scholarly journals Integrated Soil Fertility Management for Small Holder Cocoa Farms: Using Combination of Cocoa Pod Husk Based Compost and Mineral Fertilizers

2020 ◽  
pp. 68-77
Author(s):  
Moses Ogunwole Ogunlade ◽  
Samuel Bukola Orisajo
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Fertility Restoration ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Cocoa Bean ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
And Control ◽  
Cocoa Yield ◽  
Npk Fertilization

Nutrients are being removed through pod harvest without replacement in the form of fertilizer application leaving the soil impoverished and the nutrients grossly inadequate for optimum cocoa yield. To address this issue, a randomised complete block designed study was carried out to examine the effects of readily available source of organic fertilizer like cocoa pod husks compost combined with mineral fertilizers on the yield of cocoa. The treatments with three replications consisted of Compost (100%), Compost (75%) + NPK (25%), Compost (50%) + NPK (50%), NPK (100%) and Control (no fertilizer). Results indicated that cocoa yield obtained with the compost plus NPK fertilization was significantly higher than with sole compost, NPK applications, and control in all locations. Percentage dry cocoa bean yield gain was 72.4% with the compost plus NPK fertilization, while sole compost or NPK alone was 36.4% compared to the control. Additionally, compost plus NPK fertilization significantly reduced black pod losses compared to sole compost, NPK, or control with percentage loss rate ranging from 9.9 to 13.4%, 21.6 to 23.1, 19.6 to 22.3, 32.2 to 35.5, respectively, in all locations. The use of CPH-based compost plus NPK fertilization has the potential to provide efficient integrated soil fertility restoration scheme that incorporated good agricultural practices and addressed disease management.

scholarly journals Optimizing Soil Fertility Management Strategies to Enhance Banana Production in Volcanic Soils of the Northern Highlands, Tanzania

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akida I. Meya ◽  
Patrick A. Ndakidemi ◽  
Kelvin M. Mtei ◽  
Rony Swennen ◽  
Roel Merckx
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
N Dose

Banana is an important crop in high altitude areas of Tanzania, grown widely both as a food staple and as the main source of income. However, its production is constrained by low soil fertility, a result of gradual nutrient mining by the crop. Currently, soil fertility management in banana-based farming systems in the country relies mainly on applications of animal manure. However, the amount of manure produced in most farms is not enough to replenish soil fertility due to the small number of animals kept by smallholder resource-poor farmers who are the major producers in the country. Field experiments were conducted at three sites with varying soil types and contrasting weather conditions along the altitudinal gradients on the slopes of the volcanic mountains of Kilimanjaro and Meru, northern Tanzania to (1) investigate the effect of mineral nitrogen (mineral N) fertilizer applications on the growth and yield of Mchare banana (Musa spp., AA, a traditional East African highland cooking banana sub-group), at the four levels of 0, 77, 153, and 230 kg N ha−1 year−1 as a starter strategy to improve the current soil fertility management strategies, and (2) evaluate the effect of the combined use of inorganic and organic N sources on growth and banana fruit production as an alternative strategy to manage soil fertility and minimize animal manure requirements. The treatment factors were trial sites (Tarakea, Lyamungo, and Tengeru) as the main factor and N fertilization strategies (as urea alone, sole cattle manure, and in combination with urea, sole common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) haulms as well as in combination with urea) as a sub factor. Bean haulms and cattle manure were applied each year for two years. Fertilization at 153 kg N ha−1 year−1 derived solely from urea significantly (p < 0.001) resulted in high yield increment of up to 42% relative to the control. However, the increase was highest (52%) with the same N dose derived from cattle manure in combination with urea at 50% substitution. Sole bean haulms resulted in a smaller yield increment, the same as the lowest N dose from the sole urea fertilization treatment. The study concludes that soil fertility management in smallholder banana-based farming systems should not solely rely on animal manure and mineral fertilizers.

