Review Article
Austin J Plant Bio. 2024; 10(1): 1047.
Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Improving Maize Production in Ethiopia
Deresa Shumi*
Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Bore Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia.
*Corresponding author: Deresa Shumi Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Bore Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 21, Bore, Ethiopia. Email: [email protected]
Received: January 26, 2024 Accepted: March 08, 2024 Published: March 15, 2024
Abstract
The productivity of maize in potential agro-ecologies has been notified in decreasing trends, mainly because of declining soil fertility. To alleviate this production problem in the country, commercial fertilizers have been relied to boost the productivity of maize that commonly cultivated in continuous production system. The research outputs of various institutions in the country confirmed variable results because of differences in soil types, agro-ecology, varieties used and crop management systems. Maize planted using combinations of FYM, compost, biogas effluent, crops with lower rates of NP fertilizers at Bako and enriching FYM at Chiro with inorganic fertilizers gave comparable yield to the recommended NP rates. The uses of legumes as short fallows and green manuring indicated that mucuna at Bako and sesbania at Jimma, planted Legumes as precursor crop at Bako could partially or fully replace the N-fertilizer need of subsequently sown maize. At Hawassa also nine t ha-1 coffees by product combined with 60 kg N ha-1enhanced soil fertility and promised sustainable production of maize in respective location.
Keywords: Compost; FYM; ISFM; Maize
Introduction
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of an important food crops in Ethiopia. It is also the most important cereal crop in terms of area coverage, production, and economic importance in Ethiopia [14]. According to ATA (2013/14) maize occupied 2 million hectares (ha) of land with estimated average yield of 3.2 tons (t) ha-1. This is far below the world average 5.1 t ha-1 [10]. One of the major constraints affecting maize production and productivity is declining soil fertility and inadequate crop management [9].
In Ethiopia, Maize is cultivated in all of the major agro ecology zones up to altitudes of 2400m.as.l. The maize growing areas in Ethiopia are broadly classified in to four ecological zones; high altitude moist (1800-2400 m.a.s.l.), mid altitudes moist (1000-1800 m.a.s.l.), low moist (below 1000 m.a.s.l.) and moisture stress (500-1800 m.a.s.l.) [8]. In this agro-ecology, pressure on land to put under cultivation has been increased in time series with raising population and following by gradual reductions of fallow periods. In addition, maize has been cultivated continuously on the same piece of land and most of these areas are characterized by cereal-livestock farming systems where free grazing animals remove more of crop residues than are returned in to soils for nutrient recycling, and aggravate soil erosion and high loss of nutrients [30]. It has also been observed that crop rotations are very rarely practiced and legumes are absent in the system [24]. However, commercial fertilizers have been relied to boost the productivity of maize in continuous cropping systems. Eventually, escalating costs of inorganic fertilizers may not encourage the purchasing potential of resource poor farmers. In this trend most farmers use to apply sub-optimal doses of fertilizers to their crops.
To restrain this emerging problem in the country, the use of mineral fertilizers has started since 1952 following the establishment of agricultural schools and experimental stations. Subsequent, extensive and nation-wide fertilizer studies have been made by different organizations [17]. According to the same source these earlier efforts have resulted in a blanket recommendation of 100 kg DAP ha-1 for most cultivated crops in all agro-ecologies of the country. The two types of fertilizers namely; urea and DAP (Diammonium phosphate) have been widely used than any other fertilizer in the country [6]. Moreover, most recent mineral fertilizer research attempts that have been done on maize at different research institutions confirmed variable results, mainly because of differences in soil types, agro-ecology, varieties used and crop management systems. Therefore, salient mineral fertilizer recommendations that primarily based on N and P rates have been offered for different maize producing regions of Ethiopia [29]. Although, continuous use of commercial fertilizers alone has caused adverse effect on soil nutrient balances and, reduced plant growth performance. Moreover, the use of chemical fertilizers alone might have also resulted in a possible depletion of essential micronutrients thereby resulting in an overall reduction in total crop productivity. This further justifies the need to use organic fertilizers. Research efforts made on different sources of organic fertilizers to show bright scenario for maize production in smallholder fields [34]. This authors reported that legume rotations, integrated use of mineral and organic fertilizers, green manure legumes resulted in enhanced soil fertility and promised smallholder farmers to produce maize at low cost. In addition they help to increase organic matter content of the soil which in turn improves the physic-chemical characteristics of the soil notably, increase water holding capacity of the soil. They also improve the nutrient retention property of the soil serve as reservoir of the micronutrients and reduce leaching losses of nutrients [31]. Besides, they increase the fertilizer use efficiency of crops [13].
