Fertilizer Recommendation for Maize and Cassava Within the Breadbasket Zone of Ghana

Tetteh, F. M.; Ennim, S. A.; Issaka, Roland Nuhu; Buri, Mohammed Moro; Ahiabor, B. A. K.; Fening, J. O.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-58792-9_10

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…All the sites surveyed in northern Ghana were critically low in organic C, N, and P. This is in line with findings of Antwi et al (37), Asei et al (38), and Tetteh et al (39) on soil fertility levels in the Guinea and Sudan savannah zone of Ghana. This is attributable to the dominant soil groups of the region, which are highly weathered with poor soil texture, characterized by low organic matter content and low cation exchange capacity, thereby causing low nutrient levels (40).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Use of Limiting Nutrients for Reclamation of Non-responsive Soils in Northern Ghana

Asei¹,

Abaidoo²,

Opoku³

et al. 2021

Front. Soil Sci.

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A better understanding of soil fertility factors that constraint positive crop response to fertilizer inputs will facilitate the improvement of soil nutrient management. In this study, a nutrient omission trial was carried out in a greenhouse condition to identify soil chemical properties limiting in non-responsive soils and to ascertain their effect on soybean (Glycine max) production. The treatments evaluated were control (distilled water), complete nutrient solution (all nutrients), and complete solution with the omission of each of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, B, and Mo) arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. After the greenhouse study, the identified limiting nutrients were tested with or without FertiSoil (commercial compost) in a 3 year field experiment. Results of the soil analyses showed low fertility status of the non-responsive soils. The sufficiency quotient index revealed non-responsive soils in all the sites to be predominantly limiting in P and K. The occurrence of other limiting nutrients was also identified: Pishegu (Zn, B), Serekpere (Mg, S), Daffiama Saapare (Ca, Mg, S), and Naaga (Mg, S, Zn, B). The nutrient inputs positively influenced soybean yield response in all the locations. The application of PKZnB with FertiSoil and FertiSoil alone significantly increased soybean grain yields by 585 and 477 kg ha−1, respectively, at Pishegu. Soybean grain yields also increased by 585, 573, and 364 kg ha−1 under the FertiSoil, PKMgS + FertiSoil, and PKMgS applications at Serekpere, respectively. At Daffiama Saapare, the highest (103%) percent increase in soybean grain yield was recorded from the combined application of PKMgSCa and FertiSoil. However, the application of FertiSoil and PKMgSCa singly equally increased soybean grain yield by 77%. Percent soybean grain yield increases of 86, 84, and 74% were observed when PKMgSZnB + FertiSoil, PKMgSZnB, and FertiSoil were applied, respectively, at Naaga. In absolute terms, 83% of the fields had a positive response to mineral fertilizer and 93% to FertiSoil and mineral fertilizer + FertiSoil applications. Organic amendment and/or site-specific fertilizer applications are the best options for alleviating poor or no crop responses to inputs and improve productivity on non-responsive soils.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Use of Limiting Nutrients for Reclamation of Non-responsive Soils in Northern Ghana

Asei¹,

Abaidoo²,

Opoku³

et al. 2021

Front. Soil Sci.

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“…and organic residues can be use by farmers (Bationo et al, 2007;Bekunda et al, 2010) during the beginning of the major and minor farming seasons to increase maize yield from the current 1.75 t/ha in the Nkoranza (North and South District). Also, site specific fertilizer application (Tetteh et al, 2017(Tetteh et al, , 2018 compared to the blanket fertilizer application [mostly two (2) bags of 50 kg NPK and 1 bag of 50 kg of Urea or Sulfate of Ammonia per ha] is recommended for small farm holders in the Nkoranza (north and south) districts. Thus, the relevance of mineral fertilizer use in the intensification of food production on small farms cannot be under estimated especially in areas with soils deficient in nutrients.…”

Section: Limiting Factors To Sustainable Intensification In the Study...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Tetteh et al (2018), combined application of organic fertilizer (poultry manure at 2.5 T ha −1 ) with 60 kg N ha −1 of mineral fertilizer yielded the same yield as the application of sole 90 kg N ha −1 . Hence, the application of 90 kg N ha −1 yielded optimum economic returns in the Forest-Savannah Transition Zone (FSTZ).…”

Section: Limiting Factors To Sustainable Intensification In the Study...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the current fertilizer recommendation for maize with respect to NPK recommendation is N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O:90-60-60+1.7 Zn and for recommended blends per hectare is N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O:15-20-20+0.7 Zn (8 bags/ha + 2bags/ha urea) for the FSTZ of Ghana. Also, the recommended fertilizer formulae blend is N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O:15-20-20 +0.7 Zn (6 bags/ha + 2 bags/ha urea) (Tetteh et al, 2017(Tetteh et al, , 2018. The mean yield from field validations of the new fertilizer recommendations using the new blends or formulae yielded a mean of 6.0 t/ha.…”

