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Combining manure with mineral N fertilizer maintains maize yields: evidence from four long-term experiments in Kenya

dc.contributor.authorLaub, M.
dc.contributor.authorCorbeels, M.
dc.contributor.authorNdungu, S.M.
dc.contributor.authorMucheru-Muna, M.
dc.contributor.authorMugendi, D.
dc.contributor.authorNecpalova, M.
dc.contributor.authorVan de Broek, M.
dc.contributor.authorWaswa, W.
dc.contributor.authorVanlauwe, B.
dc.contributor.authorSix, J.
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-04T14:44:37Z
dc.date.available2023-07-04T14:44:37Z
dc.date.issued2023-02-01
dc.identifier.citationLaub, M., Corbeels, M., Ndungu, S.M., Mucheru-Muna, M., Mugendi, D., Necpalova, M., ... & Six, J. (2023). Combining manure with mineral N fertilizer maintains maize yields: Evidence from four long-term experiments in Kenya. Field Crops Research, 291: 108788, 1-15.
dc.identifier.issn0378-4290
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/8224
dc.description.abstractContext Crop productivity in sub-Saharan Africa cannot be substantially improved without simultaneously addressing short-term crop nutrient demand and long-term soil fertility. Integrated soil fertility management tackles both by the combined application of mineral fertilizers and organic resource inputs but few studies examined its‘ long-term effectiveness. Objective To address this knowledge gap, this study analysed maize yield trends in four long-term (31–37 cropping seasons) field experiments in Kenya with contrasting soil textures and under different climates. Methods All sites had two maize cropping seasons per year, received a base P and K fertilization and tested combinations of organic resource addition (1.2 and 4 t C ha-1 yr-1 ranging from farmyard manure, to high-quality Tithonia diversifolia and Calliandra calothyrsus material to low-quality saw dust), combined with (+N) and without (-N) mineral N fertilizer (120 kg N ha-1 season-1). General maize yield trends across sites and site specific trends were analyzed. Results Across sites, the no-input control experienced significant average maize yield reductions of 50 kg ha-1 yr-1 over the study period. In contrast, the treatment with farmyard manure +N maintained yields at both 1.2 and 4 t C ha-1 yr-1. High initial yields following additions of Tithonia and Calliandra, reduced over time. Assessment by site showed site specificity of maize yields and yield trends. For example, the two climatically favorable sites in western Kenya experienced yield gains with high quality organic resources at 4 t C ha-1 yr-1, leading to yields of up to 8 t ha-1 per season, while sites in central Kenya experienced yield losses, leading to 3.5 t ha-1 per season. Yield site specificity for ± mineral N treatments was stonger than for organic resource treatments, e.g. the clayey site in central Kenya in the end showed no yield differences between ± N, except for the 1.2 t C ha-1 yr-1 farmyard manure treatment. Yet, farmyard manure plus mineral N consistently achieved highest yields of all organic resource treatments at all sites and farmyard manure addition at 1.2 t C ha-1 yr-1 (about 5 t dry matter) was the most N-efficient treatment. Conclusions At realistic application rates, maize yield in integrated soil fertility management is best sustained by a combined application of farmyard manure and mineral N. Implications Mixed crop-livestock systems and a combined manure and mineral N application are key ingredients for sustained productivity of smallholder systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
dc.description.sponsorshipSwiss National Science Foundation
dc.description.sponsorshipAgropolis Foundation
dc.description.sponsorshipTOTAL Foundation
dc.description.sponsorshipTropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT
dc.description.sponsorshipInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
dc.format.extent1-15
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectIntegrated Soil Sertility Management
dc.subjectMaize
dc.subjectYields
dc.subjectFood Security
dc.subjectSustainable Intensification
dc.subjectKenya
dc.titleCombining manure with mineral N fertilizer maintains maize yields: evidence from four long-term experiments in Kenya
dc.typeJournal Article
cg.contributor.crpMaize
cg.contributor.crpRoots, Tubers and Bananas
cg.contributor.affiliationETH Zürich
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Montpellier
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.affiliationKenyatta University
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Embu
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEast Africa
cg.coverage.countryKenya
cg.coverage.hubCentral Africa Hub
cg.researchthemeNatural Resource Management
cg.identifier.bibtexciteidLAUB:2023
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country institute
cg.iitasubjectAgronomy
cg.iitasubjectFood Security
cg.iitasubjectMaize
cg.iitasubjectPlant Breeding
cg.iitasubjectPlant Production
cg.iitasubjectSoil Fertility
cg.journalField Crops Research
cg.notesOpen Access Article; Published online: 19 Dec 2022
cg.accessibilitystatusOpen Access
cg.reviewstatusPeer Review
cg.usagerightslicenseCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 0.0)
cg.targetaudienceScientists
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2022.108788
cg.iitaauthor.identifierbernard vanlauwe: 0000-0001-6016-6027
cg.futureupdate.requiredNo
cg.identifier.issue108788
cg.identifier.volume291


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