Maize Response to Fertilizer Dosing at Three Sites in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examines the agronomic response, efficiency and profitability of fertilizer microdosing in maize. An experiment with the following treatments was conducted: control without fertilizer, microdosing treatments, with the rate of 27 + 27, 53 + 53 and 80 + 80 kg ha fertilizer rate increased the grain yield by 19, 45 and 46% at Hawassa, Ziway and Melkassa, respectively, and it was equivalent to the higher rates. The value cost ratio (VCR) was highest with the lowest fertilizer rate, varying between seven and 11 in the treatment with 27 + 27 kg ha of DAP + urea rate makes it low cost, low risk, high yielding and profitable. Therefore, application of this particular rate in maize may be an option for the marginal farmers in the region with similar socioeconomic and agroecological conditions. OPEN ACCESSAgronomy 2014, 4 437

Sustainability of Improved Crop Varieties and Agricultural Practices: A Case Study in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

“…As a result, the level of synergy between the banding technique and row-sowing has increased, particularly among farmers who apply fertilizer to maize. The practice of using row-sowing and banding together was reported to give high agronomic and economic returns in maize in the central Rift Valley [26].…”

“…In the Rift Valley of Ethiopia, apart from the high rainfall variability and other constraints, the low fertility and water-holding capacity of soils increased farmers' reluctance to invest in the high-price inputs of improved seeds and fertilizers [17]. The national extension system promotes the banding method of fertilizer application, which involves application of fertilizer at a relatively high rate [26]. The extension system also promotes the use of early-maturing maize [27].…”

“…The improved seed-fertilizer package being promoted institutionally is, however, expensive to the farmers as both improved seeds and fertilizers are expensive [27]. Sime and Aune [26] suggested the need for developing an efficient fertilizer application method that is low-cost, low-risk, and productive. In addition, limited access to cash increased farmers' aversion to risk and made the continuous use of improved technologies difficult [15,17,27].…”

Long term effects of reduced fertilizer rates on millet yields and soil properties in the West-African Sahel

“…Fertilizer microdosing, which is the application of about half the recommended rate of fertilizer near the seedling within 10 days of sowing (Twomlow et al 2008), has potential to ease smallholder fertilizer use constraints in the Sahel. Microdosing has been found in the short term to substantially increase yields and nutrient use efficiency, while simultaneously increasing income by reducing farmer investment and risk (Twomlow et al 2008;Aune and Ousman 2011;Bagayoko et al 2011;Sime and Aune 2014). While the short-term benefits of microdosing in the Sahel are now known, there has been little research on the long-term effects of microdosing on soil fertility and agroecosystem sustainability.…”

Effects of crop improvement technologies on downy mildew of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.

“…Seed priming is a technology whereby seeds are soaked for carefully determined length of time (typically overnight) before sowing. This technology had shown faster emergence, better stands, and low incidence of re-sowing, more vigorous plants, better drought tolerance, earlier flowering, earlier harvest (Harris et al, 1999Zhang et al, 2015) and higher grain yield in maize, rice, sorghum, groundnut and chickpea (Harris et al, 1999;Ousman and Aune, 2011;Sime and Aune, 2014). Fertilizer micro-dosing on the other hand, involves the application of small amounts of mineral fertilizer (0.3 to 4 g) onto or close to the seed during planting (Tabo et al, 2006;Twomlow et al, 2010;Bagayoko et al, 2011;Aune and Ousman, 2011).…”