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Browsing Journal Articles by Subject "Balanced fertilization"
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- ItemAmeliorating Incongruent Effects of Balanced Fertilization on Maize Productivity in Strongly Acid Soils with Liming(2022-04-18) Sampson Agyin-Birikorang; Raphael Adu-Gyamfi; Ignatius Tindjina; Job Fugice ; Haruna W. Dauda; Joaquin Sanabria; Upendra SinghSeveral studies have recommended balanced fertilization for increased and sustainable maize productivity in northern Ghana. However, the effectiveness of balanced fertilization in strongly acid soils is unknown. We conducted nutrient omission trials on strongly acid soils in four communities in northern Ghana to quantify impact of balanced fertilization and its synergism with liming on maize productivity. We evaluated the following treatments, each with and without liming: (i) balanced fertilization (BF), which contained all essential limiting nutrients, (ii) BF without sulfur (minus-S), (iii) BF without zinc (minus-Zn), (iv) BF without boron (minus-B), (v) NPK-only, and (vi) control. Without liming, maize yield was generally low (ranging from 0.4 to 2.2 t ha −1 ) and followed the order: minus Zn > NPK-only > BF = Minus-S = Minus-B > Control. However, regardless of fertilization treatment, liming significantly increased maize productivity with grain yields ranging from 0.7 to 4.2 t ha −1 , with BF having the greatest yield. With liming, the minus-Zn treatment resulted in a ≥ 30% yield decrease, compared to BF. The combined data suggest that in strongly acid soils, unless lime is applied, addition of micronutrients to NPK fertilizers would not have the desired effect on maize productivity. Without lime application to such soils, omission of Zn from BF in will not only reduce production cost but could have a positive impact on maize productivity. However, we recommend that BF in strongly acid soils should be accompanied by liming to ensure increased and sustainable productivity.
- ItemOptimizing Fertilizer Use Efficiency for Sustainable Maize Production in Strongly Acid Soils of the Sudan Savanna Agroecological Zone of Northern Ghana(2022-04-18) Sampson Agyin-Birikorang; Ignatius Tindjina; Raphael Adu-Gyamfi; Job Fugice ; Haruna W. Dauda; Albert B. Angzenaa; Joaquin SanabriaGiven the importance of maize as a staple crop in northern Ghana, and the prevalence of acid soils used for maize production in the region, identifying effective nutrient management is critical to realize the full benefits of fertilizer application in maize production. In a two-year field study, we evaluated different fertilization strategies in three communities to identify the one that will best optimize fertilizer use efficiency in maize production in poorly fertile acid soils. The fertilization strategies were: (i) farmer practice (FP), in which only NPK fertilizer was applied; (ii) NPK plus lime (NPK + L); (iii) balanced fertilization (BF), in which NPK fertilizer and limiting secondary and micronutrients were applied; (iv) balanced fertilization plus lime (BF + L); and (v) control, in which no fertilizer was applied. We determined maize grain yield, nutrient recovery, and agronomic efficiency and the potential profitability with the fertilization strategies. The greatest yield was obtained with the BF + L treatment, followed by NPK + L, BF, FP, and control, in that order. Compared to FP, the NPK + L treatment nearly doubled N recovery, tripled P recovery, and doubled K recovery from the applied fertilizer. Whereas a negligible increase in fertilizer recovery efficiency occurred with the BF treatment compared to FP; the N, P, and K recovery efficiency increased by nearly 3, 4, and 2.5 times, respectively, with the BF + L treatment compared with FP. Gross profit margin analysis showed that the greatest potential profit margin was obtained with the BF + L treatment, followed by NPK + L, BF, and FP, in that order. From the combined data, we conclude that addition of lime is key to increasing fertilizer efficiency in strongly acid soils, and with a holistic approach of simultaneous addition of lime and secondary and micronutrients to NPK fertilizers, farmers will optimize fertilizer efficiency and increase profitability of their farming operation substantially.