scholarly journals Sustainable soil management for improving sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production in West Africa, Burkina Faso

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 2373-2382
Author(s):  
Jacques Sawadogo ◽  
Pane Jeanne d’Arc Coulibaly ◽  
Wendpouiré Carine Valea ◽  
Jean Boukari Legma

Improved sorghum management practice can provide smallholder farmers with stability in their household nutritional needs and ensure food security. This study was therefore conducted to compare the effect of the single of two organic resources and their combined use with inorganic fertilizer (IN) on soil fertility and sorghum production. It was conducted in the Northern part of Burkina Faso. The treatments consisted of two levels of IN (the normal and the half dose of NPK + urea) and two types of organic resources (simple compost SC and Piliostigma reticulatum leaves compost CP). These treatments were combined to give 6 treatments: T1: control ; T2 : SC ; T3 : CP; T4 : SC + ½ dose of IN ; T5 : CP + ½ dose of IN ; T6 : normal dose of IN. The experiment was led using a randomized complete block design in three replications. The result revealed a greater  improvement of soil pH and nutrients induced by CP used alone. However, when combined with IN, it decreased significantly soil nutrients and  sorghum yield components and yield. Contrary, the SC in combination with IN gave the highest improvement in yield components and yield of sorghum. The use of IN alone increased sorghum yield components and yield but it contributed to decrease soil pH and nutrients content. A combined use of inorganic and organic fertilizers could be therefore recommended for maintaining soil fertility and for a sustainable production of sorghum.Keywords : Organic and inorganic resources, soil nutrients, sorghum yield.

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Farchan Yuka ◽  
Ainin Niswati ◽  
Kus Hendarto

The productivity of cucumber in ultisol soil is commonly low due to problems of soil fertility and physical soil properties. Organic fertilizers like vermicompost can be used as a solution to improve soil fertility. The study was conducted from August to December 2015 in the Integrated Field Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung. The study used a randomized block design (RAK) factorial 2 x 4. The first factor was the dose of vermicompost 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and the second factor, soil depth 0-20 cm (S1) and 20-40 cm (S2). Variance of homogeneity test was performed using Bartlett test and test of additivity by Tukey's test. Variance data and differences in the median value of treatment tested with Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) at 5% level of confident. Correlation test was performed between plant growth by pH, organic C, total-N, P-available, uptake of N and P plant at 5% level of confident. The results showed that (1) Application of vermicompost at a dose of 30% is best for fruit weight, fruit diameter, the weight of dry stover and pH of the soil, uptake of N and P uptake cucumber plants. (2) The number of female flowers cucumber plants and soil pH is higher at a depth of 0-20 cm compared with a depth of 20-40 cm Ultisol Natar. (3) There is no interaction between soil depth and vermicompost on growth, the production of cucumber plants, soil pH, uptake of N and P uptake by cucumber plants. Keywords: Cucumber, uptake of N and P, vermicompost


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hillary M. O. Otieno ◽  
George N. Chemining’wa ◽  
Shamie Zingore

Soybean is an important crop with nutrition, economic and soil fertility improvement benefits to farmers. However, its production in western Kenya is partly constrained by low soil pH and soil fertility levels. A greenhouse pot study was conducted to evaluate the effects of inorganic fertilizers, farmyard manure and lime application on soil pH, nutrient uptake, growth and nodulation of soybean grown in acidic soils from western Kenya. The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments: control; NPK; manure; lime; manure+lime; NPK+manure; NPK+lime and manure+lime+NPK. Significant effects of inorganic fertilizers, manure and lime applications were observed on all the variables. Manure, lime and manure+lime treatments increased soil pH by 1.33, 2.19 and 2.28, respectively, above the control treatment. The shoot N was lower under control (1.71-1.81%), NPK (1.85-1.98%) and manure (2.00-2.11%) than under all other treatments. Treatments NPK+lime and manure+lime+NPK recorded higher uptake of P and K nutrients than all other treatments. The control and NPK treatments recorded shorter plants and low leaf area and above-ground biomass compared to other treatments. The NPK+lime and manure+lime+NPK treatments recorded higher plant height and aboveground biomass than other treatments. Lime+manure treatment recorded highest nodule numbers and dry weights per plant. Positive relationships were observed between pH and N, P and K nutrient uptake (R2 ranged between 0.30 and 0.77) and between biomass and N, P and K nutrient uptake (R2 ranged between 0.68 and 0.99). From this study, use of manure and lime could result in improved soil pH for better uptake of nutrients, nodule formation and productivity of soybean in Western Kenya.


EDIS ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl L. Mackowiak

SL-248, 4-page illustrated fact sheet by C.L Mackowiak, includes sections on soil sampling, soil analyses, soil pH/liming, fertilizer recommendations, and organic fertilizers. Published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, March 2007.


