Yield-limiting macronutrients for rice in sub-Saharan Africa

Saito, Kazuki; Vandamme, Elke; Johnson, Jean‐Martial; Tanaka, Atsuko; Senthilkumar, K.; Dieng, Ibnou; Akakpo, Cyriaque; Gbaguidi, Félix; Segda, Zacharie; Bassoro, Ibrahim; Lamare, Delphine Mapiemfu; Gbakatchétché, Henri; Abera, Bayuh Belay; Jaiteh, Famara; Bam, Ralph; Dogbe, Wilson; Sékou, Keita; Rabeson, Raymond; Kamissoko, Nianankoro; Mossi, Illiassou Maïga; Tarfa, Bitrus Dawi; Bakare, S. O.; Kalisa, Alain; Baggie, I.; Kajiru, G.J.; Ablede, K. A.; Ayeva, Tchatchibara; Nanfumba, D.; Wopereis, M.C.S.

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.11.036

Cited by 107 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Very little or no use of mineral fertilizers by smallholder rice farmers in SSA has been reported previously (Castellanos‐Navarrete, Tittonell, Rufino, & Giller, 2015; Cobo, Dercon, & Cadisch, 2010; van Ittersum et al., 2016; Stoorvogel & Smaling, 1998; Vandamme et al., 2018). A combination of sub‐optimal accessibility, affordability, risk and awareness of mineral fertilizer is the underlying cause of this limited use of fertilizer (Balasubramanian et al., 2007; Diagne, Demont, Seck, & Diaw, 2012; Haefele et al., 2014; Nhamo et al., 2014; Saito et al., 2019). The relatively high use of mineral fertilizers in Rwanda, on the other side, was due to the government regulations promoting the use of mineral fertilizers for rice cultivation.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, local rice production lags behind consumption, and this is mainly due to the low yield levels attained on smallholder farms (van Ittersum et al., 2016; van Oort et al., 2015; Senthilkumar, Tesha, Mghase, & Rodenburg, 2018). Low rice yield levels at African smallholder farms are caused by abiotic stresses such as drought, nutrient deficiencies and/or toxicity, cold and heat (Haefele et al., 2013; Kijoji et al., 2012; Nhamo, Rodenburg, Zenna, Makombe, & Luzi‐Kilhupi, 2014; Poussin, Wopereis, Debouzie, & Maeght, 2003; Saito et al., 2019; Saito et al., 2013; Saito, Diack, Dieng, & Ndiaye, 2015; Saito, Dieng, Toure, Somado, & Wopereis, 2015; Tanaka et al., 2017) and biotic stresses such as birds (De Mey, Demont, & Diagne, 2012), insect pests, diseases and weeds (Adesina, Johnson, & Heinrichs, 1994; Diagne et al., 2013; Rodenburg & Johnson, 2009; Rodenburg et al., 2019). The sub‐optimal crop management practices followed by rice farmers in this region only sustain or aggravate this situation (Saito et al., 2013; Senthilkumar et al., 2018; Tanaka, Saito, Azoma, & Kobayashi, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifying rice yield gaps and their causes in Eastern and Southern Africa

Senthilkumar¹,

Rodenburg

Dieng

et al. 2020

J Agronomy Crop Science

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The demand for rice in Eastern and Southern Africa is rapidly increasing because of changes in consumer preferences and urbanization. However, local rice production lags behind consumption, mainly due to low yield levels. In order to set priorities for research and development aimed at improving rice productivity, there is a need to characterize the rice production environments, to quantify rice yield gaps—that is, the difference between average on‐farm yield and the best farmers’ yield—and to identify causes of yield gaps. Such information will help identifying and targeting technologies to alleviate the main constraints, and consequently to reduce existing yield gaps. Yield gap surveys were conducted on 357 rice farms at eight sites (19–50 farmers per site) across five rice‐producing countries in Eastern and Southern Africa—that is Ethiopia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda—for one or two years (2012–13) to collect both quantitative and qualitative data at field and farm level. Average farm yields measured at the eight sites ranged from 1.8 to 4.3 t/ha and the average yield gap ranged from 0.8 to 3.4 t/ha. Across rice‐growing environments, major causes for yield variability were straw management, weeding frequency, growth duration of the variety, weed cover, fertilizer (mineral and organic) application frequency, levelling and iron toxicity. Land levelling increased the yield by 0.74 t/ha, bird control increased the yield by 1.44 t/ha, and sub‐optimal management of weeds reduced the yield by 3.6 to 4.4 t/ha. There is great potential to reduce the current rice yield gap in ESA, by focusing on improvements of those crop management practices that address the main site‐specific causes for sub‐optimal yields.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying rice yield gaps and their causes in Eastern and Southern Africa

