Impact of tillage and fertility management options on selected soil physical properties and sorghum yield

Water and soil fertility are the most limiting biophysical factors affecting crop production in semi-arid West Africa. . This study was conducted in Nadion (south Sudan zone of Burkina Faso) to assess the impact of tillage practices (no-till, tied ridging; ripping and conventional tillage) combined with soil fertility management options (compost, NPK + Urea, crop residues, Compost+ NPK + Urea and a control) on soil moisture content and sorghum yield. The soil moisture was monitored weekly using the Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) method and the soil bulk density was evaluated 30 days after planting. Zero tillage increased the soil water storage capacity compared to the other tillage practices at 0-30 cm depth. Sorghum straw residues application improved soil water content by 20%. Conventional tillage decreased surface soil (0-10 cm) bulk density. Compost + NPK + Urea application increased sorghum yield by 74% over the control while, NPK + urea and compost increased sorghum grain yield by 50% and 29%, respectively relative to the control (no soil amendment). Conventional tillage led to decrease in yield compared to zero tillage after two years of experimentation. The zero tillage combined with compost, NPK and urea increased sorghum yield by 28% compared to tied-ridging regardless of the fertility management options. Zero tillage is a promising option for sorghum production in the South Sudan agro-ecological zone of Burkina Faso.Keywords: Bulk density, fertility management, sorghum yield, South Sudan zone, tillage, water conservation

Perennial grass ley rotations with annual crops in tropical Africa: a review

Open Access Article; Published online: 18 Feb 2021Rotation of grass ley with periods of annual crop production can be a means to increased farming system productivity, sustainability, and profitability. This research review offers interpretations of rotation research results for future African agriculture. Some rotation studies were with naturally generated and severely over-grazed fallows consisting primarily of annual plant species but other studies were with planted and well-managed perennial grass ley. Generally, the rotations increased annual crop yields with soil improvement. System benefits were similar or greater for ley compared with fallow with generally higher fodder yields with ley. Surface crusting of sandy soil in the Sahel is a major concern that may be worsened by fallow due to the deposition of clay and silt particles. Ley and fallow were terminated in all studies with inversion plow tillage with more tillage for subsequent crops while the rotation benefits may be greater with less tillage. Most studies did not have fertilizer use but annual crop yield response to fertilizer was greatly increased following ley in one study and with no system by fertilizer interaction effect in three studies. The profitability of ley rotations will vary with fodder demand which is rapidly increasing, especially near urban areas. Strip cropping, for example, alternate ley with annual crop strips of 5–20 m width and rotation cycles of 6–10 yr, may often be optimal for erosion control and sediment trapping, protection from uncontrolled grazing, and nearby supply of vegetative planting material for ley re-establishment. Rotation management can be improved through experiential learning and experimentation

Maternal levels of endocrine disruptors, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, in early pregnancy are not associated with lower birth weight in the Canadian birth cohort GESTE

Abstract: Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are known endocrine disrupting environmental contaminants used as flame retardants. Their levels have increased in humans over the last ten years, raising concerns about their consequences on human health. Some animal studies suggest that PBDEs can affect fetal growth; however, the results of human studies are contradictory. This study evaluates the association between the most common PBDEs in maternal blood measured in early pregnancy and birth weight. Methods: BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100 and BDE-153 levels were measured in 349 women during their first prenatal care visit at the University Hospital Center of Sherbrooke (Quebec, Canada). Birth weight and relevant medical information were collected from medical records. In contrast with previous studies, we examined the full range of clinical risk factors known to affect fetal growth as potential confounders, as well as other environmental pollutants that are likely to interact with fetal growth (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, lead, cadmium and manganese). Results: There was no statistically significant relationship between PBDE levels in early pregnancy and birth weight in both unadjusted and multivariate regression models. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PBDEs in early pregnancy have little or no direct impact on birth weight, at least at the levels of exposure in our population

A global research priority agenda to advance public health responses to fatty liver disease