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

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

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

scholarly journals Sugar Cane Cake and Mineral Fertilizers on Coconut (Cocos nucifera Linn.) Seedlings

CORD ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Luiz Gonzaga Bione Ferraz ◽  
Ademar Barros da Silva ◽  
José Nunes Filho ◽  
Antonio Raimundo de Sousa ◽  
Venézio Felipe dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Cane ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Cocos Nucifera ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Linear Quadratic ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
And Control

High quantities of mineral fertilizers (MF) are required for good coconut seedling production, whose up dated recommendation is 232 grams per seedling. The objective of this work was to assess the substitution of the MF by organic fertilizer as sugar-cane filter cake (SCFC) on coconut seedlings in polybag. The SCFC is an organic residue from sugar-cane manufacturing composed of various chemical elements, as for instance: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The experiment was carried out at the Itapirema Research Station, Goiana, Pernambuco State, Brazil, in a randomized complete block design, with factorial disposition 52, replicated three times, with six tall coconut seedlings per plot. The treatments were the combinations of five doses of MF (in g seedling-1): 46.25; 92.50; 138.75; 185.00 and control, using urea, simple superphosphate and potassium chloride at the proportion of 1:2:3, respectively, and five doses of SCFC (in kg polybag-1): 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 and control. Eight months after young coconut seedlings replacement to the polybags the following parameters were measured: collar girth (CG), leaf area (LA), number of live leaves (NL) and plant height (PH). For leaf nutritional diagnosis and growing media chemical and physical analyses, samples were collected. There was significance for the two factors, individually, to all parameters. The trend analysis revealed linear, quadratic and cubic responses, according to the studied character. The mixture of 0.5 kg of SCFC polybag-1 plus 46.25 g of the MF was sufficient for obtaining seedlings of excellent quality and promoting a fertilizers economy around 80%. According to other results from this research, the number of seedlings per plot and the critical level of nutrients in the leaf of coconut seedlings should be reviewed.

scholarly journals Estimation of effectiveness of usage of liquid organic fertilizer in the context of rational land use: a case study of Ukraine

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anatoliy Kucher
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Ammonium Nitrate ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Economic Effectiveness ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Sample Number ◽  
Pig Farm ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of the article – to perform comparative analysis of the economic effectiveness of the 10 samples of organic fertilizer of pig farm, bio humus “Humivit” and mineral fertilizers (Nitroamofoska, ammonium nitrate, carbamide) on the example of oats. The study used the following methods: abstract-logical, cash-analytical, cash-equivalent, expert, monographic. The research was done in Ukraine. The results of the comparative analysis of economic effectiveness of the 10 samples of organic pig fertilizer, bio humus “Humivit” and mineral fertilizers (Nitroamofoska, ammonium nitrate, carbamide) in the example of oats on the green mass show that the use of organic fertilizers sample number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 is an economically effective, while organic fertilizers of sample number 7, 8, 9 are economically inefficient. By the main indicators of economic effectiveness (coefficients of payback, conditional additional profit, level of profitability) organic fertilizers sample number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 have significant competitive advantages over the studied brands of mineral fertilizers and bio humus “Humivit”. The use of organic pig fertilizers, except the sample number 8, in economic terms for the impact on potential soil fertility is more effective than bio humus “Humivit”. The most significant economic benefits for the impact on potential soil fertility are samples of organic fertilizers pig number 1, 5, 10, whose application generates the lowest cost price of humus. The element of novelty is that with using the author’s scientific and methodical approach it was conducted the estimation of economic effectiveness of the liquid organic fertilizer of pig farm for the impact on potential soil fertility.

scholarly journals Facteurs déterminants l’adoption des mesures de gestion intégrée de la fertilité des sols (GIFS) au nord du Bénin : une application du modèle probit multivarié au cas de producteurs de maïs

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 664-678
Author(s):  
Souleïmane A. Adekambi ◽  
Jean Eudes A. Codjovi ◽  
Jacob A. Yabi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Multivariate Probit ◽  
Sustainable Land Management ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Integrated Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Gestion Intégrée

