Determinants of nutrient balances in a maize farming system in eastern Uganda

Nkonya, Ephraim; Kaizzi, Crammer; Pender, John

doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2004.04.004

Cited by 80 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Although food shortages in Karamoja sub-region have been known to arise as a result of anomalous weather conditions, declining soil fertility and civil insecurity [18], [19], there is limited information on the relationship between cultural practices and food security. Specifically, little account is taken in the literature of the extent to which culture and ethnic diversity relates to food security in one of the most food insecure and ethnically diverse regions of eastern Africa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Cultural Norms and Food Security in the Karamoja Sub-Region of Uganda

Olum¹,

Okello-Uma²,

Tumuhimbise³

et al. 2017

JFNR

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Culture is a strong determinant of food security through its influence on what society considers acceptable for consumption. Karamoja sub-region is one of the most ethnically diverse parts of eastern Africa, and is associated with the highest levels of food insecurity in Uganda. However, there is a general lack of understanding on the extent to which ethnicity is a contributing factor to food insecurity. We examined the relationship between ethnicity and food security in relation to commonly practiced cultural norms among the Jie, Karamojong and Tepeth ethnic groups of Karamoja. Data from 273 randomly selected households across a range of cultural settings were obtained using structured questionnaires in the September-October (2015) period. Food security status was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), daily calorie intake and coping strategy index. The study also used focus group discussions to assess the implications for food security of common cultural practices. Results confirm the general observation that the sub-region is food insecure. There were also significant variations in food security across geographical location and ethnicity. Cultural restrictions, applied particularly to women and children, over the consumption of several nutritious foods from livestock were revealed. Consumption of raw milk and animal blood, potential sources of food-borne infections and thus of malnutrition, was found to be high in the sub-region and varied significantly across ethnicity. The findings provide a basis for interventions aimed at reducing food insecurity and averting cultural impediments to a more nutritious diet.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Cultural Norms and Food Security in the Karamoja Sub-Region of Uganda

Olum¹,

Okello-Uma²,

Tumuhimbise³

et al. 2017

JFNR

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“…Mutsaers et al, 1995), farmers' resource allocation decisions (e.g. Nkonya et al, 2005), or combinations of these (e.g. Samaké et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unravelling the effects of soil and crop management on maize productivity in smallholder agricultural systems of western Kenya—An application of classification and regression tree analysis

Tittonell¹,

Shepherd²,

Vanlauwe³

et al. 2008

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

199

109

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To guide soil fertility investment programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, better understanding is needed of the relative importance of soil and crop management factors in determining smallholder crop yields and yield variability. Spatial variability in crop yields within farms is strongly influenced by variation in both current crop management (e.g. planting dates, fertilizer rates) and soil fertility. Variability in soil fertility is in turn strongly influenced by farmers' past soil and crop management. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative importance of soil fertility and crop management factors in determining yield variability and the gap between farmers' maize yields and potential yields in western Kenya. Soil fertility status was assessed on 522 farmers' fields on 60 farms and paired with data on maize-yield and agronomic management for a sub-sample 159 fields. Soil samples were analysed by wet chemistry methods (1/3 of the samples) and also by near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (all samples). Spectral prediction models for different soil indicators were developed to estimate soil properties for the 2/3 of the samples not analysed by wet chemistry. Because of the complexity of the data set, classification and regression trees (CART) were used to relate crop yields to soil and management factors. Maize grain yields for fields of different soil fertility status as classified by farmers were: poor, 0.5-1.1; medium, 1.0-1.8; high, 1.4-2.5 t ha À1. The CART analysis showed resource use intensity, planting date, and time of planting were the principal variables determining yield, but at low resource intensity, total soil N and soil Olsen P became important yield-determining factors. Only a small group of plots with high average grain yields (2.5 t ha À1; n = 8) was associated with use of nutrient inputs and good plant stands, whereas the largest group with low average yields (1.2 t ha À1; n = 90) was associated with soil Olsen P values of less than 4 mg kg À1. This classification could be useful as a basis for targeting agronomic advice and inputs to farmers. The results suggest that soil fertility variability patterns on smallholder farms are reinforced by farmers investing more resources on already fertile fields than on infertile fields. CART proved a useful tool for simplifying analysis and providing robust models linking yield to heterogeneous crop management and soil variables. #

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“…However, [69] report a possible range of 0-28 kg·ha −1 ·year −1 for erosion induced N-losses from arable land in East Africa. Other SNB studies conducted for Uganda, estimated N-and P-losses with 5-14 and 1.5-10.0 kg·ha −1 ·year −1 , respectively [25,79,80].…”

Section: Discussion Of Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our model, BNF is 12 ± 3 kg·N·ha −1 ·year −1 in AM1, compared to 17 ± 4, 29 ± 7, and 85 ± 17 kg·N·ha −1 ·year −1 in AM2, AM4, and AM3/5, respectively. The BNF estimated for the current state is therefore appropriate, compared to a typical value of approximately 12-16 kg·N·ha −1 ·year −1 for East African farming systems [25][26][27]68,79,80]. The amount of N fixed by leguminous beans, meanwhile, depends on assumed crop yields.…”

Section: Soil Nutrient Balancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recycling Improves Soil Fertility Management in Smallholdings in Tanzania

Krause

Rotter

2018

Agriculture

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Abstract:Residues from bioenergy and ecological sanitation (EcoSan) can be utilized to sustain soil fertility and productivity. With regard to certain cooking and sanitation technologies used in smallholder households (hh), we systematically analyzed how utilization of the respective potentials to recover residues for farming affects (i) soil nutrient balances, (ii) the potential for subsistence production of composts, and (iii) environmental emissions. On the example of an intercropping farming system in Karagwe, Tanzania, we studied specific farming practices including (1) current practices of using standard compost only; (2) a combination of using biogas slurry, urine, and standard compost; (3) a combination of using so-called "CaSa-compost" (containing biochar and sanitized human excreta, Project "Carbonization and Sanitation"), urine, and standard compost. The system analysis combines a soil nutrient balance (SNB) with material flow analysis (MFA). Currently, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are depleted by −54 ± 3 and −8 ± 1 kg·ha −1 ·year −1 , respectively. Our analysis shows, however, a clear potential to reduce depletion rates of N, and to reverse the SNB of P, to bring about a positive outcome. Composts and biogas slurry supply sufficient P to crops, while urine effectively supplements N. By using resources recovered from cooking and sanitation, sufficient compost for subsistence farming may be produced. Human excreta contribute especially to total N and total P in CaSa-compost, whilst biochar recovered from cooking with microgasifier stoves adds to total carbon (C) and total P. We conclude that the combined recycling of household residues from cooking and from sanitation, and CaSa-compost in particular, is especially suitable for sustainable soil management, as it mitigates existing P-deficiency and soil acidity, and also restores soil organic matter.

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Determinants of nutrient balances in a maize farming system in eastern Uganda

Cited by 80 publications

References 19 publications

The Relationship between Cultural Norms and Food Security in the Karamoja Sub-Region of Uganda

The Relationship between Cultural Norms and Food Security in the Karamoja Sub-Region of Uganda

Unravelling the effects of soil and crop management on maize productivity in smallholder agricultural systems of western Kenya—An application of classification and regression tree analysis

Recycling Improves Soil Fertility Management in Smallholdings in Tanzania

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