Background & aims An estimated 38% of adults worldwide have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). From individual impacts to widespread public health and economic consequences, the implications of this disease are profound. This study aimed to develop an aligned, prioritised fatty liver disease research agenda for the global health community. Methods Nine co-chairs drafted initial research priorities, subsequently reviewed by 40 core authors and debated during a three-day in-person meeting. Following a Delphi methodology, over two rounds, a large panel (R1 n = 344, R2 n = 288) reviewed the priorities, via Qualtrics XM, indicating agreement using a four-point Likert-scale and providing written feedback. The core group revised the draft priorities between rounds. In R2, panellists also ranked the priorities within six domains: epidemiology, models of care, treatment and care, education and awareness, patient and community perspectives, and leadership and public health policy. Results The consensus-built fatty liver disease research agenda encompasses 28 priorities. The mean percentage of ‘agree’ responses increased from 78.3 in R1 to 81.1 in R2. Five priorities received unanimous combined agreement (‘agree’ + ‘somewhat agree’); the remaining 23 priorities had >90% combined agreement. While all but one of the priorities exhibited at least a super-majority of agreement (>66.7% ‘agree’), 13 priorities had 90% combined agreement. Conclusions Adopting this multidisciplinary consensus-built research priorities agenda can deliver a step-change in addressing fatty liver disease, mitigating against its individual and societal harms and proactively altering its natural history through prevention, identification, treatment, and care. This agenda should catalyse the global health community’s efforts to advance and accelerate responses to this widespread and fast-growing public health threat. Impact and implications An estimated 38% of adults and 13% of children and adolescents worldwide have fatty liver disease, making it the most prevalent liver disease in history. Despite substantial scientific progress in the past three decades, the burden continues to grow, with an urgent need to advance understanding of how to prevent, manage, and treat the disease. Through a global consensus process, a multidisciplinary group agreed on 28 research priorities covering a broad range of themes, from disease burden, treatment, and health system responses to awareness and policy. The findings have relevance for clinical and non-clinical researchers as well as funders working on fatty liver disease and non-communicable diseases more broadly, setting out a prioritised, ranked research agenda for turning the tide on this fast-growing public health threat

CARTE DE RECOMMANDATION D\u2019ENGRAIS SPECIFIQUE AU SITE POUR LA PRODUCTION INTENSIVE DE MA\ucfS EN ZONE SUD SOUDANIENNE DU BURKINA FASO

Intensification of maize (Zea mays L) production in Burkina Faso requires adequate fertilisation on suitable soils. The objective of this study was to develop a decision support tool for fertiliser recommendations for maize production in the southern Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso using the Information and Decision Support System (IDSS) model. Data on costs per unit of fertiliser were calculated using local market prices in Burkina Faso. The selling price of grain maize was estimated for a period from harvest to June at US$0,263. Ten fertilisation options, including a control and the recommended extension rate were tested the Massongo maize variety. The results showed that 80N-30P-40K, 120N-30P-40K, 60N-10P-12K (recommended rate) and the no-fertiliser control were efficient, depending on soil characteristics. Application of efficient fertiliser rates allowed the area covered by grain yields greater than 3000 kg ha-1 to increase from 39.23efficient fertiliser rates increased the area covered by grain yields above 3 000 kg ha-1 from 39.23to 62.33margins between US$ 557,322 ha-1 and US$ 898,098 ha-1 were obtained. These maps are decision support tools for maize production and can be used as a reference for the development and/or updating of other fertiliser recommendation maps.L\u2019intensification de la production du ma\uefs au Burkina Faso passe par une fertilisation ad\ue9quate sur des sols propices. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de d\ue9velopper \ue0 l\u2019aide du mod\ue8le Information and Decision Support System (IDSS), un outil d\u2019aide \ue0 la d\ue9cision en mati\ue8re de recommandation d\u2019engrais pour la production du ma\uefs dans la zone sud soudanienne du Burkina Faso. Les donn\ue9es sur les co\ufbts de l\u2019unit\ue9 de fertilisant ont \ue9t\ue9 calcul\ue9s suivant les prix du march\ue9. Le prix de vente du ma\uefs grain a \ue9t\ue9 estim\ue9 pour une p\ue9riode allant de la r\ue9colte au mois de juin \ue0 0,263 dollars US. Dix options de fertilisation incluant un t\ue9moin et la recommandation vulgaris\ue9e ont \ue9t\ue9 test\ue9es sur la vari\ue9t\ue9 Massongo de ma\uefs. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que les doses 80N-30P-40K, 120N-30P-40K, 60N-10P-12K (dose vulgaris\ue9e) et t\ue9moin sans engrais ont \ue9t\ue9 efficientes selon les caract\ue9ristiques des sols. L\u2019application des doses efficientes d\u2019engrais a permis de faire passer la superficie couverte par des rendements grains sup\ue9rieurs \ue0 3 000 kg ha-1 de 39,23% des unit\ue9s de sols avec la dose vulgaris\ue9e \ue0 62,33%. Aussi, des rendements compris entre 3 144 et 4 630 kg ha-1 avec des marges brutes comprises entre 557,322 dollars US par ha-1 et 898,098 dollars US par ha-1 ont-ils \ue9t\ue9 obtenu. Ces cartes constituent des outils d\u2019aide \ue0 la d\ue9cision pour la production du ma\uefs. Elles peuvent servir de r\ue9f\ue9rence pour l\u2019\ue9laboration et/ou la mise \ue0 jour d\u2019autres cartes de recommandation d\u2019engrais

