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
We conducted on-farm participatory experiments and activities for 3 years at three sites in the Fakara district of western Niger to demonstrate, verify, and evaluate crop productivity due to fertilizer application, ec...We conducted on-farm participatory experiments and activities for 3 years at three sites in the Fakara district of western Niger to demonstrate, verify, and evaluate crop productivity due to fertilizer application, economic benefits, and the dissemination of crop technology. We tested combinations of manure and mineral fertilizer on 13 exotic vegetables: bell pepper, cabbage, carrot, chili, eggplant, lettuce, melon, onion, potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, tomato, and zucchini. Farmers’ selectivity was evaluated as the number of plots that farmers selected to carry out their own trials. The application of 110 kg·N/ha manure plus 13.7 kg·N/ha mineral fertilizer increased overall vegetable yields by 161% (P < 0.01). The improvement of soil fertility increased the yield of subsequent rainfed millet by 124% (P < 0.05). Less-experienced female farmers could afford to grow cabbage, onion, lettuce, potato, and pumpkin, which yielded 4.8 - 11.4 t/ha fresh weight. Daily management by women in the vegetable gardens gave regular opportunities to chat and thus disseminate the technology.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.
文摘We conducted on-farm participatory experiments and activities for 3 years at three sites in the Fakara district of western Niger to demonstrate, verify, and evaluate crop productivity due to fertilizer application, economic benefits, and the dissemination of crop technology. We tested combinations of manure and mineral fertilizer on 13 exotic vegetables: bell pepper, cabbage, carrot, chili, eggplant, lettuce, melon, onion, potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, tomato, and zucchini. Farmers’ selectivity was evaluated as the number of plots that farmers selected to carry out their own trials. The application of 110 kg·N/ha manure plus 13.7 kg·N/ha mineral fertilizer increased overall vegetable yields by 161% (P < 0.01). The improvement of soil fertility increased the yield of subsequent rainfed millet by 124% (P < 0.05). Less-experienced female farmers could afford to grow cabbage, onion, lettuce, potato, and pumpkin, which yielded 4.8 - 11.4 t/ha fresh weight. Daily management by women in the vegetable gardens gave regular opportunities to chat and thus disseminate the technology.