La baisse du niveau de fertilité des terres cultivables du fait des pratiques agricoles inadaptées, de la déforestation et du changement climatique reste l’une des contraintes majeures de l’agriculture béninoise. Les mesures de Gestion Intégrée de la Fertilité des Sols (GIFS) en sont une des approches de gestion durales des terres à l’échelle des exploitations agricoles. Ainsi, l’étude a fait usage d’un modèle probit multivarié pour identifier les déterminants de l’adoption des mesures de GIFS au sein des exploitations agricoles productrices de maïs au Nord-Bénin. Elle a été conduite sur un échantillon de 100 producteurs de maïs sélectionnés suivant un sondage aléatoire stratifié. Les résultats ont révélé l’existence d’une interdépendance et de complémentarités dans l’adoption des différentes mesures de GIFS. Aussi, la majorité des producteurs de maïs enquêtés préfèrent adopter une combinaison de deux mesures de GIFS (32%) ou de trois mesures (26%). Par ailleurs, la distance du village au champ, l’appartenance à un groupement, le contact avec la vulgarisation, la superficie  emblavée en maïs, la taille du cheptel et le nombre d’actifs agricoles restent les principaux facteurs déterminants l’adoption de ces mesures de GIFS par les producteurs.Mots clés : Bénin, changement climatique, gestion durable des terres, Gestion Intégrée de la Fertilité des Sols, pratiques agricoles, probit multivarié. English title: Adoption of integrated soil fertility management measures in northern Benin: an application of the multivariate probit model to the case of maize producers The decline in the level of fertility of arable land due to unsuitable agricultural practices, deforestation and climate change remains one of the major constraints of agriculture in Benin. Integrated Soil Fertility Management measures (GIFS) are one of the sustainable land management approaches that have been promoted at the level of farmers’ communities. Thus, the study made use of a multivariate probit model to identify the determinants of the adoption of GIFS measures within maize-producing farms in North Benin. It was carried out on a sample of 100 maize farmers selected following a stratified random survey. The results revealed the existence of interdependence and complementarities in the adoption of different GIFS measures. The majority of maize producers surveyed prefer to adopt a combination of two (32%) or three GIFS measures (26%). In addition, the distance from the village to the field, the membership of a group, the contact with the extension service, the area sown with maize, the size of the herd and the number of agricultural workers were identified as the important factors determining the adoption of these GIFS methods by producers.Keywords: Benin, climate change, sustainable land management, Integrated Soil Fertility Management measures, agricultural practices, multivariate probit.

scholarly journals Soil fertility status of agricultural land in mid-hill of Gorkha District, Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Ashok Kumar Shrestha ◽  
Binod Dawadi ◽  
Sabitri Shrestha ◽  
Kishor Kumar Maharjan ◽  
Rabin Malla
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Status ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Soil Fertility Status

Soil fertility management in agricultural land is challenging in hilly areas of Nepal. The study assesses the soil fertility status of Bari (upland) and Khet (lowland) agriculture land in Mid-hill of Gorkha district. Altogether 30 samples were collected from soil surface (0 to 20 cm) by using hand shovel in January, 2017. The soil fertility parameters like pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P) and available potassium (K) were analyzed using standard methods in the laboratory of Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University. Results revealed that an average pH in upland (6.62) was higher than the lowland (5.94). Similarly, OM (3.95%) and K (36.49 kgha-1) were relatively high in upland. In addition, pH, OM and available K were significantly varied at p<0.05 in upland and lowland soils, however, there is no significant difference in TN and available P. In addition, soil nutrient index showed that status of available K in both types of land is low, while OM and TN are medium soil quality in upland and lowland soil. The use of organic fertilizer and improved farming system can maintain and sustain soil fertility for crop growth and yield. Understanding distribution of soil nutrients in the study area might be useful for planners to make effective soil fertilizer management strategies.

