Agronomic survey to assess crop yield, controlling factors and management implications: a case-study of Babati in northern Tanzania

Kihara, Job; Tamene, Lulseged; Massawe, Prosper I.; Bekunda, Mateete

doi:10.1007/s10705-014-9648-3

Cited by 50 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Plant density and N applied were the main limiting factors of the gaps in yield and PFP N , which is consistent with other research [44][45][46]. The relative contribution of plant density according to the boundary line approach was only slightly higher than that of other management factors in Laoling and Quzhou.…”

Section: Effects Of Plant Density and N Application On Yield And Pfp Nsupporting

confidence: 90%

Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Summer Maize on Smallholder Farms in the North China Plain

et al. 2018

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Abstract:The summer maize yields and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (N) fertilizer (PFP N , grain yield per unit N fertilizer) on smallholder farms in China are low, and differ between farms due to complex, sub-optimal management practices. We collected data on management practices and yields from smallholder farms in three major summer maize-producing sites-Laoling, Quzhou and Xushui-in the North China Plain (NCP) for two growing seasons, during 2015-2016. Boundary line analysis and a Proc Mixed Model were used to evaluate the contribution of individual factors and their interactions. Summer maize grain yields and PFP N ranged from 6.6 t ha −1 to 14.2 t ha −1 and 15.4 kg kg −1 to 96.1 kg kg −1 , respectively, and averaged 10.5 t ha −1 and 49.1 kg kg −1 , respectively. The mean total yield gap and PFP N gap were 3.6 t ha −1 and 43.3 kg kg −1 in Laoling, 2.2 t ha −1 and 24.5 kg kg −1 in Xushui, and 2.8 t ha −1 and 41.1 kg kg −1 in Quzhou. A positive correlation was observed between the yield gap and PFP N gap; the PFP N gap could be reduced by 6.0 kg kg −1 (3.6-6.6 kg kg −1 ) by reducing the yield gap by 1 t ha −1 . The high yield and high PFP N (HH) fields had a higher plant density and lower N fertilization rate than the low yield and low PFP N (LL) fields. Our results show that multiple management factors caused the yield gap, but the relative contribution of plant density is slightly higher than that of other management practices, such as N input, the sowing date, and potassium fertilizer input. The low PFP N was mainly attributed to an over-application of N fertilizer. To enhance the sustainable production of summer maize, the production gaps should be tackled through programs that guide smallholder farmers on the adoption of optimal management practices.

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Section: Effects Of Plant Density and N Application On Yield And Pfp Nsupporting

confidence: 90%

Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Summer Maize on Smallholder Farms in the North China Plain

et al. 2018

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“…Good N management must therefore reduce both N accumulation (Vitousek et al 2009;Leip et al 2011) and N mining (Edmonds et al 2009;Bekunda et al 2010;Kihara et al 2015), which can be detected through N budgets, as both have negative environmental impacts. The former could result in losses to the environment and contributing to greenhouse gases, soil acidification, and eutrophication among others, whereas the latter could result in low crop productivity.…”

Section: N Budgets and N Footprintmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dilemma of nitrogen management for future food security in sub-Saharan Africa – a review

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Food security entails having sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet dietary needs. The need to optimise nitrogen (N) use for nutrition security while minimising environmental risks in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is overdue. Challenges related to managing N use in SSA can be associated with both insufficient use and excessive loss, and thus the continent must address the 'too little' and 'too much' paradox. Too little N is used in food production (80% of countries have N deficiencies), which has led to chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. Conversely, too much N load in water bodies due mainly to soil erosion, leaching, limited N recovery from wastewater, and atmospheric deposition contributes to eutrophication (152 Gg N year -1 in Lake Victoria, East Africa). Limited research has been conducted to improve N use for food production and adoption remains low, mainly because farming is generally practiced by resource-poor smallholder farmers. In addition, little has been done to effectively address the 'too much' issues, as a consequence of limited research capacity. This research gap must be addressed, and supportive policies operationalised, to maximise N benefits, while also minimising pollution. Innovation platforms involving key stakeholders are required to address N use efficiency along the food supply chain in SSA, as well as other world regions with similar challenges.

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“…Steep slopes usually have lower soil depths and fewer nutrients and are prone to erosion. With each incremental increase of slope gradients, crop yield is significantly reduced (Kihara et al, 2015;Shamim & Moniruzzaman, 2016). When slope is greater than 30%, the land is considered unsuitable for cultivation (Fischer et al, 2002).…”

Section: Indicator Generation and Ratingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping Land Suitability for Agriculture in Malawi

Messina

Peter

et al. 2017

Land Degrad Dev

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Population growth, climate sensitivity, and edaphic properties are important factors that influence decision‐making and risk mitigation for agricultural production. Within the agricultural sector in Malawi, continuous cropping without the use of long‐term sustainable strategies and frequent cultivation on marginal lands have resulted in continually declining soil fertility. Improving soil quality of marginal lands using innovative technologies is imperative for increasing agricultural productivity and improving food security. Here, we propose an ensemble approach to map agricultural land suitability and identify the distribution of marginal land in Malawi. Quantitative data available for eight soil and terrain factors were rated individually, and five distinct models were applied to generate a spatial distribution map of land suitability. The results indicate that highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable, and unsuitable agricultural areas account for 8·2%, 24·1%, 28·0%, and 39·7% of the total land area, respectively. The majority of suitable lands are currently used for agriculture, but more than half (57·4%) of Malawi's total cropland exists on marginally suitable or unsuitable land categories and is likely a candidate for rehabilitation through sustainable agricultural practices. The methods and products herein will be valuable resources for effectively managing and improving Malawi's agricultural lands for increasing food security. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Agronomic survey to assess crop yield, controlling factors and management implications: a case-study of Babati in northern Tanzania

Cited by 50 publications

References 25 publications

Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Summer Maize on Smallholder Farms in the North China Plain

Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Summer Maize on Smallholder Farms in the North China Plain

Dilemma of nitrogen management for future food security in sub-Saharan Africa – a review

Mapping Land Suitability for Agriculture in Malawi

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