Maize Sole Crop and Intercrop Response to Fertilizer in Mali and Niger

Abstract

Core Ideas Applying N for maize production in semi‐arid west Africa can be profitable.The profit potential of N application is great for maize–groundnut intercrop.Application of P and K has low and inconsistent profit potential for maize production in semi‐arid west Africa.Nutrient response functions can be determined for maize–groundnut intercrop from maize sole crop data. Maize (Zea mays L.) is important in semiarid West Africa where the increase in demand exceeds the increase in production. Yield is often constrained by inadequate nutrient availability even though the occurrence of soil water deficits may overall be more constraining. Research was conducted in semiarid Mali and Niger to determine the yield and profit responses of maize sole crop (MzSC) to N, P, and K and to develop a procedure for determining maize–groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) intercrop (MzGnI) nutrient response functions from MzSC functions. Trials were conducted in 2014 and 2015 at five locations spanning 14 degrees of longitude and two degrees of latitude. Mean MzSC grain yield increase due to 50 kg ha−1 N was 0.69 Mg ha−1 in Mali and 0.42 Mg ha−1 in Niger, and due to 10 kg ha−1 P was 0.14 Mg ha−1 in Niger with inconsistent P effects in Mali. Responses to K were negligible. Productivity and profit potential with N application was more with MzGnI compared with MzSC, but profit potential for applied P and K were not improved with MzGnI. Considering the fodder value of stover added to production value but did not have much effect on profits from fertilizer use. The procedure for determining MzGnI nutrient response functions by adapting MzSC functions was developed, providing a means to improve fertilizer use efficiency for MzGnI. Productivity and returns to applied N, on a maize grain value equivalent, are greater with MzGnI compared to MzSC.

Farming on the fringe: Shallow groundwater dynamics and irrigation scheduling for maize and wheat in Bangladesh’s coastal delta

“…Our findings suggest that a higher (recommended) fertilizer rate is associated with improved economic returns when compared to lower rates more representative of farmers’ current practices in all of the three locations studied. Similar findings have been noted by a number of other studies including of on-station (Maman et al, 2018) and on-farm (Witt et al, 2006) trials, computer simulation models (Donner and Kucharik, 2003), and economic analyses using survey data (Xu et al, 2006; Maine et al, 2007). Several studies favour balanced fertilizer use for higher profits in markets with stable prices (Darko et al, 2016; Liverpool-Tasie et al, 2017).…”

Growth, Yield and Nutritional Performance of Sweet Sorghum and Legumes in Sole and Intercropping Influenced by Type of Legume, Nitrogen Level and Air Quality

“…Although adverse effects of ambient air have been reported on the crop [15], it was also categorized as a somewhat resistant plant to most of the air pollutants [16]. Balanced use of fertilizer helps improve grain yield and maintains its nutritive value in intercropping in order to meet increased land productivity targets [17].…”

Maize response to applied nutrients for West African savannas

“…The soil test levels for B were very low (Table 2), but responses to B in other research have been rare and it cannot be concluded that response to applied B resulted in the yield increase with MgSZnB. There was also a substantial mean maize‐grain yield response to MgSZnB in Rwanda but not in Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Niger, Tanzania, or Zambia (Maman et al., 2017; Wortmann et al., 2018).…”

“…(2012) for Uganda, Maman et al. (2017) for Mali and Niger, and Wortmann et al. (2018) for several eastern and southern Africa countries.…”

“…Maize response to N, P, and K application has been investigated in West Africa. The mean responses to nutrient application determined from other research for the latitude range of 10.0 to 12.7°N, spanning eastward from Mali to Nigeria, were 0.61 Mg ha −1 for 50 kg ha −1 N determined from 21 studies, 0.40 Mg ha −1 for 10 kg ha −1 P determined from 18 studies, and 0.23 Mg ha −1 for 20 kg ha −1 K determined from 18 studies (Bado, Sedogo, & Lompo, 2004; Carsky, Oyewole, & Tian, 1999; Maman et al., 2017; Muhamman, Auwalu, & Mohammed, 2014; Tetteh & Nurudeen, 2015; Uyovbisere & Lombin, 1990; Wortmann, 2018; Yusuf, Iwuafor, Abaidoo, Olufajo, & Sanginga, 2009). The standard deviations were similar to or greater than the response means, indicating a need for more information on maize response to applied nutrients for the diverse production conditions of the region.…”