Long‐term nitrogen balance for pearl millet (<i>Pennisetum glaucum</i> L.) in an acid sandy soil of Niger

Hafner, H.; Bley, Joachim; Bationo, A.; Martin, Peter; Marschner, H.

doi:10.1002/jpln.19931560212

Cited by 34 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…shown previously by Hafner et al (1993b). The data Compared with 500 kg CR ha Ϫ1 , the application of 2000 also show the cumulative effects of CR application with kg CR ha Ϫ1 for 2 yr resulted in increases in pH, available time (Fig.…”

Section: Mulching Effects In the Sahelian Zonesupporting

confidence: 66%

“…This is supported by Wendt et al (1993), who found that minor changes in availability in the topsoil through increases in root length density as reported by Hafner et al (1993b).…”

Section: Sitesupporting

confidence: 61%

“…The sandy nature of these soils may also explain why CR effects on soil chemical parameters were desmaller physical resistance to root elongation, and a hormone driven feed-back mechanism stimulating root tected to the 0.8-m depth. The increased C org concentrations in the subsoil and the unexpected changes in P growth through larger bacterial populations that feed on exudates of larger plants (Buerkert et al, 1995; availability below 0.5 m might be caused by increased root growth and leaching of short chain organic mole- Hafner et al, 1993a;Kretzschmar et al, 1991;Fig. 6).…”

Section: Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this area, mulch effects Keulen, 1982;Bationo and Mokwunye, 1991). Given have been attributed to increased P availability the low clay contents in West African soils and that (Kretzschmar et al, 1991), more vigorous root developkaolinite is the dominant clay mineral, soil cation exment (Hafner et al, 1993b), enhanced potassium (K) change capacity (CEC) mainly depends on the organic nutrition (Rebafka et al, 1994), protection of young carbon content of the topsoil. The current fertility status seedlings against soil coverage during sand storms (Miof these soils may be explained by a number of factors: chels et al, 1995b), and a decrease in the penetration resistance of the soil surface that affect emergence and 10 000 planting holes (pockets) ha Ϫ1 in the first rains in May…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mechanisms of Residue Mulch‐Induced Cereal Growth Increases in West Africa

Buerkert

Bationo²,

Dossa

2000

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

125

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The use of crop residues (CR) has been widely reported as a means of increasing crop yields across West Africa. However, little has been done to compare the magnitude and mechanisms of CR effects systematically in the different agro‐ecological zones of the region. To this end, a series of field trials with millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and maize (Zea mays L.) was conducted over a 4‐yr period in the Sahelian, Sudanian, and Guinean zones of West Africa. Soils ranged in pH from 4.1 to 5.4 along a rainfall gradient from 510 to 1300 mm. Treatments in the factorial experiments were three CR rates (0, 500, and 2000 kg ha−1) and several levels of phosphorus and nitrogen. The results showed CR‐induced total dry matter (TDM) increases in cereals up to 73% for the Sahel compared with a maximum of 16% in the wetter Sudanian and Guinean zones. Residue effects on weakly buffered Sahelian soils were due to improved P availability and to a protection of seedlings against wind erosion. Additional effects of CR mulching on topsoil properties in the Sahel were a decrease in peak temperatures by 4 °C and increased water availability. These mulch effects on soil chemical and physical properties strongly decreased from North to South. Likely explanations for this decrease are the decline of dust deposition and wind erosion hazards, the higher soil clay content, lower air temperature, and a faster decomposition rate of mulch material with increasing rainfall from the Sahel to the Sudanian and Guinean zones.

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Section: Mulching Effects In the Sahelian Zonesupporting

confidence: 66%

“…This is supported by Wendt et al (1993), who found that minor changes in availability in the topsoil through increases in root length density as reported by Hafner et al (1993b).…”

Section: Sitesupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Mechanisms of Residue Mulch‐Induced Cereal Growth Increases in West Africa

Buerkert

Bationo²,

Dossa

2000

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

125

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“…Much greater than the issue of soil acidity in terms of pH is the effect of soil acidification on the soil resource itself, particularly the reduction in soil cation exchange capacity (Barak et al, 1998). The addition of small amounts of crop residues in combination with inorganic fertilizers can counteract soil acidification (de Ridder and van Keulen, 1990) and increase soil cation exchange capacity (Bationo et al, 1995; de Ridder and Van Keulen, 1990), populations of N‐fixing bacteria, and root length and density, leading to an increase in total P uptake by the crop (Hafner et al, 1993a, 1993b). The partial rather than total removal of crop residues from fields is vital for these benefits to be realized.…”

Section: Nutrient Cycling In Mixed Farming Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop–Livestock Interactions in the West African Drylands

