Final report of agronomic trial and water management of fertilizer micro-dosing technology on traditional leafy vegetables

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)This trial tested and fine-tuned fertilizer micro-dosing and application (using different rates and time intervals), on the yield and quality of Indigenous vegetables. Results show that fertilizer micro-dosing can be used to sustainably produce these vegetables when combined with organic manure at the rate of 5 tons per ha. Soils of both forest and savanna ecosystems were able to sustain high vegetable yield under fertilizer micro-dose rate at 40 kg/ha over the three years of study when compared with the farmers' recommended rates. Capillary irrigation can reduce both the volume of required irrigation water, and women’s workloads

Advanced tools for food security research: web-based GIS mapping and synchrotron-based analysis for scaling up the MicroVeg agronomic innovations

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)The new WebGIS platform allows visualization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data compiled from online sources as well project research. Part of the larger project “Synergizing fertilizer micro-dosing and indigenous vegetable production to enhance food and economic security of West African farmers (CIFSRF Phase 2)” it contains climate, topographical, infrastructure, soil data and all of MicroVeg agronomic data, adjusted into two seasons (wet vs. dry) three ecozones (rainforest, savannah, and sudano savannah) for the four vegetable crops of the project. This allows estimates of vegetable yields, water requirements, and microdose fertilizer rates anywhere in Benin Republic or Nigeria. See: http://webgis.usask.ca/microveg

Assessment of the impact of communication strategy (Radio Jingle) on the awareness of and the production of indigenous vegetables in Southwestern Nigeria

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)The IDRC-GAC (Global Affairs Canada) project on “Synergizing fertilizer micro-dosing and indigenous vegetable production to enhance food and economic security of West African farmers” project utilized a branded radio program “Ramo Elefo” (or Ramo, the Vegetable Seller) to create awareness about products and innovations promoted by the project as well as to effectively mobilize the general populace in adopting the innovations made popular by the project. The project intensively used three major mass media: radio, TV, newspapers/magazines. The media strategy reached up to 8 million people in Benin Republic and more than 10 million in Nigeria

Synergizing fertilizer micro-dosing and indigenous vegetable production to enhance food and economic security of West African farmers : final report

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)This annex answers questions that arose from baseline reports regarding: educational level of farmers; land acquisition; land area under vegetable cultivation; current use of fertilizers by farmers and use of irrigation; ease of water supply and access; costs associated with accessing water; household consumption of vegetables; and disputes in relation to the use of irrigation water, with emphasis on gender distribution. This is a detailed report on surveys, with data tables included. The Nigeria-Canada Indigenous Vegetables Project (NiCanVeg) successfully developed new technologies that improved farming practices, post-harvest handling and value addition for Indigenous vegetables

Millet response to water and soil fertility management in the Sahelian Niger : experiments and modeling

