Effect of organic and conventional farming systems on nitrogen use efficiency of potato, maize and vegetables in the Central highlands of Kenya

Musyoka, Martha W.; Adamtey, Noah; Muriuki, Anne; Cadisch, Georg

doi:10.1016/j.eja.2017.02.005

Cited by 35 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The higher vegetable growth, yield, and nutritional quality achieved using a combination of BSF frass and NPK could be attributed to the synergistic and complementary effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on crop growth and yield have been reported previously (Boateng et al, 2009;Nsoanya and Nweke, 2015;Islam et al, 2017;Musyoka et al, 2017). The current study agrees with earlier findings of Islam et al (2017) who reported that the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizer increases the growth and yield of tomatoes.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Quality of Three Key Vegetable Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2021

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Worldwide, French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and kales (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) are considered economically important food crops. There is a rapid decline in their yield due to severe soil degradation. Thus, high commercial fertilizer inputs are crucial, though they remain expensive and inaccessible to resource poor farmers. We investigated the comparative performance of composted black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF), conventionally composted brewer's spent grain (BSG), commercial organic fertilizer (Evergrow), and mineral [nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK)] fertilizer on growth, yield, N use efficiency, and nutritional quality (crude protein, crude fiber, crude fats, ash, and carbohydrate concentrations) of tomatoes, kales, and French beans under greenhouse and open-field conditions for two seasons. The fertilizers were applied at rates equivalent to 371 kg of N ha−1. For each crop, the plots were treated with sole rates of BSFFF, BSG, Evergrow, and NPK to supply 100% of the N required. Additional treatments included a combination of BSFFF and NPK, and BSG and NPK so that each fertilizer supplies 50% of the N required. The control treatment consisted of unfertilized soil. Results show that vegetable yields achieved using a combination of BSFFF and NPK were 4.5, 2.4, and 5.4-folds higher than the yield from the control treatment for tomatoes, kales, and French beans, respectively. The combined application of BSFFF and NPK produced 22–135%, 20–27%, and 38–50% higher yields than sole NPK for tomatoes, kales, and French beans, respectively, under both greenhouse and open-field conditions. The highest agronomic N use efficiency was achieved in sole BSFFF-treated plots compared to sole BSG and Evergrow. The N taken up by the vegetables was significantly higher when BSFFF and NPK were integrated. Vegetables grown using a combination of BSFFF and NPK had the highest crude protein and ash concentrations. Our findings demonstrate that the integration of BSFFF and NPK in vegetable cropping systems at the recommended rate of 1.24 t ha−1 BSFFF and 322 kg ha−1 NPK would improve soil health, boost yield, and nutritional quality of vegetable crops.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Quality of Three Key Vegetable Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2021

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“…The highest values of agronomic and agro-physiological nitrogen use efficiencies as well as nitrogen harvest indices observed at lower application rates of BSF frass fertilizer (2.5 t ha -1 and 30 kg N ha -1 ) indicate sufficiency in nitrogen supply for maize growth. Interestingly, one of the major factors limiting the use of organic fertilizers is associated with the high rates of application required (≥ 5 t ha -1 ) ( Mucheru-Muna et al, 2014 ; Musyoka et al, 2017 ). Therefore, our findings would encourage a shift in attitude toward embracing the use of black soldier fly frass fertilizer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research efforts on soil fertility management in SSA ( Tittonell et al, 2008b ; Vanlauwe et al, 2014 ; Vanlauwe et al, 2015 ) have recommended combined application of mineral and organic fertilizers to improve and sustain soil fertility and crop yields. When applied across farms in Kenya, combined organic and mineral fertilizers have improved crop yields, nutrient use efficiencies and soil fertility ( Mucheru-Muna et al, 2007 ; Mucheru-Muna et al, 2014 ; Musyoka et al, 2017 ). A major challenge hindering the use of organic fertilizers is the limited source of organic matter, since most organic resources have other competing uses such as feeding livestock on the farm ( Rufino et al, 2011 ; Ndambi et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field Conditions