Diagnosis of crop secondary and micro-nutrient deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa

Published online: 10 Jan 2019Crop production in sub-Saharan Africa has numerous biotic and abiotic constraints, including nutrient deficiencies. Information on crop response to macronutrients is relatively abundant compared with secondary and micronutrients (SMN). Data from 1339 trial replicates of 280 field trials conducted from 2013 to 2016 in 11 countries were analyzed for the diagnosis of SMN deficiencies. The diagnostic data included relative yield response (RYR) and soil and foliar test results. The RYR to application of a combination of Mg, S, Zn, and B (Mg–S–Zn–B) relative to a comparable N–P–K treatment was a > 5% increase for 35% of the legume blocks and 60% of the non-legume blocks. The frequencies of soil test Zn, Cu, and B being below their critical level were 28, 2 and 10% for eastern and southern Africa, respectively, and 55, 58 and 89% for western Africa, while low levels for other SMN were less frequent. The frequency of foliar results indicating low availability were 58% for Zn, 16% for S and less for other SMN. The r2 values for relationships between soil test, foliar test and RYR results were < 0.035 with little complementarity except for soil test Zn and B with cassava (Manihot esculenta L. Crantz) RYR in Ghana, and foliar Zn with cereal RYR in Uganda. Positive RYR is powerful diagnostic information and indicative of good profit potential for well-targeted and well-specified SMN application. Geo-referenced RYR, soil analysis and foliar analysis results for diagnosis of SMN deficiencies in 11 countries of sub-Saharan Africa were generally not complementary

Factors driving cereal response to fertilizer microdosing in sub‐Saharan Africa: A meta‐analysis

Fertilizer microdosing (FM) is being promoted in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to boost crop productivity on smallholder farms. However, yield response variability is a barrier to adoption. We conducted a meta-analysis to analyze the variability in cereal crop yield response to FM and to determine the main factors associated with this variability. Thirty publications pertaining to millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) or maize (Zea mays L.) were assessed. Factors analyzed were crop type, rainfall, soil texture, type and rate of fertilizer, and complementary practices. On average, FM improved millet, sorghum and maize crop yields by 68%. Yield response tended to increase with increasing rainfall and the largest yield gains were observed in medium-textured soils (81%), as compared to light (61%) and heavy-textured soils (30%). The combined application of N and P performed better than either element alone. Crop response tended to increase with increasing rates of N. In the case of P, this was true only on light textured-soils. On medium-textured soils, the response appeared independent of the rate of P. There was a synergetic effect of water conservation measures on the performance of FM, while combining FM with organic matter (OM) amendments decreased its performance. Results highlighted major trends in cereal crop response to FM that could be used to prioritize target areas. However, these may require additional, site-specific field experiments, especially for factors for which little data is currently available

Advancing the global public health agenda for NAFLD: a consensus statement.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a potentially serious liver disease that affects approximately one-quarter of the global adult population, causing a substantial burden of ill health with wide-ranging social and economic implications. It is a multisystem disease and is considered the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome. Unlike other highly prevalent conditions, NAFLD has received little attention from the global public health community. Health system and public health responses to NAFLD have been weak and fragmented, and, despite its pervasiveness, NAFLD is largely unknown outside hepatology and gastroenterology. There is only a nascent global public health movement addressing NAFLD, and the disease is absent from nearly all national and international strategies and policies for non-communicable diseases, including obesity. In this global Delphi study, a multidisciplinary group of experts developed consensus statements and recommendations, which a larger group of collaborators reviewed over three rounds until consensus was achieved. The resulting consensus statements and recommendations address a broad range of topics - from epidemiology, awareness, care and treatment to public health policies and leadership - that have general relevance for policy-makers, health-care practitioners, civil society groups, research institutions and affected populations. These recommendations should provide a strong foundation for a comprehensive public health response to NAFLD