Abstract
At present, the farming systems in the west African semi-arid tropics are unsustainable, low in productivity, and destructive to the environment. A striking feature of the soils is their inherently low fertility, with negative plant-nutrient balance in many cropping systems. Research in N-use efficiency (NUE) indicated that calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) significantly outperformed urea on millet. Fertilizer losses, greater for urea (53%) than for CAN (25%) were believed to be due to ammonia volatilization. Continuous cropping resulted in lower yields compared to a cereal grown after cowpea or groundnut, and NUE was improved with crop rotation. Phosphorus deficiency is a major constraint. Phosphate rock (PR), indigenous to the region, e.g. at Tahoua in Niger and Tilemsi in Mali, is suitable for direct application. Partial acidulation of low-solubility PR improves agronomic effectiveness. Long-term soil-fertility management trials indicate that although application of mineral fertilizers increase yields, they alone cannot sustain productivity. When mineral fertilizers are combined with other technologies, such as the return of crop residues and manure, productive and sustainable production systems are possible. Water-use efficiency increased dramatically with the addition of plant nutrients. Technologies for land surface management and water harvesting, and appropriate cropping systems with careful varietal selection all
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Bationo, A;
[1]
Bielders, C L;
Duivenbooden, N van;
[2]
Buerkert, A C;
[3]
Seyni, F
[4]
- International Fertilizer Development Center, International Center for Research in the Semi-Arid Tropics, Niamey (Niger)
- International Center for Research in the Semi-Arid Tropics, Niamey (Niger)
- University of Hohenheim/ International Center for Research in the Semi-Arid Tropics, Niamey (Niger)
- Institut National de Recherche Agronomique du Niger, Niamey (Niger)
Citation Formats
Bationo, A, Bielders, C L, Duivenbooden, N van, Buerkert, A C, and Seyni, F.
The management of nutrients and water in the west African semi-arid tropics.
IAEA: N. p.,
1998.
Web.
Bationo, A, Bielders, C L, Duivenbooden, N van, Buerkert, A C, & Seyni, F.
The management of nutrients and water in the west African semi-arid tropics.
IAEA.
Bationo, A, Bielders, C L, Duivenbooden, N van, Buerkert, A C, and Seyni, F.
1998.
"The management of nutrients and water in the west African semi-arid tropics."
IAEA.
@misc{etde_676836,
title = {The management of nutrients and water in the west African semi-arid tropics}
author = {Bationo, A, Bielders, C L, Duivenbooden, N van, Buerkert, A C, and Seyni, F}
abstractNote = {At present, the farming systems in the west African semi-arid tropics are unsustainable, low in productivity, and destructive to the environment. A striking feature of the soils is their inherently low fertility, with negative plant-nutrient balance in many cropping systems. Research in N-use efficiency (NUE) indicated that calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) significantly outperformed urea on millet. Fertilizer losses, greater for urea (53%) than for CAN (25%) were believed to be due to ammonia volatilization. Continuous cropping resulted in lower yields compared to a cereal grown after cowpea or groundnut, and NUE was improved with crop rotation. Phosphorus deficiency is a major constraint. Phosphate rock (PR), indigenous to the region, e.g. at Tahoua in Niger and Tilemsi in Mali, is suitable for direct application. Partial acidulation of low-solubility PR improves agronomic effectiveness. Long-term soil-fertility management trials indicate that although application of mineral fertilizers increase yields, they alone cannot sustain productivity. When mineral fertilizers are combined with other technologies, such as the return of crop residues and manure, productive and sustainable production systems are possible. Water-use efficiency increased dramatically with the addition of plant nutrients. Technologies for land surface management and water harvesting, and appropriate cropping systems with careful varietal selection all contribute to the optimization of soil-water use. Future research should focus on water and nutrient interactions and on understanding why presently available improved technologies are not adopted by farmers even when using a participatory approach. (author) 68 refs, 8 figs, 12 tabs}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1998}
month = {Jul}
}
title = {The management of nutrients and water in the west African semi-arid tropics}
author = {Bationo, A, Bielders, C L, Duivenbooden, N van, Buerkert, A C, and Seyni, F}
abstractNote = {At present, the farming systems in the west African semi-arid tropics are unsustainable, low in productivity, and destructive to the environment. A striking feature of the soils is their inherently low fertility, with negative plant-nutrient balance in many cropping systems. Research in N-use efficiency (NUE) indicated that calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) significantly outperformed urea on millet. Fertilizer losses, greater for urea (53%) than for CAN (25%) were believed to be due to ammonia volatilization. Continuous cropping resulted in lower yields compared to a cereal grown after cowpea or groundnut, and NUE was improved with crop rotation. Phosphorus deficiency is a major constraint. Phosphate rock (PR), indigenous to the region, e.g. at Tahoua in Niger and Tilemsi in Mali, is suitable for direct application. Partial acidulation of low-solubility PR improves agronomic effectiveness. Long-term soil-fertility management trials indicate that although application of mineral fertilizers increase yields, they alone cannot sustain productivity. When mineral fertilizers are combined with other technologies, such as the return of crop residues and manure, productive and sustainable production systems are possible. Water-use efficiency increased dramatically with the addition of plant nutrients. Technologies for land surface management and water harvesting, and appropriate cropping systems with careful varietal selection all contribute to the optimization of soil-water use. Future research should focus on water and nutrient interactions and on understanding why presently available improved technologies are not adopted by farmers even when using a participatory approach. (author) 68 refs, 8 figs, 12 tabs}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1998}
month = {Jul}
}