽

On Farm

Despite interest in mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) as a green manure/cover crop, biomass production of its accessions has been poorly quantified, including in the Los Tuxtlas region of Veracruz, Mexico where smallholders have used maize (Zea mays)-mucuna systems increasingly since 1991. This on-farm research compared the biomass production of three mucuna varieties (white-, mottled-, and black seeded) in a rotational maize-mucuna system. Mucuna was sole-cropped during the first season (on eleven and five fields in 1996 and 1997 respectively), and its impact on the second-season maize yield was measured (on seven fields in 1996). White and mottled varieties produced equal biomass (7.92 and 6.74 t ha−1 in 1996 and 1997 respectively), and more than the black variety (6.85 and 4.90 t ha−1 in 1996 and 1997 respectively). Mucuna increased 1996/97 second-season maize grain yields by 50 % (from 0.97 to 1.46 t ha−1). Plots previously cropped with white and mottled varieties produced greater maize yield (1.55 t ha−1) than did black-variety plots (1.29 t ha−1). The research confirmed the higher productivity of the white and mottled varieties and the potential of the rotational system. Allocating the more desirable first-season growth period to mucuna and the riskier second season to maize is problematic, but the system may have potential in the region as a short-term fallow that permits second-season maize production.

Download Full-text

Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Maize Seeds and Use of Inorganic Fertilizer for Maize Production in the Intermediate and Lowland Zones of Tanzania

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics ◽

10.1017/s1074070800027802 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 35-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Aloyce R.M. Kaliba ◽

Hugo Verkuijl ◽

Wilfred Mwangi

Keyword(s):

Research Process ◽

Field Trials ◽

Inorganic Fertilizer ◽

Future Research ◽

Extension Services ◽

Maize Production ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Maize Seeds ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

On Farm

AbstractThis paper examines factors influencing the adoption of improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production by farmers in the intermediate and lowland zones of Tanzania. The results indicate that availability of extension services, on-farm field trials, variety characteristics and rainfall were the most important factors that influenced the extent of adopting improved maize seeds and the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production. Farmers preferred those varieties which minimize field loss rather than maximizing yields. Future research and extension policies should emphasize farmer participation in the research process and on-farm field trials for varietal evaluation and demonstration purposes.

Download Full-text

PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY OF MAIZE + GROUNDNUT ROTATIONS COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS MAIZE ON SMALLHOLDER FARMS IN ZIMBABWE

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s001447970100103x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 83-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

S. R. WADDINGTON ◽

J. KARIGWINDI

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Inorganic Fertilizer ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Smallholder Farms ◽

Grain Yields ◽

Continuous Maize ◽

Maize Grain ◽

On Farm

Experiments to assess the yield and economic performance of a maize-groundnut rotation compared with continuous maize (both when inorganic fertilizer was applied to maize and when not), were conducted under management by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe over six years. The experiment was planted on-station near Harare and at six smallholder sites in northeast Zimbabwe, predominantly on sandy soils. Fertilizer rates and practices were those used by farmers, as described in surveys. On-farm grain yields from continuous maize without fertilizer were generally in the range 0.5–0.8 t ha−1 over five years. Maize yield responses to inorganic fertilizer on smallholder farms were highly variable, but moderate (up to 29 kg grain per kg N) with adequate rainfall. With no inorganic fertilizer applied to maize, the on-station groundnut crop (producing 0.260–0.355 t ha−1 shelled grain) almost doubled the grain yield of the following maize crop (in 1995–96), increasing output from 2.46 t ha−1 to 4.61 t ha−1. Where inorganic fertilizer was applied to maize, the rotation produced even more additional maize grain (an increase of 2.93 t ha−1). Up to 0.50 t ha−1 extra grain was obtained in the second year of maize following groundnut (1996–97). With inorganic fertilizer, groundnut improved the grain yield of following maize crops at only two of five on-farm sites. Without fertilizer, the groundnut rotation increased maize grain yields at five on-farm sites by an average of only 0.28 t ha−1. For the on-station groundnut and two subsequent years with maize, discounted net benefits (DNBs) over cash costs (seed and fertilizer) were greater for the rotation than for continuous maize, irrespective of whether or not inorganic fertilizer was applied. When labour costs were added, continuous maize plus fertilizer showed better returns than did the rotation, while the returns for the rotation and continuous maize without fertilizer were almost the same. On-farm the rotation was far less profitable. At only two sites, DNBs over cash costs were higher for the rotation whereas DNBs over all costs (including labour valued at a local casual-worker wage) were always negative or close to zero. At three sites, it was far more profitable to grow continuous maize, especially with fertilizer. These findings of low groundnut yield, marginal to zero profitability, and high labour cost of groundnut-maize rotations, support and explain the general trend by smallholder farmers to reduce groundnut area in Zimbabwe.

Download Full-text

Site-Specific Nutrient Management for Rainfed Maize in Western Mid-Hills of Nepal

International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology ◽

10.3126/ijasbt.v3i2.12538 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 227-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Prakash Ghimire ◽

Khem Raj Dahal ◽

Santosh Marahatta ◽

Krishna Devkota ◽

Buddhi Raj Ghimire

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Management ◽

Block Design ◽

Maize Production ◽

Site Specific ◽

Fertilizer Recommendation ◽

Application Rates ◽

Development Committee ◽

Fertilization Practice ◽

Village Development Committee ◽

On Farm

On-farm experiment was conducted in eight farmers’ field, of Khasyoli village development committee (952 to 1415 masl), Nepal, from April to September, 2011 to address the major constraint (nutrient management) to maize production through site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) as this approach is popular among scientists. The experiment comprised three nutrient omission plots (0N, 0P, and 0K), an ample NPK plot, and a farmers’ fertilization practice (FFP) plot, arranged in randomized complete block design. Farmers planted open pollinated variety (Manakamana-3) and managed in their way. Field-specific NPK application rates were calculated by considering nutrient demand, indigenous NPK supply and recovery efficiency of fertilizers. Grain yield in FFP (2.32 Mg/ha) and 0N (1.79 Mg/ha) plots differed significantly from each other and rest of the treatments, but was statistically similar among 0P (3.18 Mg/ha), 0K (3.40 Mg/ha) and ample NPK (3.38 Mg/ha) plots. Post-harvest grain and stover analysis revealed that indigenous NPK supply (20-71 kg N, 19-68 kg P2O5 and 51-164 kg K2O/ha) of soil vary among the farmers’ field. Moreover, soil was poor in indigenous N supply (42 kg/ha), but rich in indigenous P2O5 (35 kg/ha) and K2O (90 kg/ha) supply, on an average. As per the principles of SSNM, the initial fertilizer recommendation made can vary from 40-222 kg N, 0- 93 kg P2O5, and 0-50 kg K2O/ha. On an average, farmers may apply no or lower dose of P2O5 (18 kg/ha) and K2O (3 kg/ha) but need to significantly increase dose of N (143 kg/ha) fertilizer for enhancing soil and maize productivity.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 3(2): 227-231 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v3i2.12538

Download Full-text