Understanding the response of sorghum cultivars to nitrogen applications in the semi-arid Nigeria using the agricultural production systems simulator

Akinseye, F M and Ajeigbe, H A and Kamara, A Y and Adefisan, E A and Whitbread, A M (2020) Understanding the response of sorghum cultivars to nitrogen applications in the semi-arid Nigeria using the agricultural production systems simulator. Journal of Plant Nutrition. pp. 1-17. ISSN 0190-4167

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Abstract

The Agricultural Production Systems simulator (APSIM) model was calibrated and evaluated using two improved sorghum varieties conducted in an experiment designed in a randomized complete block, 2014–2016 at two research stations in Nigeria. The results show that the model replicated the observed yield accounting for yield differences and variations in phenological development between the two sorghum cultivars. For early-maturing cultivar (ICSV-400), the model indicated by low accuracy with root means square error (RMSE) for biomass and grain yields of 20.3% and 23.7%. Meanwhile, Improved-Deko (medium-maturing) cultivar shows the model was calibrated with low RMSE (11.1% for biomass and 13.9% for grain). Also, the model captured yield response to varying Nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications in the three agroecological zones simulated. The N-fertilizer increased simulated grain yield by 26–52% for ICSV-400 and 19–50% for Improved-Deko compared to unfertilized treatment in Sudano-Sahelian zone. The insignificant yield differences between N-fertilizer rates of 60 and 100 kgha−1 suggests 60 kgNha−1 as the optimal rate for Sudano-Sahelian zone. Similarly, grain yield increased by 23–57% for ICSV-400 and 19–59% for Improved Deko compared to unfertilized N-treatment while the optimal mean grain yield was simulated at 80 kgNha−1 in the Sudan savanna zone. In the northern Guinea savanna, mean simulated grain yield increased by 8–20% for ICSV-400 and 12–23% for Improved-Deko when N-fertilizer was applied compared to unfertilized treatment. Optimum grain yield was obtained at 40 kgha−1. Our study suggests a review of blanket recommended fertilizer rates across semi-arid environments for sorghum to maximize productivity and eliminate fertilizer losses, means of adaptation strategies to climate variability.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : Innovation Systems for the Drylands (ISD) Research Program : West & Central Africa
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	APSIM, climate variability, N-fertilizer rate, rain-fed agriculture, water use efficiency
Subjects:	Others > Climate Adaptation Others > Semi-Arid Tropics Others > Nigeria Mandate crops > Sorghum Others > Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics Others > Fertilizer Applications
Depositing User:	Mr Arun S
Date Deposited:	20 Jan 2020 04:24
Last Modified:	20 Jan 2020 04:37
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11355
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2020.1711943
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	CGIAR Research Program Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), CGIAR Research Programs Grain Legumes and CRP Dryland Cereals (GLDC)
Acknowledgement:	The authors would like to thank the International Crops Research Institute for The Semi-Arid Tropic (ICRISAT), for providing institutional support to conduct the experimental work. AMW acknowledges the CGIAR Research Program Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) for funding his time. HA and MA acknowledges the CGIAR Research Programs Grain Legumes and CRP Dryland Cereals (GLDC) for funding their time. We are grateful for the help of the field and laboratory staff from ICRISAT Kano for hosting the trial on which this study is based.
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