Soil conditions and yield of repeatedly grown apple orchard depending on long-term fertilizer application

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (98) ◽  
pp. 34-47
Author(s):  
P. H. Kopytko ◽  
◽  
R. V. Yakovenko
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Humus Content ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
The Impact

The issue of scientifically sound fertilizer application in fruit plantations, which are long-term and re-grown in one place remains insufficiently studied. To solve this problem is possible only in long-term stationary studies, as the impact of different fertilizer systems on changes in soil properties and tree productivity for a long period of their use. The results of researches of long-term fertilizer influence on the main fertility indices of dark gray podzolic heavy loam soil and productivity of repeatedly grown apple trees of Idared varieties on seed and vegetative (M4) rootstocks and Calville snow on seedling rootstock are considered. During the 85-year period of growing the first and second generation of apple trees in the experimental garden, the organic fertilizer (40 t/ha of cattle manure), mineral fertilizer (N120P120K120) and their combination (20 t/ha of manure + N60P60K60) were applied in the old plantation every two years in autumn in plowing in rows at 18–20 cm, and in the new repetition: manure, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers as well, and nitrogen fertilizer in half doses annually in spring for cultivation or disk plowing to a depth of 12–15 cm. As a result of research it was found that organic fertilizer better than mineral fertilizers provided the formation of soil fertility (humus and mobile compounds and forms of nutrients, soil reaction) and yield capacity of experimental apple trees, which for all years of fruiting exceeded the total yield of Calville snow and Idared on seedling and vegetative rootstocks, respectively, by 34.8, 27.7 and 23.4 % compared with the yield of the control non-fertilized areas and 16.0, 15.8 and 13.2 % – on those fertilized with N120Р120К120. Similar parameters of soil fertility indicators are formed by the organo-mineral fertilizer system with systematic long-term application of half the norms of organic and mineral fertilizers of manure 20 t/ha together with N60P60K60. However, the mineral system (N120P120K120) significantly less increases the humus content and content of macronutrients available for plant nutrition and does not enrich the soil with trace elements, acidifies the reaction of the soil environment

scholarly journals National system of soil fertility management of the Republic of Belarus: current state and development prospects. Vestsі Natsyyanal’nay akademіі navuk Belarusі

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-303
Author(s):  
V. V. Lapa ◽  
A. V. Pilipuk ◽  
G. V. Gusakov ◽  
Ja. N. Brechko
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Management System ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Analytical Information ◽  
The Republic

The paper presents a comprehensive study on development of soil fertility management system in the Republic of Belarus. The history of development, as well as the modern scheme of functioning of services for agro-chemical and radiological examination of soils of agricultural lands has been studied in detail, including the sources of their financing, services provided, the list of provided consolidated analytical materials as a result, etc. Special attention is paid to the republican databank of agro-chemical and radiation indicators of agricultural soil, which, through automated information system, is considered an information basis for modeling soil fertility in order to develop recommendations for using mineral fertilizers in individual fields and working plots, farms, districts, regions calculated under requirements for agricultural crops. The authors concluded that the data bank of agro-chemical and radiological properties of soils of agri-cultural lands of the Republic of Belarus, as well as the analytical information system functioning on its basis, were of high practical value and of an applied nature for the country’s economy. However, in the modern world, digital solutions, on the basis of which the data bank functions, are worn out morally. Studies indicate that the technical requirements for functioning and use of electronic databank of agro-chemical and radiological monitoring of soils of agricultural lands in the Republic of Belarus should be formalized in the form of regulations (or rules) and enshrined in the national regulatory framework. In addition, it is necessary to develop a scheme for information content of the databank by optimizing organizational interaction of agro-chemical services of the Republic of Belarus. It is feasible to give access to a huge array of analytical information in the form of geographic information system, which will make it possible to maintain electronic register of agricultural land soils, as well as electronic certification of fields and elementary plots. Implementation of a number of measures to develop the soil fertility management system in the Republic of Belarus may lead to increase in demand for work related to agro-chemical services for agriculture by 50-60 % by 2030.

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