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Science-based decision support for formulating crop fertilizer recommendations in sub-Saharan Africa

dc.contributor.authorRurinda, J.
dc.contributor.authorZingore, S.
dc.contributor.authorJibrin, J.M.
dc.contributor.authorBalemi, T.
dc.contributor.authorMasuki, K.
dc.contributor.authorAndersson, J.A.
dc.contributor.authorPampolino, M.F.
dc.contributor.authorMohammed, I.
dc.contributor.authorMutegi, J.
dc.contributor.authorKamara, A.Y.
dc.contributor.authorVanlauwe, B.
dc.contributor.authorCraufurd, P.Q.
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-02T11:37:18Z
dc.date.available2020-06-02T11:37:18Z
dc.date.issued2020-04
dc.identifier.citationRurinda, J., Zingore, S., Jibrin, J.M., Balemi, T., Masuki, K., Andersson, J.A., ... & Craufurd, P.Q. (2020). Science-based decision support for formulating crop fertilizer recommendations in sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural Systems, 180, 1-13.
dc.identifier.issn0308-521X
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/6853
dc.description.abstractIn sub-Saharan Africa, there is considerable spatial and temporal variability in relations between nutrient application and crop yield, due to varying inherent soil nutrients supply, soil moisture, crop management and germplasm. This variability affects fertilizer use efficiency and crop productivity. Therefore, development of decision systems that support formulation and delivery of site-specific fertilizer recommendations is important for increased crop yield and environmental protection. Nutrient Expert (NE) is a computer-based decision support system, which enables extension advisers to generate field- or area-specific fertilizer recommendations based on yield response to fertilizer and nutrient use efficiency. We calibrated NE for major maize agroecological zones in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tanzania, with data generated from 735 on-farm nutrient omission trials conducted between 2015 and 2017. Between 2016 and 2018, 368 NE performance trials were conducted across the three countries in which recommendations generated with NE were evaluated relative to soil-test based recommendations, the current blanket fertilizer recommendations and a control with no fertilizer applied. Although maize yield response to fertilizer differed with geographic location; on average, maize yield response to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were respectively 2.4, 1.6 and 0.2 t ha−1 in Nigeria, 2.3, 0.9 and 0.2 t ha−1 in Ethiopia, and 1.5, 0.8 and 0.2 t ha−1 in Tanzania. Secondary and micronutrients increased maize yield only in specific areas in each country. Agronomic use efficiencies of N were 18, 22 and 13 kg grain kg−1 N, on average, in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tanzania, respectively. In Nigeria, NE recommended lower amounts of P by 9 and 11 kg ha−1 and K by 24 and 38 kg ha−1 than soil-test based and regional fertilizer recommendations, respectively. Yet maize yield (4 t ha−1) was similar among the three methods. Agronomic use efficiencies of P and K (300 and 250 kg kg−1, respectively) were higher with NE than with the blanket recommendation (150 and 70 kg kg−1). In Ethiopia, NE and soil-test based respectively recommended lower amounts of P by 8 and 19 kg ha−1 than the blanket recommendations, but maize yield (6 t ha−1) was similar among the three methods. Overall, fertilizer recommendations generated with NE maintained high maize yield, but at a lower fertilizer input cost than conventional methods. NE was effective as a simple and cost-effective decision support tool for fine-tuning fertilizer recommendations to farm-specific conditions and offers an alternative to soil testing, which is hardly available to most smallholder farmers.
dc.description.sponsorshipBill & Melinda Gates Foundation
dc.format.extent1-13
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectFertilizers
dc.subjectNutrients
dc.subjectYields
dc.subjectMaize
dc.subjectIntensification
dc.subjectSoil Fertility
dc.subjectSmallholders
dc.subjectFarming Systems
dc.subjectSubsaharan Africa
dc.subjectFertilizer Application
dc.titleScience-based decision support for formulating crop fertilizer recommendations in sub-Saharan Africa
dc.typeJournal Article
cg.contributor.crpMaize
cg.contributor.crpRoots, Tubers and Bananas
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Plant Nutrition Institute
cg.contributor.affiliationAfrican Plant Nutrition Institute
cg.contributor.affiliationBayero University Kano
cg.contributor.affiliationEthiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEast Africa
cg.coverage.regionWest Africa
cg.coverage.countryEthiopia
cg.coverage.countryNigeria
cg.coverage.countryTanzania
cg.coverage.hubEastern Africa Hub
cg.coverage.hubHeadquarters and Western Africa Hub
cg.researchthemeNatural Resource Management
cg.researchthemePlant Production and Health
cg.identifier.bibtexciteidRURINDA:2020
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country institute
cg.iitasubjectAgronomy
cg.iitasubjectFood Security
cg.iitasubjectFood Systems
cg.iitasubjectIntegrated Soil Fertility Management
cg.iitasubjectPlant Breeding
cg.iitasubjectPlant Production
cg.iitasubjectSmallholder Farmers
cg.iitasubjectSoil Fertility
cg.journalAgricultural Systems
cg.notesOpen Access Journal; Published online: 31 Jan 2020
cg.accessibilitystatusOpen Access
cg.reviewstatusPeer Review
cg.usagerightslicenseCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 0.0)
cg.targetaudienceScientists
cg.identifier.doihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102790
cg.iitaauthor.identifierIbrahim Mohammed: 0000-0001-5199-5528
cg.iitaauthor.identifierAlpha Kamara: 0000-0002-1844-2574
cg.iitaauthor.identifierbernard vanlauwe: 0000-0001-6016-6027


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