Senthilkumar¹,

Rodenburg

Dieng

et al. 2020

J Agronomy Crop Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Our regression analysis of field surveys, which included 20 irrigated lowland fields, 69 rainfed lowland fields, and 14 rainfed upland fields all under adequate water conditions across SSA, implied relatively low AE N at 9 ± 3 kg kg −1 under farmers' management conditions (unpublished). A recent extensive nutrition trial in a total of 1037 farmers' fields across 30 sites in 17 SSA countries also demonstrated that AE N values were relatively low even in irrigated lowlands under farmers' management practices (Saito et al, 2019). The average yields with and without N application (NPK vs. PK) were 4.8 t ha −1 and 3.4 t ha −1 for irrigated lowlands, and for 3.9 t ha −1 and 2.5 t ha −1 rainfed lowlands, and 3.1 t ha −1 and 2.2 t ha −1 for rainfed uplands across experimental sites.…”

Section: Ae N Under Smallholder-managed Fieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This result implies that the benefits and applicability of decision support tools can be extended by integrating individual soil variations within a small area even in irrigated lowlands. Further analysis from a systematic nutrient omission trials on N, P, and K across SSA (totaling 1037 farmers' fields in 17 countries, Saito et al, 2019) is expected to improve the understanding on the relationship between soil properties and responses to these macro-nutrients in different farmers' management practices and different rice production systems.…”

Section: Ae N Under Smallholder-managed Fieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and opportunities for improving N use efficiency for rice production in sub-Saharan Africa

Tsujimoto

Rakotoson

Tanaka

et al. 2019

Plant Production Science

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In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), rice production from smallholder farms is challenged because of a lack of fertilizer inputs and nutrient-poor soils. Therefore, improving nutrient efficiency is particularly important for increasing both fertilizer use and rice yield. This review discusses how to improve the return from fertilizer input in terms of agronomic N use efficiency (AE N), that is, the increase in grain yield per kg of applied N, for rice production in SSA. The AE N values we summarized here revealed large spatial variations even within small areas and a certain gap between researcher-led trials and smallholder-managed farms. Experimental results suggest AE N can be improved by addressing spatial variations in soil-related factors such as P, S, Zn, and Si deficiencies and Fe toxicity in both irrigated and rainfed production systems. In rainfed production systems, differences in small-scale topography are also important which affects AE N through dynamic changes in hydrology and variations in the contents of soil organic carbon and clay. Although empirical evidence is further needed regarding the relationship between soil properties and responses to fertilizer inputs, recent agricultural advances have generated opportunities for integrating these micro-topographical and soil-related variables into field-specific fertilizer management. These opportunities include UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology to capture microtopography at low cost, database on soil nutrient characteristics at high resolution and more numbers of fertilizer blending facilities across SSA, and interactive decision support tools by use of smartphones on site. Small-dose nursery fertilization can be also alternative approach for improving AE N in adverse field conditions in SSA.

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“…National average paddy yield was 2.3 t ha -1 , which is around half of the global average yield. This low yield was due to various constraints, including abiotic and biotic stresses, and suboptimum crop management practices (Diagne et al, 2013;MINADER, 2012;Niang et al, 2017;Saito et al, 2013Saito et al, , 2019Saito et al, , 2017Tanaka et al, 2017;Tanaka, Saito, Azoma & Kobayashi, 2013;Tsujimoto, Muranaka, Saito & Asai, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidisciplinary assessment of agricultural innovation and its impact: a case study of lowland rice variety WITA 9 in Côte d’Ivoire

Saito

Touré

Arouna

et al. 2019

Plant Production Science

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Information on comprehensive evaluation of agricultural innovations is often limited. This study provides an overview of multidisciplinary evaluation of a lowland rice variety, WITA 9 (released in Côte d'Ivoire in 1998), with respect to its agronomic performance, grain quality, resistance to diseases, adoption by farmers, impact on productivity and farmers' income, and marketability. WITA 9 had the highest paddy yield among the tested varieties including an international check (IR 64) and recently developed varieties adapted to this country. WITA 9 had a higher amylose content (26-28%) than others tested. This study confirmed its resistance to bacterial leaf blight, Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV), and rice blast. A household survey showed that the adoption rate was 24%, its paddy yield advantage was 0.7 t ha-1 , and its adoption increased farmer's income by US$ 91 ha-1 per season. A market study showed that consumers' willingness to pay was higher for WITA 9 than any other locally produced rice variety and comparable to imported rice in one of two markets. We conclude that WITA 9 is an ideal innovation for enhancing productivity and rice import substitution in Côte d'Ivoire. An effective seed delivery system and enhancing farmers' and consumers' awareness of this variety are vital for accelerating impact.

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Yield-limiting macronutrients for rice in sub-Saharan Africa

Cited by 107 publications

References 38 publications

Quantifying rice yield gaps and their causes in Eastern and Southern Africa

Quantifying rice yield gaps and their causes in Eastern and Southern Africa

Challenges and opportunities for improving N use efficiency for rice production in sub-Saharan Africa

Multidisciplinary assessment of agricultural innovation and its impact: a case study of lowland rice variety WITA 9 in Côte d’Ivoire

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