In the 400-600 mm annual rainfall zone of the Sahel, soil fertility is the main determinant of yield in rainfed millet cropping systems in all but the driest years. Numerous on-farm and on-station experiments have addressed the issue of improving soil fertility. Yet the widespread use of the experimental results is restricted by the highly site specific millet response to fertility management practices due to high spatially variable soil properties as well as high intra- and inter-annual rainfall variability. Mathematical soil-crop growth simulation models could therefore suitably complement experimental research to support decision making regarding soil fertility under variable rainwater supply conditions. The objective of this thesis was therefore to develop the biophysical basis for the use of crop-soil models in decision support regarding water and soil fertility management and risk mitigation strategies in rainfed millet-based systems of Sahelian Niger. Because farmers rely on multiple cultivars with variable length of growing cycle due to sensitivity to temperature and photoperiod as part of their risk management strategies we first characterized seven Sahelian millet genotypes and parameterized the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM-millet model). The cultivars include three improved cultivars (CIVT, ICMV-IS-89305, ZATIB) and four landraces (Ankoutes, Hainikirey, Maewa and Zongo). Our research showed that only one of the cultivars, Maewa, was very photosensitive contrary to the six others. The majority of the agronomic state variables (leaf number, leaf area, biomass and grain yield) were negatively affected by late sowing (associated with lower air temperatures). This characterization enabled to compute for the first time in the Sahel the principal eco-physiological or genetic millet parameters (thermal times of development phases, leaf area dynamics) of crop growth models (e.g. APSIM, DSSAT). To gain confidence in the use of the APSIM model for decision support in the Sahelian environment, it was successfully tested to reproduce the agronomic state variables under non-limiting water and nutrient supply conditions. Moreover the APSIM model satisfactorily reproduced the millet CIVT cultivar response to water x N interaction from the combined application of crop residue, cattle manure and mineral fertilizer during two years and for contrasted rainfall conditions.Dans la zone Sahélienne avec 400 à 600 mm de précipitation annuelle, la fertilité des sols est le principal facteur déterminant des rendements du mil pluvial hormis lors des années plus sèches. De nombreuses expérimentations au champ et en station ont abordé la question de l'amélioration de la fertilité des sols. Cependant, l'extrapolation de ces résultats, et a forciori leur utilisation par les agriculteurs, est limitée par le fait que la réponse du mil à ces pratiques de fertilité dépend fortement des propriétés des sols très variables dans l'espace ainsi que de la pluviométrie annuelle et sa répartition intra-annuelle. Les modèles mathématiques et dynamiques de simulation de la croissance des plantes peuvent donc utilement compléter la recherche expérimentale pour l'aide à la décision en ce qui concerne la gestion de la fertilité des sols dans diverses conditions d'alimentation hydrique. L'objectif de cette thèse était donc de développer les bases biophysiques pour l'utilisation de modèles de croissance des cultures en vue de leur utilisation comme outils d'aide à la décision en matière de gestion de l'eau et la fertilité des sols dans les systèmes de culture à base de mil en zone sahélienne du Niger. Puisque les paysans utilisent de multiples variétés de mil avec des cycles de croissance variables en tant qu'élément dans leurs stratégies de gestion des risques, nous avons d'abord caractérisé sept génotypes de mil Sahelien en vue de la paramétrisation du model dynamique APSIM (Agricultural Production Systems Simulator). Trois variétés améliorées (CIVT, ICMV-IS-89305, ZATIB) et quatre variétés locales paysannes (Ankoutes, Hainikirey, Maewa et Zongo) ont été étudiées. Notre recherche a montré que seule une des variétés, l'écotype Maewa, est très photosensible contrairement aux six autres. La majorité des variables agronomiques (nombre de feuille, surface foliaire, biomasse et rendement en grain) ont été négativement affectées par un semis tardif (associés à des températures de l'air plus faibles). Cette caractérisation a permis de calculer pour la première fois au Sahel les principaux paramètres éco-physiologiques du mil (durée thermique des phases de développement, dynamique de la surface foliaire), indispensables aux modèles dynamiques de croissance des plantes tels qu'APSIM et DSSAT. Le modèle APSIM a permis de reproduire avec succès les variables agronomiques de 6 des 7 variétés de mil en condition nonlimitante d'apport en eau et en nutriments. De plus, le modele APSIM a reproduit de manière satisfaisante la réponse de la variété améliorée CIVT à l'interaction de l'eau et de l'azote suite à l'apport combiné de résidus de récolte, de fumier de bétail et d'engrais minéral sur deux années ayant des pluviométries contrastées. Ceci a permis de renforcer la confiance dans l'utilisation du modèle APSIM comme outil d'aide à la décision dans l'environnement Sahélien. Sur base du modèle APSIM ainsi paramétrisé pour des conditions spécifiques de site et de variété, nous avons développé deux applications en matière d'aide à la décision. Une expérimentation factorielle numérique à long terme (23 ans) a révélé que l'application d'une dose modérée d'azote (15 kg N/ha) est plus appropriée dans le contexte d'une agriculture de subsistance que la recommandation habituelle de 30 kg N/ha. [...](AGRO 3) -- UCL, 200

Soil water crop modeling for decision support in millet-based systems in the Sahel: a challenge

Food insecurity in the Sahelian environment was extensively shown to be a result of low soil fertility and high climate risks. But décisions and recommendations made from the great wealth of research have little been adopted by farmers. Soil water crop models (SWCM) can assist researchers and development actors in this environment if they can appropriately deal with the constraints and mainly farmer's agricultural development goals

Integrated Nutrient Management of Pearl Millet in the Sahel Combining Cattle Manure, Crop Residue and Mineral Fertilizer

In the Sahelian zone of Niger, there is a need to develop guidelines fir integrated nutrient management, which relies on the potential nutrient sources of manure, pearl millet residue and mineral fertilizers. A fully factorial on-station experiment was conducted during the 1994 and 1995 rainy seasons at Sadore, Niger, combining application of: (i) broadcast millet residue (300, 900 and 2700 kg ha(-1)), (ii) broadcast cattle manure (300, 900 and 2700 kg ha-(1)) and (iii) mineral fertilizer (unfertilized control, 15 kg N ha(-1) + 4.4 kg P ha(-1) and 45 kg N ha(-1) + 13. l kg P ha(-1)). Manure and fertilizer increased millet yields in both years whereas residue was effective in 1995 only: The effect of manure and residue were additive, as was the effect of manure and fertilizer but only up to 50 kg N ha(-1). However in 1995, the response to fertilizer was approximately doubled in the presence of 900 or 2700 kg residue ha(-1) compared to fertilizer with 300 kg ha(-1) residue, indicating a strong synergistic effect. This synergistic effect was reflected in the partial factor productivity of nitrogen and phosphorous in both years. Two treatment combinations stand out as particularly relevant based on yield, partial factor productivity and nutrient balance criteria: 2700 kg manure ha(-1) combined with (i) 300 kg residue and no fertilizer (95% grain yield increase); (ii) 900 kg residue ha(-1) and 15 kg N + 4 kg P ha(-1) (132 % grain yield increase). There is a need for similar, long-term experiments to confirm the present results

