Abstract
The use of the model Quantitative Evaluation of Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) was combined with on-farm experiments to evaluate soil nutrient status under soil and water conservation (SWC) techniques such as stone barriers and Zaï to update fertilizer formulae used in sorghum production in the northern part of Burkina Faso. Results from nutrient omission trials (NOT) carried out in farmers’ fields show clearly that phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are the most limiting nutrients to sorghum production. SWC techniques affect soil nutrient status, nutrient exports and nutrient use efficiency. The average initial nitrogen fertility of these farms was 23.16 kg.ha−1 and 21.10 kg ha−1 under stone barriers and zaï respectively. Nitrogen exports reached an average of 28.05 kg ha−1 under stone barriers and 21.14 kg ha−1 under zaï. The average use efficiency for 1 kg of N was 40.11 kg of grain under stone barriers and 26.20 kg of grain under zaï. The results also show that the use of organic matter lowers the amount of mineral fertilizers needed for the same targeted yields. A basket of recommendations combined or not with organic matter was developed and evaluated for sorghum production. As a result, the formula (N29P11K13) was identified as the best option for sorghum grain production in this area under soil and water conservation (SWC) techniques.
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Acknowledgements
The authors of this study wish to thank the IFDC projects that have supported this work, namely IFAD grant 820 and 1174, and the USAID-Core project. They are grateful to the farmers of the Zondoma watershed, the INERA researchers and technicians for their availability and collaboration. The authors particularly acknowledge the support and facilitation provided by national extension structures (Regional department of agriculture). The many students who devoted their training time to this study are at the core of these positive achievements. Finally their thanks go to Mr. Paré Tahibou for his assistance in the field of cartography.
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Youl, S., Ouedraogo, J., Ezui, S.K., Zougmore, R., Sogbedji, M.J., Mando, A. (2018). Determining Soil Nutrient Capacity to Update Fertilizer Recommendations Under Soil and Water Conservation Techniques in the Zondoma Watershed of Burkina Faso. 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/10.1007/978-3-319-58792-9_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58792-9_6
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