Modern nutrient management strategy has shifted its focus towards the concept of sustainability and eco-friendliness. Integrated use of various soil fertility amendment inputs aims at alleviating the limiting nutrients problem and improves their availability through interactions with the mineral soil and reducing the P adsorption capacity of the soil. The integrated nutrient management paradigm acknowledges the need for both organic and inorganic mineral inputs to sustain soil health and crop production due to positive interactions and complementarities between them [20]. The objective of this paper is to review integrated soil fertility management options for sustainable maize production in Ethiopia.
Literature Review
Indigenous Knowledge of Maintaining Soil Fertility
Being in the tropics, most Ethiopian soils are very poor in their inherent soil fertility [18]. However, they were able to sustain crop production in the far past due to useful indigenous knowledge of soil fertility restoring practices mainly shifting cultivation, manuring, use of various food legumes mainly in the maize-based cropping system and the retention of crop residues after crop harvest in the farms [4]. However, some four decades back these traditional and natural ways of soil fertility restoration practices have been abandoned adversely affecting crop production. A brief description is given of these methods and their role on mainta in soil fertility is discussed.
Shifting Cultivation: In most parts of sub-Saharan Africa and indeed the eastern Africa region, the most common traditional farming systems were all variations of shifting cultivation [12]. In these traditional cultivation systems, recuperation of soil fertility was accomplished within a period of 15-20 years bush fallow which allowed crops to be grown without the use of fertilizers [21].
The shifting cultivation involved clearing part of the forest vegetation (approximately 0.5 ha), followed by burning when the mass of vegetation was dry and leaving the ash on the surface. Planting was done using digging sticks after the onset of the rains and weeding was done by slashing. The soils were therefore not disturbed between planting holes. Cultivation was done for 3-4 years and the fields would be abandoned. A bush would then develop from the stumps and large roots left after clearing the previous fallow and seeds from adjoin forest [11]. The regrowth of the secondary forest, initially composed of light-loving plant species, would then develop followed by slower-growing species and after 20 years the secondary forests were indistinguishable from the original forests [3]. The major mechanisms of nutrient transfer from the vegetation to the soil during the development of the secondary forest are mainly, stem flow, litter fall, timber fall and root decomposition. With adequate fallow periods of 15-20 years and a low population pressure density, shifting cultivation was capable of maintaining crop production and soil fertility [20]. With the increase in population pressure, the fallow periods are in most cases absent or too short to regenerate soil fertility adequately for improved crop productivity.
Application of Farmyard Manures: Applying Farm Yard Manure (FYM) locally called as ‘Dike’ is one of the most useful and significant indigenous methods practiced almost in all the villages of the country. Application of FYM is a practice which involves using of fully decomposed organic matter of livestock dung, straw, grasses, left over feed etc. The leaves used for animal bedding are also used for making organic manure. The preference towards leaves used for cattle bedding depends upon the availability of resources in nearby forests. The quantity of FYM used for field application depends upon the number of livestock reared, proximity to the forest, extent of land as well as the manpower available. With the application of FYM, earthworms also get introduced in the cropland and increase the fertility of the soil.FYM has been used in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa as a key resource for sustaining soil fertility. Manures are an important source of major and minor nutrients and have also been used to improve soil physical and chemical properties [22] FYM therefore play a major role in improving crop productivity for the resource poor farmers of the sub-Saharan Africa.
Mixed Cropping and Crop Rotation
In the past, farmers within the central Ethiopian highlands used to grow a wide range of food legumes, mainly intercropped with maize. The legumes included cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L.), pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan L.) and dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Legumes root symbioses provide N2 through biological nitrogen fixation. The legumes can therefore use fixed N rather than soil mineral N [2].