Section: Limiting Factors To Sustainable Intensification In the Study...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil suitability assessment for sustainable intensification of maize production in the humid Savannah of Ghana

Awoonor,

Dogbey,

Quansah

2023

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), food security is a significant challenge due to unreliable rainfall and depleting soil fertility. Most of the soil resource in the sub-region which constitutes majority of the fields of smallholder farmers is degraded. Hence, there is a need to identify suitable soils for sustainable intensification. The objectives of this study were to: (i) evaluate the suitability and fertility constraints of soils and (ii) discuss the influence of soil properties on maize production in the Nkoranza (north and south) district. A total of sixty (60) soil samples were sampled from smallholder farms under careful consideration of topography and the spatial pattern of land use systems. The evaluation of soil suitability was carried out using climate (temperature and rainfall) and physico-chemical characteristics of soils for maize (Zea mays) production. The results indicated that soil texture varied from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. Soil organic carbon concentration (SOC) ranged between 0.55 and 2.02%. Total nitrogen (TN) and SOC were low in all soil types except in the Bediesi series (Haplic Luvisol). Base cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+) were low and varied between soil types. Although climatic factors and physical properties were highly suitable (S1), more than half of the pedons were moderately suitable (S2). The soils functioned at a moderate capacity for maize production. The major limitations identified were sub-optimal and related to soil fertility (CEC). Pearson correlation revealed a relationship between parametric actual index (PAI) and parametric potential index (PPI; r = 0.940, p < 0.003) and between soil resilience index (SRI; r = 0.768, p < 0.037) and the relationship between these variables is a perfect correlation. Soil management is required to increase maize yield in the study area. Soil erosion prevention measures such as cover crops, mulching, organic manure (poultry), and mineral fertilizer application are recommended to improve soil fertility in the Nkoranza (north and south) district. This study can inform policies and interventions geared toward sustainable agricultural intensification. Land and soil are heterogeneous and any decision on intensification in this study accounted for the prevailing local conditions of the study area. Therefore, indexing soil suitability using climate (rainfall and temperature), physical land characteristics (topography, drainage) and chemical properties (pH, SOM, SOC, TN, Av. P, Av. K, etc.) of soil resources for sustainable intensification of maize is proposed for smallholder farming communities of Nkoranza (north and south) districts in the Forest-Savannah Transition Zone of Ghana.

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“…These challenges cut across different stages of and involve different stakeholders in the value chain. For example, fertiliser recommendations to farmers are often not site specific (AGRA, 2019; Tetteh et al, 2018), government interventions are expensive, cumbersome to implement and result in market distortion (Mabe et al, 2018), and investment in research is insufficient (Bindraban et al, 2018). Fertiliser use in Ghana, which stands at 20.88 kg/ha according to the World Bank (2020), remains below the recommended 50 kg/ha stated in the Abuja Declaration, and this partly accounts for the low crop yield experienced in the country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Informing the design of a multistakeholder platform in Ghana using stakeholder analysis and social network analysis

et al. 2023

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The fertiliser value chain in Ghana faces many challenges that limit its potential contribution to food production and food security in the country. This has necessitated discussions on the need to establish a multi-stakeholder platform to address existing value chain challenges. In preparation for this platform, this study conducted 31 interviews and identified 24 stakeholder groups in the fertiliser value chain using stakeholder analysis and social network analysis. We found that while many of the public sector stakeholders have a lot of power and show high interest in the fertiliser value chain, they usually face resource constraints in exercising their duties. Conversely, a majority of the private sector stakeholders have a high interest in fertilisers but do not have much power to influence decisions. Also, development partners are very powerful and resourceful, but practically, they have a temporary presence in the value chain. The study subsequently combined the results from stakeholder analysis and social network analysis and identified 19 critical stakeholders out of the initial 24 who can highly influence the initial planning and subsequent success of the platform. Lastly, the study identified challenges that the platform may face and the conditions to put in place to avoid/address these identified challenges. Overall, the study concludes that if the identified critical stakeholders are engaged and the platform clearly outlines its objectives and vision, it can address the challenges in the fertiliser value chain, contribute to the development of the general agriculture sector and improve food production and food security in Ghana.

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Fertilizer Recommendation for Maize and Cassava Within the Breadbasket Zone of Ghana

Cited by 6 publications

References 6 publications

Use of Limiting Nutrients for Reclamation of Non-responsive Soils in Northern Ghana

Use of Limiting Nutrients for Reclamation of Non-responsive Soils in Northern Ghana

Soil suitability assessment for sustainable intensification of maize production in the humid Savannah of Ghana

Informing the design of a multistakeholder platform in Ghana using stakeholder analysis and social network analysis

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