2020 ◽  
pp. 13-28
Author(s):  
Austin T. Phiri ◽  
Pacsu Simwaka ◽  
Daniel Kausiwa

Low productivity characterizes the production of groundnut among smallholder farmers in Malawi. There is a need to explore options capable of increasing the productivity of the crop sustainably more especially under the changing climate. Against this background, experiments were conducted during the 2016/17 cropping season to investigate the potential to enhance the productivity of groundnut in Malawi through the combined use of inoculants (Graph-Ex and Histick-BASF) and foliar application of nutrients using Allwin fertilizer (legumes). The experiments were established at Bvumbwe and Chitala Agricultural research Stations and were laid in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated four times. Data collected were analyzed in Genstat Discovery Edition 4 and were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 95% level of confidence. Means were separated by the least significant difference (LSD0.05). In general, foliar application of Allwin fertilizer alone particularly when conducted twice at two and four weeks after emergence produced a positive significant (p<0.05) groundnut grain yield response (97.8-170.8%) above the control. The yield increase is attributable to enhanced growth and development of the groundnut through the foliar supply of nutrients. In general, under the changing climate and amidst other constraints foliar feeding of nutrients using Allwin fertilizer alone particularly when conducted twice can increase significantly groundnut productivity in Malawi.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
RM Foysal ◽  
B Karmakar ◽  
MAR Sarkar ◽  
AKMH Akther ◽  
S Akhter ◽  
...  

Crop and nutrient management options could improve the yield performances of late transplant Aman rice which is generally lower compared to optimum transplanting. To address these issues, an experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to investigate the effect of spacing and nutrient management options on yield and yield components of late transplant Aman rice and to find out the better treatment combination to obtain higher yield. The experiment was laid out in two factors randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications consisting of three spacings viz. S1 =25 cm×15 cm , S2 =25 cm×10 cm and S3 =20 cm×10 cm; and eight nutrient management options viz. N0 = Control (No fertilizer), N1 = Poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 , N2 = Vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1 , N3 = Researcher’s practice (Urea, TSP, MoP, Gypsum and ZnSO4 @ 180,75,105, 60 and 7.5 kg ha-1, respectively), N4 = 75% N3 + Poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1, N5 = 50% N3+ poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1, N6 = 75% N3+ Vermicompost @ 1.5 t ha-1 and N7 = 50% N3+ Vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1. Pre-germinated seeds of BRRI dhan46 were sown in wet nursery bed on 16 August and 30–d–old seedlings were transplanted as per treatments on 15 September in 2017. Yield and yield components were significantly influenced by spacing, nutrient management options and their interactions. The highest yield (5.20 t ha-1) was obtained the spacing 25 cm×10 cm which was at par with 25 cm×15 cm (5.12 t ha-1) and the lowest (4.88 t ha-1) was in 20 cm×10 cm. Statistically similar grain yield 5.85, 5.81 and 5.79 t ha-1 were produced in the treatments N3, N4 and N6, respectively. Grain yield increased in the treatments having combination of inorganic and organic nutrient, and also in the optimum inorganic fertilizers (researcher’s practice). The highest grain yield (5.98 t ha-1) was obtained in the interaction S2×N3 which was at par with S1 x N3, S1 x N4, S1 x N6, S2 x N4 and S2 x N6. Performances of sole organic fertilizers were not satisfactory level. Therefore, reduced amount (75%) of inorganic fertilizers combined with organic fertilizers (poultry manure 2.5 t ha-1 or vermicompost 1.5 t ha-1) along with closer spacing 25 cm×10 cm would be recommended to achieve better and sustainable yield performance of late transplant Aman rice cv. BRRI dhan46. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2020, 23(1): 1-11


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
. Riwandi ◽  
Merakati Handajaningsih ◽  
. Hasanudin ◽  
Ali Munawar

Intensive agriculture has been well known to cause decline in soil organic matter and nutrient content of the soils. Therefore, efforts should be taken to avoid this from happening. Addition of organic fertilizers like compost has been increasingly become more important in Indonesian agriculture in the last couple of decades. The objectives of this study were to produce high quality compost using Indore method and to investigate its effects on organic-corn production. The study was conducted in the Integrated Agriculture Zone (IAZ), University of Bengkulu for two years (2012 and 2013). The study  consisted of three steps: (i) soil fertility identification, (ii) compost production, and (iii) organic-corn field production. Soil fertility identification involved physical, chemical, biological analysis of soil samples collected from less fertile and moderately fertile soils. A randomized completely block design was employed in the field study which involved five rates of compost and two levels of soil fertility with three replications.  In 2012, high quality compost was black, had pH 8, fine, odorless, and sufficiently high in NPK contents. Organic-corn yielded 2.94 and 5.69 Mg ha-1 of dried kernels on less fertile and moderately fertile soils, respectively at 20 Mg ha-1 compost. Similarly, in 2013 high quality compost was black, had pH 8, moderate, odorless, and high in NPK contents. The corn yields were 3.75 and 1.93 Mg ha-1 on less fertile and moderately fertile soils, respectively at 22.50 Mg ha-1 compost.  [How to Cite: Riwandi, M Handajaningsih, Hasanudin, and A Munawar. 2015. Soil Quality Improvement Using Compost and its Effects on Organic-Corn Production. J Trop Soils 19: 11-19. Doi: 10.5400/jts.2015.20.1.11][Permalink/DOI: www.dx.doi.org/10.5400/jts.2015.20.1.11]


