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Combined effect of trees and soil fertility management practices on millet yields in the Sahel
- Source :
- Agroforestry Systems. 95:717-730
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Tree/shrub species are used in farmer fields of sahelian agroforestry parklands to conserve and restore degraded lands, improve soil fertility and increase crop yield. A field study was conducted to investigate the effect of five tree species (Annona senegalensis, Balanites aegyptiaca, Faidherbia albida, Guiera senegalensis and Piliostigma reticulatum) on soil fertility and crop yield under different fertility management practices in semi-arid Niger. Three factors (tree species, positions to tree trunk and fertilizer management) and four levels of fertilizer microdosing management (DAP, NPK, manure and control) were investigated. We found that tree species improved soil fertility and crop yield differently. F. albida, improved the soil quality far better than other four tree species for all soil nutrients analyzed. The highest millet yield was recorded under P. reticulatum and F. albida for both grain (1011 and 1005 kg ha−1, respectively) and straw yields (3662 and 3786 kg ha−1, respectively). The yield was found to be two- to four-folds higher under direct tree crown compared to close neighborhood or treeless outside. The combined tree species and fertilizer effect were additive and the positive effect can extend to the outside crown. However, the combined effect of mineral fertilizer with tree species on yield was better than that of manure. Integrated tree species and moderate fertilizers was effective and can be used as a sustainable fertility management practice in Sahelian countries where organic amendment is frequently scarce and it is difficult for smallholder farmers to adopt high recommended mineral fertilizer for crop production. Further investigations are needed to assess the economic performance and the long-term sustainability of the integrated trees and soil fertility management in the Sahel.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
Crop yield
Forestry
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
engineering.material
Biology
biology.organism_classification
01 natural sciences
Manure
Soil quality
Soil management
Agronomy
Faidherbia albida
040103 agronomy & agriculture
engineering
0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
Fertilizer
Soil fertility
Agronomy and Crop Science
Balanites aegyptiaca
010606 plant biology & botany
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15729680 and 01674366
- Volume :
- 95
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Agroforestry Systems
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........7fc06248a20af6526709e04cd0a5a7df