Nutrients Limiting Soybean (glycine max l) Growth in Acrisols and Ferralsols of Western Kenya

Keino, Ludy; Baijukya, Frederick P.; Ng’etich, W. K.; Otinga, Abigael N.; Okalebo, J. R.; Njoroge, Ruth; Mukalama, John

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0145202

Cited by 33 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Availability of essential nutrients and moderate levels of nitrogen generally enhance nodule formation and functioning [71, 73]. High rates of nitrogen fertilizers however have been shown to inhibit nodule formation in both controlled and field conditions [24, 34, 74, 75]. Hence, investigations to determine the threshold values, depending, among others, on soil types, below which starter N would be required to improve legume response to inoculation in low fertility soils, are needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability of soybean response to rhizobia inoculant, Vermicompost, and a legume-specific fertilizer blend in Siaya County of Kenya

Mathenge¹,

Thuita²,

Masso³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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2 11 Abstract 12 Rhizobia inoculation can increase soybean yield, but its performance is influenced by soybean 13 genotype, rhizobia strains, environment, and crop management among others. The objective of 14 the study was to assess soybean response to rhizobia inoculation when grown in soils amended 15 with urea or Vermicompost to improve nitrogen levels. Two greenhouse experiments and one 16 field trial at two sites were carried out. The first greenhouse experiment included soils from sixty 17 locations, sampled from smallholder farms in Western Kenya. The second greenhouse 18 experiment consisted of one soil selected from soils used in the first experiment where 19 inoculation response was poor. The soil was amended with Vermicompost or urea. In the two 20 greenhouse experiments, Legumefix® (inoculant) + Sympal (legume fertilizer blend) were used 21 as a standard package. Results from the second greenhouse experiment were then validated in the 22 field. In the first greenhouse trial, soybean response to inoculation was significantly affected by 23 soil fertility based on nodule fresh weight and shoot biomass. Soils with low nitrogen had low to 24 no response to inoculation. After amendment, nodule fresh weight, nodule effectiveness, nodule 25 occupancy, and shoot dry biomass were greater in the treatment amended with Vermicompost 26 than those amended with urea (Legumefix® + Sympal + Vermicompost and Legumefix® + 27 Sympal + urea). Under field conditions, trends were similar to the second experiment for 28 nodulation, nodule occupancy, and nitrogen uptake resulting in significantly greater grain yields 29 (475, 709, 856, 880, 966 kg ha -1 ) after application of Vermicompost at 0, 37, 74, 111, and 148 kg 30 N ha -1 , respectively. It was concluded that soybean nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation in 31 low fertility soils would not be suppressed by organic amendments like Vermicompost up to 148 32 kg N ha -1 . 33 Keywords: Rhizobia inoculation, nodule occupancy, nodule effectiveness, Vermicompost, grain 34 yield. 3 36 Introduction 37 Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) is one of the world's most important legumes in terms of 38 production and trade and has been a dominant oilseed since the 1960s [1]. The crop is well 39 known for its high protein content (about 40%) [2]. Additionally, it can improve soil properties 40 and soil biological health by soil nitrogen enrichment through N 2 fixation and subsequent 41 mineralization of shoot and root biomass [3]. It therefore represents a significant opportunity in 42 sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where over 80% of the soils are nitrogen deficient [85], and over 39% 43 of the children under 5 years are stunted because of malnutrition caused by nutrient deficiency, 44 particularly proteins [4], contributing to over one third of child deaths [5]. Integration of soybean 45 in smallholder farming systems would thus not only improve human nutrition when the crop is 46 included in diets but also soil productivity. Such benefits would materialize when good 47 agronomic practices...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability of soybean response to rhizobia inoculant, Vermicompost, and a legume-specific fertilizer blend in Siaya County of Kenya

Mathenge¹,

Thuita²,

Masso³

et al. 2018

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Like in many SSA countries, most soils in Kenya are low in organic matter, with levels even below the critical value of 3% (Gachimbi et al, 2005), and exhibit high acidity (Keino et al, 2015). This has led to high P fixation, making P a limiting factor to crop production.…”

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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“…In Kenya, acidic soils occur in high rainfall areas, including highlands of Rift Valley, and it occurs in about 13% of Kenyan land area (Kisinyo et al 2014). Acidic soils are deficient in phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), molybdenum (Mo), and potassium (K) with a high concentration of iron (Fe), aluminium (Al), hydrogen (H), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) ions (Keino et al 2015). Soybean production in Kenya is low and this could be due to its sensitivity to low soil pH.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of soil acidity and liming on soybean ( Glycine max ) nodulation and nitrogen fixation in Kenyan soils

Bakari

Mungai

Thuita

et al. 2020

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Sc

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There is a wide application of rhizobia inoculants to legume crops in Africa, irrespective of the soil acidity, though the latter limits the effectiveness of inoculants. Two trials were conducted in a controlled environment to determine suitable soil pH and impact of liming on soybean nodulation and nitrogen fixation to inform proper application of the rhizobia-inoculant technology on acid soils. In the first trial; soil, variety and inoculation had significant influence (p < 0.05) on weighed nodule effectiveness (WNE) and N fixation. Strongly acidic soils recorded low WNE and N fixation. In the second trial, WNE and N fixation significantly increased with coapplication of lime and inoculation (p < 0.05). The results showed that soybean inoculation is effective in increasing nodulation and N fixation in moderate acidic soils, contrarily to strongly acidic soils. Interestingly, co-application of lime and inoculation has potential of increasing nodulation and N fixation in strongly acidic soils. The WNE is recommended as a robust formula to report nodule effectiveness, compared to the current percentage method.

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Nutrients Limiting Soybean (glycine max l) Growth in Acrisols and Ferralsols of Western Kenya

Cited by 33 publications

References 14 publications

Variability of soybean response to rhizobia inoculant, Vermicompost, and a legume-specific fertilizer blend in Siaya County of Kenya

Variability of soybean response to rhizobia inoculant, Vermicompost, and a legume-specific fertilizer blend in Siaya County of Kenya

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

Impact of soil acidity and liming on soybean ( Glycine max ) nodulation and nitrogen fixation in Kenyan soils

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