Use of the APSIM model in long term simulation to support decision making regarding nitrogen management for pearl millet in the Sahel

Soil fertility and climate risks are hampering crop production in the Sahelian region. Because experiments with only a few fertility management options on a limited number of sites and years cannot fully capture the complex and highly non-linear soil-climate-crop interactions, crop growth simulation models may suitably complement experimental research to support decision making regarding soil fertility and water management. By means of a long term (23 years) scenario analysis using the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model, this study investigates millet response to N in view of establishing N recommendations better adapted to subsistence small-holder millet farming in the Sahel. Prior to this, the APSIM model was tested on a rainfed randomized complete block experiment carried out during the 1994 and 1995 cropping seasons, having contrasting rainfall conditions. The experiment combined, at three levels each, the application of cattle manure (300, 900 and 2700 kg ha(-1)), millet residue (300, 900 and 2700 kg ha(-1)) and mineral fertilizer (unfertilized control, 15 kg N ha(-1) + 4.4 kg P ha(-1) and 45 kgN ha(-1) + 13.1 kg P ha(-1)) at ICRISAT Sahelian Center, Niger. The model suitably predicted plant available water PAW and the simulated water and nitrogen stress were in agreement with measurement (water) and expectation (N) regarding the fertilizer and rainfall conditions of the experiment. APSIM simulations were in satisfactory agreement with the observed crop growth except for the highest crop residue application rates (>900 kg ha(-1)). For biomass and grain yield, the model performance was relatively good in 1994 but biomass yields were slightly overpredicted in 1995. The model was able to adequately reproduce the average trend of millet grain yield response to N inputs from manure and fertilizer, and to predict the overall observed higher grain yield in 1995 compared to 1994, despite the better rainfall in 1994. The 23-year, long term scenario analysis combining different application rates of cattle manure. millet residue and mineral fertilizer, showed that moderate N application (15 kg N ha(-1)) improves both the long term average and the minimum yearly guaranteed yield without increasing inter-annual variability compared to no N input. Although it does imply a lower average yield than at 30 kg N ha(-1), the application of 15 kg N ha(-1) appears more appropriate for small-holder, subsistence farmers than the usual 30 kg N ha(-1) recommendation as it guarantees higher minimum yield in worst years, thereby reducing their vulnerability. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Understanding Variability in Maize Yield and Profitability Under Fertiliser Microdosing Technology in Farmer's Fields in Northern Benin

Fertiliser microdosing is currently promoted in semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa as a means to increase crop productivity, profitability and resource use efficiency. However, little is still known regarding the main management and environmental factors that govern yield response to this technique in smallholder farmers’ fields. In this study, the performance of two microdosing options applied alone [(M1, 23.8 kg N ha−1, 4.1 kg P ha−1 and 7.8 kg K ha−1 and M2 (33.1 kg N ha−1, 8.2 kg P ha−1 and 15.6 kg K ha−1)] or combined with hill-placed manure at 3 t ha−1 was evaluated on maize yield at 18 sites in 2014 and 32 sites in 2015. These four treatments were compared to an unfertilised control and broadcast recommended rate (RR, 76 kg N ha−1, 13.1 kg P ha−1, and 24.9 kg K ha−1). We observed a strong positive response for all of the sites to both M1 and M2, which significantly increased maize grain yields by 1143 and 1232 kg ha−1, respectively, compared to the unfertilised control (1069 kg ha−1). Overall, there was no significant difference in yields between microdosing alone and RR in both seasons. Combining microdosing and manure resulted in higher yield responses (by 1911 and 2066 kg ha−1 for M1 and M2, respectively). There was a large variability in yields among farmers, from 512 to 1687 kg ha−1, 976 to 4006 kg ha−1 and 1513 to 4733 kg ha−1 for the control, unmanured and manured fertilised plots, respectively. This variability can be explained by the total rainfall, weed pressure, and the topsoil characteristics (pH, clay content, Exch-K and Mg and organic C). Applying microdosing alone or combined with manure was economically profitable for more than 80 % (VCR=2), while only 58 % achieved a VCR of 2 under the RR treatment. The results indicate that fertiliser microdosing is better adapted to the realities of smallholder farmers than the RR while still ensuring very significant yield increases and economic benefits. However, there is a need to evaluate this technology in a larger zone and number of farms to better predict crop responses and for a widespread adoption