To determine the best combinations of organic and mineral fertilizer applications under resource-limited conditions in the Sahel, West Africa, on-farm experiments for two years in the Fakara region of western Niger is...To determine the best combinations of organic and mineral fertilizer applications under resource-limited conditions in the Sahel, West Africa, on-farm experiments for two years in the Fakara region of western Niger is conducted. Ten treatments were tested; six of them received one of three organic fertilizers （none, millet husks, or manure）, with or without mineral fertilizer; two grew millet/（dual-purpose） cowpea intercrops with mineral fertilizer in 1：1 or 4：4 row arrangement; one grew a millet/（spreading） cowpea intercrop with manure; and one grew a millet/hibiscus intercrop with millet husks. Manure increased total biomass by 127%- 147% （P 〈 0.001 ） and millet yield by 130%- 184% （P 〈 0.01 ）. Mineral fertilizer increased total biomass by 27% （P 〈 0.01 ） and millet yield by 24% （P 〈 0.05） in 2008. The N balance was greatest and positive in the manure treatment （P 〈 0.001）, followed by millet husks. Mineral fertilizer on the intercropped dual-purpose cowpea increased the agronomic N use efficiency of millet by 329%-483% （P 〈 0.01） compared with manure. The use of small quantities of mineral fertilizer on the intercropped dual-purpose cowpea, therefore, is a best combination for limited N-resources-farmers. Single manure, millet husks plus mineral fertilizer, or year-alternative-application are also recommendable depends on farmers accessibility to the resources.展开更多
文摘To determine the best combinations of organic and mineral fertilizer applications under resource-limited conditions in the Sahel, West Africa, on-farm experiments for two years in the Fakara region of western Niger is conducted. Ten treatments were tested; six of them received one of three organic fertilizers （none, millet husks, or manure）, with or without mineral fertilizer; two grew millet/（dual-purpose） cowpea intercrops with mineral fertilizer in 1：1 or 4：4 row arrangement; one grew a millet/（spreading） cowpea intercrop with manure; and one grew a millet/hibiscus intercrop with millet husks. Manure increased total biomass by 127%- 147% （P 〈 0.001 ） and millet yield by 130%- 184% （P 〈 0.01 ）. Mineral fertilizer increased total biomass by 27% （P 〈 0.01 ） and millet yield by 24% （P 〈 0.05） in 2008. The N balance was greatest and positive in the manure treatment （P 〈 0.001）, followed by millet husks. Mineral fertilizer on the intercropped dual-purpose cowpea increased the agronomic N use efficiency of millet by 329%-483% （P 〈 0.01） compared with manure. The use of small quantities of mineral fertilizer on the intercropped dual-purpose cowpea, therefore, is a best combination for limited N-resources-farmers. Single manure, millet husks plus mineral fertilizer, or year-alternative-application are also recommendable depends on farmers accessibility to the resources.
