Soil management practices to improve nutrient-use efficiencies and reduce risk in millet-based cropping systems in the Sahel

    Yamoah, C F and Bationo, A and Shapiro, B and Koala, S (2003) Soil management practices to improve nutrient-use efficiencies and reduce risk in millet-based cropping systems in the Sahel. Tropicultura, 21 (2). pp. 66-72. ISSN 0771-3312

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    Abstract

    Low soil fertility and moisture deficit are among the main constraints to sustainable crop yields in the Sahel. A study therefore, was conducted at the ICRISAT Sahelian Center, Sadore in Niger to test the hypothesis that integrated soil husbandry practices consisting of manure, fertilizer and crop residues in rotational cropping systems use organic and mineral fertilizes efficiently, thereby resulting in higher yields and reduced risk. Results from an analysis of variance showed that choice of cropping systems explained more than 50% of overall variability in millet and cowpea grain yields. Among the cropping systems, rotation gave higher yields than sole crop and intercropping systems and increased millet yield by 46% without fertilizer. Rainfall-use efficiency and partial factor productivity of fertilizer were similarly higher in rotations than in millet monoculture system. Returns from cowpea grown in cowpea-millet rotation without fertilizer and the medium rates of fertilizers (4 kg P.ha-1 + 15 kg N.ha-1) were found to be most profitable in terms of high returns and low risk, principally because of a higher price of cowpea than millet. The study recommends crop diversification, either in the form of rotations or relay intercropping systems for the Sahel as an insurance against total crop failure

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Subjects: Mandate crops > Millets
    Others > Soil Science
    Depositing User: Ms K Syamalamba
    Date Deposited: 22 May 2013 11:05
    Last Modified: 20 Sep 2013 13:06
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/6816
    Official URL: http://www.tropicultura.org/text/v21n2/66.pdf
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: UNSPECIFIED
    Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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