Legumes cannot always supply enough N to meet all the internal plant needs by symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This is true for legumes because, nodule activity decreases during the grain filling period when there is an increasing completion of reproductive structures with the nodules for a diminishing photosynthetic supply. Nevertheless, some food legumes are more efficient in N2 fixation than others under a given set of environmental conditions. For example, cowpeas are estimated to fix between 73-80 kg N ha-1, pigeon peas between 65-85 kg N, while dry beans inoculated or un inoculated have sometimes failed to fix N [19].
Modern Concept of Maintaining Soil Fertility
Integrated Nutrients Management:
Integrated Use of Cropping Systems with Inorganic Fertilizers and Farmyard Manure: Low soil fertility is one of the major factors limiting crop production and productivity in small holder maize based cropping systems in Ethiopia. Inorganic inputs fertilizers in continuous cropping systems have limited ability for long-term maintenance of soil fertility [35]. Legume-cereal sequence is one of the cropping pattern practices on smallholder farmers' in Ethiopia. Crop rotation sequences incorporating legumes can be used to effectively restore, maintain, enhance soil fertility and built up the N status of the soil. Besides, reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers crop rotations that favour nitrogen fixation will benefit both agriculture and environment and should be integrated in cropping systems [35].
The study carried out at Western Oromia, on identifying the best precursor crops and optimum integrated of farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizer in maize based rotation sequence show that Haricot bean, Niger seed followed by application of either 12 t ha-1FYM or 89-35NP2O5 kg ha-1 is a better option for sustainable maize production than continuous mono cropping [1]. The study carried out by the same authors on similar location on best compatible soybean varieties in intercropping systems and the most economically optimum integrated fertilizer from soybean (Didessa variety) without affecting yield of the maize.rate show that were significant differences in leaf area index, plant height and grain yield of maize due to integrated fertilizer application. Integrated use of 55/23 N/P2O5 kg ha-1 with 8 t ha-1 FYM also revealed better economic advantage with some additional yield
Integrated use of inorganic and organic fertilizers: Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers is much better than single use of either chemical fertilizer or organic ones in maize cropping systems. It increases fertilizer use efficiency, reduces risks of acidification, and provides a more balanced supply of nutrients [28]. Organic manures and residue also improve physical and chemical properties of soil and fertilizer use efficiency when applied in combination with mineral fertilizers [5]. There are a number of researches done by different scholars to address the problems of soil fertility, on locally available sources of organic fertilizers for continuous basis for replenishing the degraded physicochemical properties of soils to make sustainable maize production in Ethiopia. Accordingly, a study carried out on integrated uses of NP and FYM at five locations in western Oromia indicated that integrated application are better than application either NP or FYM alone [33] (Table 1). Other studies at the same location revealed that FYM has to be applied every three years at the rate of 16 t ha-1 supplemented by NP fertilizer annually at the rate of 20-46 N-P2O5 kg ha-1 (Table 2) for sustainable maize production around Bako and similar areas [27].
N/P + FYM
(kg ha-1 + t ha-1)t maize grain ha-1
BRC*
Walda
Shoboka
Harato
Laga Kalla
Mean
0/0 + 0
0.90h
4.68e
4.44
5.79d
1.86f
3.53g
0/0 + 4
3.61g
6.68ab
6.43
7.72abed
4.37cde
5.76ef
0/0 + 8
4.87cdef
6.50abc
6.52
5.74d
4.41cde
5.61f
0/0 + 12
5.05cde
6.71ab
6.95
6.78d
4.17de
5.93def
20/20 + 0
3.79fg
6.70ab
6.88
6.20d
4.75bcd
5.66ef
20/20 + 4
4.69defg
7.44ab
7.82
6.96cd
3.27e
6.04def
20/20 + 8
6.50ab
6.88ab
7.44
8.94abc
4.35de
6.82bc
20/20 + 12
6.50ab
5.76bc
6.52
7.28bcd
4.75bcd
6.16cdef
40/25 + 0
4.33efg
6.12abc
6.70
9.06ab
4.46cde
6.13cdef
40/25 + 4
5.05cde
5.71bc
8.00
6.78d
4.66bcd
6.04def
40/25 + 8
5.96bc
7.98a
7.64
7.57abcd
5.67abc
6.96ab
40/25 + 12
5.96bc
6.88ab
7.44
6.00d
5.44abcd
6.34bcde
60/30 + 0
4.51efg
6.52abc
6.52
7.68abcd
5.04bcd
6.06def
60/30 + 4
5.77bcd
7.05ab
7.47
7.68abcd
4.67bcd
6.53bcd
60/30 + 8
7.40a
6.52abc
6.88
7.34bcd
5.85ab
6.80bc
60/30 + 12
6.78ab
7.80a
7.64
9.58a
6.61a
7.68a
LSD (5%)
1.24
1.86
NS
2.02
1.32
0.72
CV (%)
14.54
16.87
24.00
16.59
17.05
16.45
*BRC: Bako Research Center; means within a column followed by the same letter(s) are not significantly different at the 0.05 level
Source: Wakene et al., [33]
Table 1: The effects of FYM and NP fertilizers on maize grain yield at five locations in the 1997 cropping season.
