Micro-dosing as a pathway to Africa’s Green Revolution: evidence from broad-scale on-farm trials

Twomlow, S.; Rohrbach, D.; Dimes, J.; Rusike, J.; Mupangwa, W.; Ncube, B.; Hove, L.; Moyo, M.; Mashingaidze, N.; Mahposa, P.

doi:10.1007/978-90-481-2543-2_113

Cited by 44 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…3B). These data demonstrate generally higher grain yields from a small fertilizer dose, as has been reported by Twomlow et al (23). Similar to the China dataset, some crops yielded greater than the simulated yield, likely owing to higher water and/or N resource availability compared with that used in the simulations.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

“…The majority of these smallholder maize crops produced less than half of what could be expected, even considering the very low yields and investment levels in fertilizer application. Alongside the call for higher investments in soil fertility and fertilizer use in sub-Saharan Africa (23,25) is a basic prerequisite to improve the agronomic practices and technical skills of African farmers (26).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many Chinese farmers can reduce N inputs without sacrificing production through more efficient use of their current fertilizer resources; their environment will benefit as well (12). Most African farmers have the opportunity for significant production increases by both improving their technical efficiency and increasing their N inputs, but doing so will require improved management expertise and institutional support in dealing with the higher risks from investing in increased inputs (14,23).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Scope for improved eco-efficiency varies among diverse cropping systems

Carberry

Liang

Twomlow³

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Global food security requires eco-efficient agriculture to produce the required food and fiber products concomitant with ecologically efficient use of resources. This eco-efficiency concept is used to diagnose the state of agricultural production in China (irrigated wheat–maize double-cropping systems), Zimbabwe (rainfed maize systems), and Australia (rainfed wheat systems). More than 3,000 surveyed crop yields in these three countries were compared against simulated grain yields at farmer-specified levels of nitrogen (N) input. Many Australian commercial wheat farmers are both close to existing production frontiers and gain little prospective return from increasing their N input. Significant losses of N from their systems, either as nitrous oxide emissions or as nitrate leached from the soil profile, are infrequent and at low intensities relative to their level of grain production. These Australian farmers operate close to eco-efficient frontiers in regard to N, and so innovations in technologies and practices are essential to increasing their production without added economic or environmental risks. In contrast, many Chinese farmers can reduce N input without sacrificing production through more efficient use of their fertilizer input. In fact, there are real prospects for the double-cropping systems on the North China Plain to achieve both production increases and reduced environmental risks. Zimbabwean farmers have the opportunity for significant production increases by both improving their technical efficiency and increasing their level of input; however, doing so will require improved management expertise and greater access to institutional support for addressing the higher risks. This paper shows that pathways for achieving improved eco-efficiency will differ among diverse cropping systems.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Scope for improved eco-efficiency varies among diverse cropping systems

Carberry

Liang

Twomlow³

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…After water availability, soil nutritional status is the greatest constraint to food production across the arid and semi-arid SSA countries [105,151,152]. When soil moisture is adequate for plant growth, the crop will reach its maximum growth potential if nutrient supply is adequate.…”

Section: Micro-fertilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several authors have reported a challenge of poor soil fertility that farmers in semi-arid areas are facing [153][154][155]. The problem is acute for poor farmers in semi-arid Sub-Saharan Africa countries [151,156,157]. The precision-farming technique referred to as "microdosing" has been developed by experts [158][159][160].…”

Section: Micro-fertilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop Upgrading Strategies and Modelling for Rainfed Cereals in a Semi-Arid Climate—A Review

Silungwe

Graef

Bellingrath-Kimura

et al. 2018

Water

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Spatiotemporal rainfall variability and low soil fertility are the primary crop production challenges facing poor farmers in semi-arid environments. However, there are few solutions for addressing these challenges. The literature provides several crop upgrading strategies (UPS) for improving crop yields, and biophysical models are used to simulate these strategies. However, the suitability of UPS is limited by systemization of their areas of application and the need to cope with the challenges faced by poor farmers. In this study, we reviewed 187 papers from peer-reviewed journals, conferences and reports that discuss UPS suitable for cereals and biophysical models used to assist in the selection of UPS in semi-arid areas. We found that four UPS were the most suitable, namely tied ridges, microdose fertilization, varying sowing dates, and field scattering. The DSSAT, APSIM and AquaCrop models adequately simulate these UPS. This work provides a systemization of crop UPS and models in semi-arid areas that can be applied by scientists and planners.

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Pearl millet yields and yield stability under long‐term soil fertility management in the Sahel

Iliasso

Ibrahim²,

Fatondji

et al. 2022

Agronomy Journal

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Little is known about the impact of long‐term fertilizer microdose on pearl millet [Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone] yields and yield stability in the Sahel. An 8‐yr, long‐term experiment evaluated pearl millet yields and yield stability under fertilizer microdose along with crop residues (CRs) management in different plant spacings. Treatments included (a) one absolute control (without fertilizer) and two fertilizer microdose options, (b) 2 g diammonium phosphate fertilizer per planting hole, and (c) 6 g of 15–15–15 (N–P–K) fertilizer per planting hole—under two plant spacings (10,000 and 15,000 pockets ha–1) and with and without CR removal. These were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. A decrease in pearl millet plant spacing (15,000 pockets ha–1) markedly enhanced pearl millet grain yield and total dry matter by 12 and 11%, respectively, vs. the recommended plant spacing (10,000 pockets ha–1). The mean pearl millet grain yields over 8 yr were 470 and 262 kg ha–1 in fertilizer microdose and control plots, respectively. The pearl millet yields increased by 7 and 81% with CR retention in microdose and control plots, respectively, vs. plots with CR removal. Grain yields reductions of 16 and 38% were recorded in fertilizer microdose and control plots, respectively, after 8 yr regardless of CR retention. Fertilizer microdose without CR removal was more stable. However, a considerable decrease in soil N status was observed after 8 yr. These results suggest that fertilizer microdose in combination with CR retention should be used as a base practice for increasing yield in the low‐input, pearl millet‐based cropping system of the Sahel and similar cropping systems.

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Micro-dosing as a pathway to Africa’s Green Revolution: evidence from broad-scale on-farm trials

Cited by 44 publications

References 4 publications

Scope for improved eco-efficiency varies among diverse cropping systems

Scope for improved eco-efficiency varies among diverse cropping systems

Crop Upgrading Strategies and Modelling for Rainfed Cereals in a Semi-Arid Climate—A Review

Pearl millet yields and yield stability under long‐term soil fertility management in the Sahel

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