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Roles for Herbaceous and Grain Legumes, Kraal Manure, and Inorganic Fertilizers for Soil Fertility Management in Eastern Uganda

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Innovations as Key to the Green Revolution in Africa

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Abstract

Grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moenich] is an important food crop in semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Crop yields are generally low and declining partly due to low soil fertility. Therefore on-farm research was conducted on 108 farms at three locations over 3 years to evaluate alternative low-input strategies for soil fertility improvement in sorghum-based cropping systems. The strategies were use of herbaceous legumes in improved fallow, a grain legume in rotation with sorghum, use of cattle manure, and application of low levels of N and P fertilizers. Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) on average produced 7 t ha–1 of aboveground dry matter containing 160 kg N ha–1. Application of 2.5 t ha–1 of kraal manure and a combination of 30 kg N and 10 kg P ha–1 both increased grain yield by a mean of 1.15 t ha–1. A combination of 2.5 t ha–1 manure with 30 kg N ha–1 increased grain yield by 1.4 t ha–1 above the farmer practice (1.1 t ha–1 grain). The increase in sorghum grain yield in response to 30 kg N ha–1, to a Mucuna fallow, and to a rotation with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) was 1.0, 1.4, and 0.7 t ha–1, respectively. These alternative strategies were found to be cost-effective in increasing sorghum yield in the predominantly smallholder agriculture where inorganic fertilizer is not used. Results of the study indicated that on-farm profitability and food security could be improved through integration of inorganic fertilizers, herbicides, manure, Mucuna fallow, and cowpea rotation into grain sorghum cropping systems.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the farmers, Messrs Dennis Odelle, Bazil Kadiba, Patrick Odongo, and William Acoda, and the field assistants at the research sites for the good work done and the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), International Foundation for Science (IFS), and Sorghum/Millet Collaborative Research Support Program (INTSORMIL) for provision of the Research funds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Kampala, Uganda

    K.C. Kaizzi & J. Byalebeka

  2. Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA

    C.S. Wortmann & M. Mamo

Authors
  1. K.C. Kaizzi
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  2. J. Byalebeka
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  3. C.S. Wortmann
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  4. M. Mamo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K.C. Kaizzi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Soil Health Program, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Afric, Agostino Neto Road, Airport Res. Area 6, Accra, Ghana

    Andre Bationo

  2. , African Network for Soil Biology and Fer, Tropical Soil Biology & Fertility Inst., c/o ICRAF, Off UN Avenue, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya

    Boaz Waswa

  3. , African network for Soil Biology and Fer, Tropical Soil Biology & Fertility Inst., c/o ICRAF, Off UN Avenue, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya

    Jeremiah M. Okeyo

  4. , Socio-economics and Biometrics, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Nairobi, 00800, Kenya

    Fredah Maina

  5. , African Network for Soil Biology and Fer, Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Inst, c/o ICRAF, Off UN Avenue, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya

    Job Maguta Kihara

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Kaizzi, K., Byalebeka, J., Wortmann, C., Mamo, M. (2011). Roles for Herbaceous and Grain Legumes, Kraal Manure, and Inorganic Fertilizers for Soil Fertility Management in Eastern Uganda. In: Bationo, A., Waswa, B., Okeyo, J., Maina, F., Kihara, J. (eds) Innovations as Key to the Green Revolution in Africa. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2543-2_24

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