scholarly journals A study on plant nutrition balance, soil fertility and economic returns of investments

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (01) ◽  
pp. 31-39
Author(s):  
Attia El Gayar
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Plant Nutrition ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Nutrition Balance ◽  
Small Holder Farmers ◽  
Small Holder

Plant nutrition balance plays a major role in the universal need to increase food production to meet the demands of the growing world population. Fertilizer application resulted in marked crop yield increases, which for most crops were more than hundred. The extent to which fertilizers are used still differs considerably between various regions of the world. Soil nutrient status is widely constrained by the limited use of inorganic and organic fertilizers and by nutrient loss mainly due to erosion and leaching. Many small holder farmers do not have access to synthetic fertilizer because of high price of fertilizers, lack of credit facilities, poor distribution, and other socio-economic factors. Consequently, crop yields are low, in fact decreasing in many areas, and the sustainability of the current farming system is at risk. Therefore, the aim of this review was to review the role of integrated Plant nutrition balance management for improving crop yield and enhancing soil fertility under small holder farmers in dry areas, and recommend the appropriate approaches for enhancing soil fertility and increasing crop yield for small holder farmers in dry and semi-dry areas. These are the key challenges of adoption in the scaling up of such alternative soil fertility management practices to millions of small-scale farmers. There is a need, therefore, for research and extension to sort out issues of adoption and scaling up of the available options. In order to address soil fertility problems, potential synergies can be gained by combining technical options with farmers’ knowledge as well as training of farmers and development agent on new soil fertility management approaches. So, the results of this review showed that, the integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers improve productivity of crops as well as the fertility status of the soil. The reasons for this are many, which include access or availability of inputs, use of organic resources for other purposes in place of soil fertility, nutrient balancing, collecting, transporting and management of organic inputs and economic returns of investments.

scholarly journals Impact of soil fertility management practices on a major insect pest infestation and yield of beans (phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Taita district, Kenya

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (60) ◽  
pp. 8340-8350
Author(s):  
WN Ochilo ◽  
◽  
GH Nyamasyo ◽  
JH Nderitu ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Common Bean ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Cow Manure ◽  
Nutrient Depletion ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Yield And Yield Components ◽  
The Common

The common bean is an important food and cash crop in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. It provides food for more than 100 million people and is a critical source of income for rural households. Common bean yields, however, have declined in the last ten years. This decline is the result of poor soil fertility and nutrient depletion as well as high incidences of insect pests, key among them being the bean stem maggot (BSM). To address soil nutrient depletion and the accompanying declining agricultural productivity, integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) has been adapted as a framework for enhancing crop productivity through combining fertilizer use with other soil fertility management technologies, adapted to local conditions. The current study evaluated the influence of soil fertility treatments on yield and yield components of the common bean. Additionally, to establish the potential links between soil fertility and crop protection, the effect of ISFM interventions on the incidence of the BSM was also assessed. The experiment was carried out in Taita District where agriculture contributes 95% to household income with very little or no fertility inputs in farms. Bean variety Mwezi moja was sown during the wet cropping season. Farm plots were amended with Mavuno fertilizer (a blend of fertilizer containing 11 nutrients); Triple Superphosphate fertilizer with Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (TSP + CAN); cow manure; Trichoderma inoculant; Trichoderma inoculant with cow manure combination; Mavuno fertilizer with Trichoderma inoculants combination; and control (untreated check). Field survey was conducted four weeks after bean emergence to determine the incidence and prevalence of the BSM. Plant survival: dry-seed and and bean straw weight were used as criteria for assessing crop yield. Yield and yield components of common bean were significantly affected by addition of soil ammendments, with Mavuno fertilizer + Trichoderma inoculant improving yield by 52.9%. However, the influence of the soil ammendments on the BSM incidence was minimal. These findings point to the fact that soil fertility management interventions increase crop yield. Nevertheless, to maximise yield, there is a strong need to adopt agroecological strategies that not only optimise soil fertilization but also incorporate a pest management dimension.

scholarly journals A review of research in soil fertility management and plant nutrition of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-167
Author(s):  
Habibu Aminu ◽  
Isiyaku Alhaji Musa ◽  
Hamidu Muhammed Askira ◽  
Saminu Hamisu Aliyu
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Plant Nutrition ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Production Research ◽  
Total Dependence ◽  
Different Sources ◽  
Organic And Inorganic Fertilizers

The paper reviewed researches conducted in soil fertility management and plant nutrition of cashew in Nigeria. It also examines the history and importance of cashew to the Nigerian economy. The paper highlights ways of improving soil fertility and plant nutrition in cashew cultivation through the use of different sources of organic fertilizers which are cheap and readily available for the farmers rather than total dependence on costly chemical fertilizers. Also highlighted, are some recommended rates of organic and inorganic fertilizers for the cultivation of cashew from research findings. The paper also discussed status of Nigeria cashew production, research efforts, achievements, constraints, and areas of possible improvement in relation to soil fertility management and plant nutrition.

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