Modeling the effect of seasonal climate variability on the efficiency of mineral fertilization on maize in the coastal savannah of Ghana

Monitoring and Modelling Analysis of Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield Gap in Smallholder Farming in Ghana

“…This suggests there is potential to increase yields when crops are planted early. This finding is consistent with the results of Lopez-Pereira and Morris [61] and MacCarthy et al [37]. A maize grain yield range of 231 kg ha −1 with no mineral N fertilizer and 3831 kg ha −1 following the addition of 120 kg N ha −1 was observed [62].…”

“…We used the cultivar parameters suggested for maize (cv. Obatanpa) [37]. The crop management data (sowing date, harvest date, range of N applied) were taken from the farmers' field records (Table 1).…”

“…Although soil water content was measured in 10 farmers' fields (Table 4), a representative soil hydraulic profile with a fine soil layer using those measured and soil parameters reported by MacCarthy et al [37] for northern Ghana was used in APSIM (Table 5). Soil water was assumed to be the same for soil layers 0 to 0.30 m and 0.30 to 1.20 m deep as measurements were taken only at 0.30 and 0.60 m. Water availability was also assumed to decrease with soil depth, particularly below 0.30 m (Table 5).…”

“…Simulation models give the flexibility of evaluating management options over space and time with fewer resources as compared with field experiments [28][29][30]. The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) has been used in Sub Saharan Africa to explore opportunities related to soil fertility, sowing date, crop management and climate change in smallholder farming systems [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. The objective of this research was to investigate the interaction of in-season rainfall, radiation, sowing date, N management, and root depth on grain yield and N dynamics, and examine the main constraints of maize production in West Mamprusi and Amatin Atebubu, in the Middle and Northern Ghana.…”

Evaluating maize yield variability and gaps in two agroecologies in northern Ghana using a crop simulation model

“…Another factor constraining crop yield in this region is erratic rainfall distribution (Neumann et al 2007;Laux et al 2009). A study by MacCarthy et al (2015) in the coastal savanna of Ghana also associated variability in rainfall distribution with variable crop yield. Hence, we conjecture that the interactions between soil management and water availability cannot be ignored as both determine plant growth and productivity and, hence, reduce maize yield gaps.…”