Year
FYM-N-P2O5
(t-kg-kg ha-1)1992
1993
1994
1995
Mean
0-0-0
28.3
33.0
21.3
23.0
26.4
0-10-23
31.2
38.0
35.8
29.3
33.8
0-20-46
33.6
43.2
39.8
33.7
37.6
8-0-0
38.8
38.0
32.7
29.2
34.7
8-10-23
26.1
40.6
40.7
35.7
35.8
8-20-46
26.5
48.5
56.1
44.2
43.8
16-0-0
31.3
45.8
40.4
35.0
38.1
16-10-23
35.4
51.2
56.2
44.5
46.8
16-20-46
31.5
56.7
58.7
50.0
49.2
24-0-0
32.5
43.8
47.1
41.0
41.1
24-10-23
28.1
53.3
54.4
48.5
46.1
24-20-26
35.7
54.5
61.1
55.4
51.7
0-75-75
54.4
54.6
60.9
55.9
56.5
LSD (0.05)
6.39
5.68
5.56
5.94
4.93
Source: Tolessa et al., [27]
Table 2: Effects of farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizers on maize at Bako, 1992-1995.
At Bako, a trial was executed on uses of biogas effluent as organic fertilizer with integration of NP rates. The biogas effluent brought significant change in chemical composition of the soil in particular, soil organic carbon was fairly increased [26]. After application the integration of both fertilizers was observed to produce significantly higher grain yield. Although 12 t ha-1 biogas effluent alone gave higher yields that were comparable to other treatments, biogas effluent applied at 8 t ha-1 with 55/10 kg NP ha-1 was selected as the best alternative fertilizer combination and thus, recommended for maize production in Bako areas (Table 3).
BE ha-1 t ha-1 and NP rates kg ha-1
Grain yield (kg/ha)
2001
2002
2003
Mean
4 t BE ha-1 + 50 % RR NP kg ha-1
8998
6741
2668
6135
4 t BE ha-1 + 75 % RR NP kg ha-1
9609
6623
3154
6462
4 t BE ha-1 + 100 RR NP kg ha-1
9568
7556
2812
6645
8 t BE ha-1 + 50 % RR NP kg ha-1
9837
7846
4357
7346
8 t BE ha-1 + 75 % RR NP kg ha-1
9061
8204
3575
6947
8 t BE ha-1 + 100 % RR NP kg ha-1
9662
7628
3698
6996
12 t BE ha-1 + 50 % RR NP kg ha-1
9549
7821
3326
6899
12 t BE ha-1 + 75 % RR NP kg ha-1
9389
7537
3709
6878
12 t BE ha-1 + 100 % RRNP kg ha-1
9923
9395
4187
7835
12 t BE ha-1
9216
7840
5131
7396
RR NP kg ha-1 (110/20)
9894
6265
2051
6070
16 t BE ha-1
8332
9023
4664
7340
LSD<0.05
1126
2106
1503
NS
BE: Biogas Effluent; RRNP: Recommended Rate of Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Source: Tolera et al., [26]
Table 3: Combined effects of biogas effluent and NP fertilizer rates on grain yield of maize at Bako.