2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Tri Herdiyanti ◽  
Sugiyanta , ◽  
Hajrial Aswidinnoor

<p>ABSTRACT</p><p>Degradation of soil fertility due to inaccurate  application of fertilizer become one of the factors causing the stagnant rice productivity improvement in Indonesia. Straw incorporation, organic fertilizers and biofertilizers applications potentially reduces a rates of inorganic fertilizers and improves soil fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate growth and yield of 3 lowland rice varieties (high yielding variety, new plant type, and local variety) in response to reduce NPK rates with straw incorporation, organic fertilizer, and biofertilizer in 7th planting season. The research was conducted at rice field in Karawang, West Java, from April-August 2013. The research was arranged in split plot randomized block design with 3 replications. The main plot was fertilizer application consisted of 10 treatments (combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers), while the sub plot was rice varieties (Ciherang, IPB 3S, and Mentik Wangi). The application of inorganic fertilizer, 400 kg NPK 30-6-8 ha-1, was control treatment. Plot size was 6.5 m x 10 m, with a double row spacing (25 cm x 15 cm x 50 cm). The result showed that growth of the three varieties was not significantly different so as the yield at 50% reduced NPK rate with incorporation of straw, organic fertilizer and biofertilizer. Adding of solid and liquid organic fertilizer, and biofertilizers on treatment of straw incorporation + 50% NPK rate was unnecessary due to insignificant yield increase.</p><p>Keywords: Ciherang, fertilizer, IPB 3S, local variety, Mentik Wangi, new plant type</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
Charly Mutiara ◽  
Yustina M.S.W Puu ◽  
Donatus Rendo ◽  
Josina I.B Hutubessy

<p><em><strong>Counseling of Soil Fertility, Organic Fertilizers, Pests and Plant Diseases for Baranuri Farmers Group</strong>. </em>The Baranuri Farmers Group (KT. Baranuri) is one of the providers of vegetables for the people of Ende City. The results of interviews with farmers obtained several problems, namely, there is no data on soil fertility and lack of understanding of soil fertility, organic fertilizers, pests and plant diseases. The solution given is to analyze soil pH and organic-C to be used as a reference for soil fertility conditions as well as counseling about soil fertility, organic fertilizers, pests and plant diseases. This service activity aims to provide information on soil fertility, increase farmers' knowledge regarding soil fertility, organic fertilizers and plant pests and diseases. The counseling method used is a group approach. Purposive soil sampling, samples were taken diagonally. The organic-C content was analyzed in the laboratory by Walkley and Black method, while soil pH was measured directly on the field using 4 in 1 Soil Survey Instrument and then matching with the criteria of assessment of soil analysis results by the Indonesian Soil Research Institute. The results obtained were the soil pH was 4-5 (very acidic-acidic) and soil organic C was 2.03-2.37% (moderate). The extension activities were succeeded in increasing public knowledge from 46.7% to 86.7% (an increase of 85.7%). The recommendation from this activity is to create a demonstration field to apply an organic fertilizer that can be observed directly by farmer groups.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 714-727
Author(s):  
Getachew Alemayehu ◽  
Asefa Abate

Abstract Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of the main economical spices produced by poor smallholder farmers in the highlands of Ethiopia for both marketing and consumption. However, its productivity in the area has ever been declining mainly due to soil fertility depletion. Hence, an experiment was conducted under irrigation for two years in 2017 and 2018 in one of northwest Ethiopian highlands known as Lay Gayint to assess the productivity response of garlic to NPS inorganic fertilizers and cattle manure applications. Factorial combinations of four levels of N–P2O5–S inorganic fertilizers (0–0–0; 70–21–9; 112–37–16; and 159–58–25 kg ha−1) and four levels of fresh cattle manure (0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha−1) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Unlike that of NPS inorganic fertilizers application and its interaction with cattle manure, physicochemical properties of the experimental soil were highly significantly improved with cattle manure application. Most growth and bulb yield parameters of garlic were significantly influenced by combined applications of NPS inorganic fertilizers and cattle manure, and their responses were more pronounced with the progress of the cropping seasons. Combined applications of 112–37–16 kg ha−1 N–P2O5–S inorganic fertilizers with 15 and 10 t ha−1 cattle manure gave the highest bulb yields (18.03–22.05  t ha−1), net benefits (Ethiopian Birr 509,456–626,814 per hectare), and marginal rate of returns (1,492.35–2,005.15%) in both study years of 2017 and 2018. Hence, combined applications of 112–37–16 kg ha−1 N–P2O5–S inorganic fertilizers with 10–15  t ha−1 cattle manure are recommendable for garlic growing farmers in northwest Ethiopian highlands.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 140-146
Author(s):  
Pane Coulibaly ◽  
◽  
Daniel Okae-Anti ◽  
Badiori Ouattara ◽  
Jacques Sawadogo ◽  
...  

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