Improving Agronomic Efficiency of Mineral Fertilizers through Microdose on Sorghum in the Sub-arid Zone of Burkina Faso
Date
2018-04-04
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Abstract
Maintaining and/or improving soil fertility under conditions of climatic deterioration remains one of the major challenges facing small-scale farmers of the sub-Saharan regions in ensuring their food production. To address this issue, trials combining mineral fertilizer microdosing, MD (2g NPK/seed hole), soil and water conservation (SWC) techniques (zaï associated or not with stone lines or grass strips) were conducted for three years with sorghum (local and improved varieties) on two sites in the north Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso. The main objective of the study was to analyze the effects of the different technology packages tested on sorghum yields and soil chemical characteristics. The results showed that the use of MD technique enabled to double sorghum grain yields. This effect was further enhanced when combined with SWC techniques (45%). The use of the improved sorghum variety increased grain yields by approximately 11%, 70% and 85% when combined with SWC, MD and SWC + MD techniques respectively. Regarding the impact of these technologies on soil fertility, plots developed with SWC techniques showed increases in total organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents as well as in available phosphorus between 30% and 80%.
Description
Keywords
Organic fertilizers, Soil fertility
Citation
Ouattara, B., B.B. Somda, I. Sermé, A. Traoré, D. Peak, F. Lompo, S.J.B. Taonda, M.P. Sedogo, and A. Bationo. 2018. “Improving Agronomic Efficiency of Mineral Fertilizers through Microdose on Sorghum in the Sub-Arid Zone of Burkina Faso,” IN Improving the Profitability, Sustainability and Efficiency of Nutrients Through Site Specific Fertilizer Recommendations in West Africa Agro-Ecosystems