Powell

Pearson

Hiernaux³

2004

Agronomy Journal

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crop production technologies. In many regions, livestock are also a means of storing capital, of buffering Many semiarid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are experiencfood shortages in years of poor crop production, and of ing vast increases in human population pressure and urbanization. meeting social and religious obligations of farmers. These augment the demand for agricultural products and have led toIn these systems, the productivities of livestock, rangethe expansion, intensification, and often closer integration of crop and livestock production systems. The transition of crop and livestock lands, and croplands are inextricably linked. Although production from the current relatively extensive, low input/output most agricultural products are used for subsistence purmodes of production to more intensive, higher input/output modes poses, some outputs of rangeland (wood, bush straw, of production presents numerous challenges to the achievement of and fruits), cropland (grains, crop residues, and legume required long-term production increases from these farming systems.hays), and livestock (animals, milk, meat, and skins) are This paper provides an overview of the challenges facing agricultural sold. Crop residues are vital livestock feeds during the production in semiarid SSA with a focus on West Africa. A description 6 to 8 mo dry season, and manure enhances soil fertility of mixed crop-livestock farming systems and their evolution is folfor crop production. Natural forages from rangelands lowed by an overview of the principal linkages between crops and and fallow lands provide important livestock feeds and, livestock: income, animal power, feed, and manure. The most detailed through manure, nutrients for cropland. Manure is obdiscussions relate to nutrient cycling in these farming systems. Most livestock derive their feed almost exclusively from natural rangeland tained from either one's own livestock, from the liveand crop residues, and livestock manure is a precious soil fertility stock of other farmers, or through exchange relationships amendment. However, most farmers have insufficient livestock andwith pastoralists. Manure contracts between farmers therefore manure to sustain food production. Nutrient harvests from and pastoralists are still important in many West African cropland often exceed nutrient inputs, and soil nutrient depletion is dryland areas, and farmers have developed a variety of a principal concern. The paper concludes with a discussion of strategies ways to combine their own smaller herds to manure that may improve the productive capacity of these mixed farming large cropland areas.systems.

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Nutrients in the West African Sudano‐Sahelian zone: Losses, transfers and role of external inputs

Buerkert

Hiernaux²

1998

J Plant Nutrition & Soil

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Crop growth on acid sandy soils of the Sudano‐Sahelian zone is primarily limited by the low amounts of organic matter and available mineral nutrients in the topsoil. The shortening of fallow periods with population growth, the exploitation of fire wood, spatial nutrient transfers by wind and water and net nutrient exports with crop yields in the order of 15 kg nitrogen (N) 2 kg phosphorus (P) and 15 kg potassium (K) ha−1 yr−1 for traditional fields planted to pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) in the southern Sahel have exhausted these resources. Large productivity declines in the prevailing agro‐pastoral systems are the consequence. Data are presented to show bow nutrient exports at the level of individual fields, through grain yields and biomass removal as forage, firewood, construction material, and also through run‐off, wind and water erosion, leaching and volatilisation, are either losses for the ecosystem or sources of nutrients transferred within the ecosystem. Livestock is a vector of nutrients from rangelands to manured fields through forage intake and excretion and helps to shortcut nutrient cycles, but it is also a net consumer of organic matter and minerals. Through the effects of trampling on the soil and of grazing on the vegetation composition and production, livestock also indirectly affects the cycling and transfer of nutrients. Net nutrient inputs by heavy rains causing overland flow, dust deposition and through biological nitrogen fixation, are also unequally distributed and thus aggravate the fertility gradient from large nutrient ‘source’ areas such as rangelands to small ‘sink’ areas such as fallows, low lands, temporary lakes and river benches. At a finer resolution, shrubs and trees with their alternating periods of nutrient storage and recycling in leaves and wood, micro‐depressions, termite mounts and ant nests become localised points of nutrient concentration and high crop productivity. To balance losses of nutrients in these integrated systems and to obtain sustainable increases in production, external inputs of nutrients are necessary. These may be introduced by two different pathways, either via mineral fertilisers applied to croplands or via externally produced supplements fed to livestock. These pathways are complementary and each one has direct effects on the other. Fertiliser application to croplands affect livestock through the increase in available forage and crop residue feed, whereas feed supplementation affects crop production through higher amounts and better quality of manure. The adoption of either strategy by farmers requires a high nutrient use efficiency at low cost. Data from regional field trials revealed increases in total dry matter (TDM) of cereals with broadcast annual P application at 13 kg ha−1 ranging across three years from 19 to 88% for rockphosphate and from 34 to 102% for single superphosphate (SSP). Still, a low‐external input approach seemed more advantageous to farmers. The placement of NPK fertiliser at 4 kg P ha−1 with the seed at or shortl...

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Long‐term nitrogen balance for pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) in an acid sandy soil of Niger

Cited by 34 publications

References 27 publications

Mechanisms of Residue Mulch‐Induced Cereal Growth Increases in West Africa

Mechanisms of Residue Mulch‐Induced Cereal Growth Increases in West Africa

Crop–Livestock Interactions in the West African Drylands

Nutrients in the West African Sudano‐Sahelian zone: Losses, transfers and role of external inputs

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