Developing fertilizer recommendations for rice in Sub-Saharan Africa, achievements and opportunities

Abstract

Improving agricultural productivity to keep pace with the fast-growing food demand is a huge challenge for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Fertilizer is a powerful productivity-enhancing input; nevertheless, farmers of SSA use only 5-9 kg ha −1 of fertilizer, which is ten times lesser than Latin America and Asia (50 and 80 kg ha −1 , respectively). Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important food crops of SSA, and its consumption is growing faster than any other commodity in Africa. Rice-based systems have high potential for improving food production through an efficient management of fertilizers. The biophysical environment, cropping systems and socioeconomic status of farmers including market opportunities are the main factors for developing appropriate fertilizer recommendations. Many research efforts have been invested in different countries to develop fertilizer recommendation for rice. However, the diversity of rice ecologies, the type and the cost of fertilizers available on local market are the main constraints for development of blanket recommendations of fertilizer usually applied in many countries. Here, we make a reviews of the progress made on the development of fertilizer recommendations for rice-based systems in SSA. The utilization of the new concepts and decisions support tools for development of fertilizer recommendation and the main achievements and weakness are discussed. The opportunities offered by the new concepts, modeling and decision support tools are discussed in a regional strategic approach for better management of fertilizers in the diversified ecologies of rice-based systems.

Micro‐dose placement of phosphorus induces deep rooting of upland rice

“…Therefore, the technique of micro-dose P placement should be considered when developing new decision support tools designing site-specific nutrient recommendations for rice (Bado et al 2018;Saito et al 2019).…”

Yields and Yield Gaps in Lowland Rice Systems and Options to Improve Smallholder Production

“…However, farm yields are very low [17,[29][30][31], associated with poor management practices, especially related to leveling; bunding and weed management; poor nutrient management practices often leading to nutrient mining of particularly N, P, and K; use of low yielding crop varieties; and high pests and disease prevalence. Studies indicate that fertilizers are a major input to enhancing productivity [1,[32][33][34][35][36]; nevertheless, SSA farmers on average use only ca. 5-9 kg ha −1 of fertilizer, which is far below the 50 and 80 kg ha −1 used in Latin America and Asia, respectively [32].…”

“…Studies indicate that fertilizers are a major input to enhancing productivity [1,[32][33][34][35][36]; nevertheless, SSA farmers on average use only ca. 5-9 kg ha −1 of fertilizer, which is far below the 50 and 80 kg ha −1 used in Latin America and Asia, respectively [32]. In addition, on non-responsive soils, yield responses to conventional NPK fertilizers are reported to be poor [37][38][39][40].…”

Characterization of two new rice varieties, Amankwatia and AGRA , grown in Ghana

“…Efforts to improve rice production in Africa have compelled stakeholders to implement several initiatives. The Coalition for Africa Rice Development (CARD), jointly proposed by the Alliance with a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is one such initiative with the overarching goal of responding to the increasing demand for rice (Bado, Djaman, & Mel, ). Ghana, a member of CARD, launched its National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) for the decade 2009–2018 in May 2008 with the objective of doubling domestic production by 2018.…”