et al. 2020

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Black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) is increasingly gaining momentum worldwide as organic fertilizer. However, research on its performance on crop production remains largely unknown. Here, we evaluate the comparative performance of BSFFF and commercial organic fertilizer (SAFI) on maize (H513) production. Both fertilizers were applied at the rates of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 t ha-1 , and 0, 30, 60, and 100 kg nitrogen (N) ha-1. Mineral fertilizer (urea) was also applied at 0, 30, 60 and 100 kg N ha-1 to establish the N fertilizer equivalence (NFE) of the organic fertilizers. Maize grown in plots treated with BSFFF had the tallest plants and highest chlorophyll concentrations. Plots treated with 7.5 t ha-1 of BSFFF had 14% higher grain yields than plots treated with a similar rate of SAFI. There was a 27% and 7% increase in grain yields in plots treated with 100 kg N ha-1 of BSFFF compared to those treated with equivalent rates of SAFI and urea fertilizers, respectively. Application of BSFFF at 7.5 t ha-1 significantly increased N uptake by up to 23% compared to the equivalent rate of SAFI. Likewise, application of BSFFF at 100 kg N ha-1 increased maize N uptake by 76% and 29% compared to SAFI and urea, respectively. Maize treated with BSFFF at 2.5 t ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1 had higher nitrogen recovery efficiencies compared to equivalent rates of SAFI. The agronomic N use efficiency (AE N) of maize treated with 2.5 t ha-1 of BSFFF was 2.4 times higher than the value achieved using an equivalent rate of SAFI. Also, the AE N of maize grown using 30 kg N ha-1 was 27% and 116% higher than the values obtained using equivalent rates of SAFI and urea fertilizers, respectively. The NFE of BSFFF (108%) was 2.5 times higher than that of SAFI. Application rates of 2.5 t ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1 of BSFFF were found to be effective in improving maize yield, while double rates of SAFI were required. Our findings demonstrate that BSFFF is a promising and sustainable alternative to commercial fertilizers for increased maize production.

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“…To date, there have been no field trials of experimental stations or controlled on-farm trials in Bhutan that studied the yield difference between OA and CA generally or specifically for different farming intensities. Field trials in Kenya [ 40 , 41 ] analysing organic and conventional farming systems of different intensities (mainly N input and rotation design) find yield differences in OA and CA with OA < CA or OA = CA or OA>CA depending on fertiliser inputs, management practices, crop species, and location. We therefore assume that under Bhutanese conditions similar context dependent results are to be expected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Bhutan destined for 100% organic? Assessing the economy-wide effects of a large-scale conversion policy

et al. 2018

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Organic agriculture (OA) is considered a strategy to make agriculture more sustainable. Bhutan has embraced the ambitious goal of becoming the world’s first 100% organic nation. By analysing recent on-farm data in Bhutan, we found organic crop yields on average to be 24% lower than conventional yields. Based on these yield gaps, we assess the effects of the 100% organic conversion policy by employing an economy-wide computable general equilibrium (CGE) model with detailed representation of Bhutan’s agricultural sector incorporating agroecological zones, crop nutrients, and field operations. Despite a low dependency on agrochemicals from the onset of this initiative, we find a considerable reduction in Bhutan’s GDP, substantial welfare losses, particularly for non-agricultural households, and adverse impacts on food security. The yield gap is the main driver for a strong decline in domestic agricultural production, which is largely compensated by increased food imports, resulting in a weakening of the country’s cereal self-sufficiency. Current organic by default farming practices in Bhutan are still underdeveloped and do not apply the systems approach of organic farming as defined in the IFOAM organic farming standards. This is reflected in the strong decline of nitrogen (N) availability to crops in our simulation and bears potential for increased yields in OA. Improvement of soil-fertility practices, e.g., the adoption of N-fixing crops, improved animal husbandry systems with increased provision of animal manure and access to markets with price premium for organic products could help to lower the economic cost of the large-scale conversion.

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Effect of organic and conventional farming systems on nitrogen use efficiency of potato, maize and vegetables in the Central highlands of Kenya

Cited by 35 publications

References 42 publications

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Quality of Three Key Vegetable Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Quality of Three Key Vegetable Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field Conditions

Is Bhutan destined for 100% organic? Assessing the economy-wide effects of a large-scale conversion policy

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