Abstract
Reports from implementation of the low-input mineral fertilizer microdosing technology have shown up to 120% yield increase. However on the acidic Sahelian soils (pH 4–5 (H2O)) with low carbon content (0.2%), the question is whether applying such small dose would not lead to nutrient mining over years, which ICRISAT set three studies of 3 years each to address. Experiments 1 (2003) and 2 (2008) involved three planting densities, two pearl millet varieties and four fertility management options with removal of crop residue in experiment 1. Experiment 3 (2010) involved the combinations of 4 rates of organic and mineral fertilizers and 10 millet varieties. Both organic and mineral inputs were hill-applied.
In all experiments nutrient hill placement resulted in total biomass increase in the second and third years compared to the control. After 3 years of cropping, yield decrease of −2307 kg.ha−1 was observed with the control in experiment 1 between years 1 and 3, while −1238 kg.ha−1 was observed with 6 g NPK per hill which was statistically significant. In experiment 3 yield decrease was −1516 kg.ha−1 with the control and −648 kg.ha−1 with 300 g per hill of organic manure. Soil pH decreased by 0.17 in NPK amended plots whereas it decreased by 0.29 in the others as observed in experiment 1. In all case, biomass decreased but in lower amplitude with organic manure addition.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Baidu-Forson, J. (1995). Determination of the availability of adequate millet stover for mulching in the Sahel. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 5, 101–116.
Bationo, A., & Mokwunye, A. U. (1991). Role of manures and crop residue in alleviating soil fertility constraints to crop production: With special reference to the Sahelian and Sudanian zones of West Africa. Fertilizer Research, 29, 117–125.
Bationo, A., Ayuk, E., Ballo, D., & Kone, M. (1997). Agronomic and economic evaluation of Tilemsi phosphate rock in different agroecological zones of Mali. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 48, 179–189.
Buerkert, A., & Hiernaux, P. (1998). Nutrients in the West African Sudano-Sahelian zone: Losses, transfers and the role of external inputs. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde, 161, 365–383.
BUNASOL. (1990). Manuel pour l’evaluation des terres. Bureau National des Sols. Projet BKF/87/020, “Creation d’un Bureau des Sols” Phase III. Document technique No 6. Juillet 1990.
Hermann, L. (1996). PhD dissertation: Dust deposition in West Africa. Literaturverz. S. 177–192. Serie Hohenheimer bodenkundliche Hefte, 36.
IFDC. (2005/2006). Nourish the soil …. Feed the continent (IFDC corporate Research Report, 2005/2006). Africa fertilizer summit June 2006, Abudja Nigeria.
Kretzschmar, R. M., Hafner, H., Bationo, A., & Marschner, H. (1991). Long- and short-term effects of crop residues on aluminium toxicity, phosphorus availability and growth of pearl millet in an acid sandy soil. Plant and Soil, 136, 215–223.
Samaké, O., Kodio, A., Cissé, S., & Kané, M. (2005). Gestion intégrée de la fertilité des sols pour améliorer la productivité dans le Sahel: Effets des jachères, des légumineuses et du phosphate naturel de Tilemsi sur le rendement du mil et le Striga hermothica. Les cahiers de l'économie rurale, 2, 29–42.
Schlecht, E., & Buerkert, A. (2004). Organic inputs and farmers’ management strategies in millet fields of Western Niger. Geoderma, 121, 271–289.
Schlecht, E., Hiernaux, P., Achard, F., & Turner, M. D. (2004). Livestock related nutrient budgets within village territories in Western Niger. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 68, 199–211.
Sivakumar, M. V. K. (1988). Predicting rainy season potential from the onset of rains in southern Sahelian and Sudanian climatic zones of West Africa. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 42, 295–305.
Sivakumar, M. V. K. (1991). Durée et fréquence des périodes sèches en Afrique de l’Ouest : Bulletin de recherche no13 ICRISAT Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh 502324, Inde.
Sivakumar, M. V. K., Maidoukia, A., & Stern, R. D. (1993). Agroclimatologie de l’Afrique de l’Ouest : le Niger. Deuxième édition : Bulletin d’information no5 ICRISAT Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh 502324, India et Direction de la météorologie nationale du Niger B.P : 218, Niamey, Niger.
Tabo, R., Bationo, A., Gerard, B., Ndjeunga, J., Marchal, D., Amadou, B., Garba Annou, M., Sogodogo, D., Taonda, J. B. S., Hassane, O., Diallo, M. K., & Koala, S. (2007). Improving cereal productivity and farmers’ income using a strategic application of fertilizers in West Africa. In. A. Bationo, B. Waswa, J. Kihara, & J. Kimetu (Eds.), Advance in integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and opportunities. Proceeding of Afnet International Symposium 17–21 September 2004, Yaounde Cameroun (pp 589–598). Springer.
West, L. T., Wilding, L. P., Landeck, J. K., & Calhoun, F. G. (1984). Soil survey of the ICRISAT Sahelian Center. West Africa: Niger.
World Reference Base for Soil Resources, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 1998. 84 World Soil Resources Reports. International Society of Soil Science. ISSS-AISS-IBG. International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. M-41. ISBN 92-5-104141-5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fatondji, D., Tabo, R., Hash, T.C., Bationo, A. (2018). Effect of Hill Placement of Nutrients on Millet Productivity and Characteristics of Sahelian Soils of Niger: Analysis of Yield Trend After Three Years of Cropping. In: Bationo, A., Ngaradoum, D., Youl, S., Lompo, F., Fening, J. (eds) Improving the Profitability, Sustainability and Efficiency of Nutrients Through Site Specific Fertilizer Recommendations in West Africa Agro-Ecosystems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58789-9_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58789-9_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-58788-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-58789-9
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)