The study carried out by Zelalem (2013), on integrated uses of enriched farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizer at Haramaya University Chiro Campus also shows that enriching FYM with inorganic fertilizers can boost hybrid maize grain yield significantly through improving the physicochemical properties of the soil (Table 4). The application of 4 tons/ha FYM incorporated with 75 kg of Nitrogen and 60 kg of Phosphorus at Chiro can significantly increase hybrid maize (BH -140) yield and sustain its productivity over years. Besides, it also reduces the cost of inorganic fertilizers which is becoming a bottle neck to smallholder farmers of Eastern Ethiopia.
Treatment
Mean grain yield of maize (kg/ha)
Rep1
Rep2
Rep3
Rep4
Total
Mean
Control (0 FYM and 0 N and P)
1563
1784
1586
1657
6590
1647.5
10t/ha FYM+0 N and P
6579
6934
6601
6496
26610
6652.5
8 t/ha FYM and 25 kg/ha N + 20 kg/ha P
5546
5955
6266
5661
23428
5857
8 t/ha FYM and 50 kg/ha N + 40 kg/ha P
5497
5353
4978
4854
20682
5170.5
4 t/ha FYM and 75 kg/ha N + 60 kg/ha P
7601
8155
8042
8836
32634
8158.5
2 t/ha FYM and 100 kg/ha N + 80 kg/ha P
7269
6837
6228
6340
26674
6668.5
100 kg/ha N + 100 kg/ha P
6568
6821
7343
7256
27988
6997
Total
4063
41839
41044
41100
164606
6858.58
Source: Zelalem, [36], FYM: Farmyard Manure
Table 4: Effect of enriched FYM on grain yield (mean values) of hybrid maize (BH-140) at Chiro, Western Hararghe from 2008 to 2011.
Integrated use of improved fallow of mucuna [Mucuna pruriens (L) DC] with NP fertilizers enhanced soil chemical properties mainly soil pH, basic cations and reduced exchangeable acidity and increased uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in maize [32]. The integrated use of these organic sources with inorganic fertilizers significantly improved maize grain yield over the control and recommended rate of inorganic fertilizers (Table 5). During three cropping seasons (2001 to 2003) the use of short fallow of mucuna alone increased maize grain yield by 111% over the control. Therefore, short fallowing of mucuna along with FYM or with low dose of NP fertilizers may be used as low cost intermediate technology for enhancing soil fertility and increased maize yield and also grantee sustainable maize production in western Ethiopia.
Treatment
Plant height (cm)
Grain yield (t ha-1)
2001
2002
2003
Mean
2001
2002
2003
Mean
Control
250
277
201
242
2.3
2.7
1.7
2.2
IF
295
312
248
285
4.0
4.3
5.9
4.7
IF + 55/10 NP
347
304
269
311
7.9
4.0
5.8
5.9
IF + 37/7 NP
339
319
248
297
7.7
3.8
5.9
5.8
IF + 4 t ha-1 FYM
340
317
274
312
7.4
4.9
6.4
6.3
IF + 2.7 t ha-1 FYM
341
318
270
309
6.3
4.3
7.3
6.1
110/20 kg h-1 NP
336
318
251
301
5.5
3.3
4.5
4.4
LSD <0.05
39.3
ns
34.8
18.9
1.4
ns
1.8
0.9
Source: Wakene et al. [32]. IF = improved fallow with Mucuna green manure, FYM: Farm Yar Manure; LSD: Least Significant Difference; ns: Not Significant
Table 5: Effects of integrated management of mucuna fallow with NP fertilizer on plant height and maize grain yield at Bako.
Other study carried out by Merkebu and Ketema during 2009 main rainy season at Mizan ATVET college, on the effects of Green Manure (GM) and Nitrogen (N) levels on yield relatedtraits and yield of maize, inorganic nutrient source applied in sole and in combination with organic have improved most of the yield related traits and yield of maize (Table 6). The application of 10 tons/ha GM incorporated with 60kg N/ha at Mizan Teferi, South-west Ethiopia can significantly increase maize yield and sustain its productivity over years.
Green manure rates (ton/ha)
N levels (kg/ha)
0
5
10
Mean
0
1847e
2084d
2042d
1990.7
20
2083de
2083d
3472b
2546.0
40
2777c
3514c
4208ab
3499.7
60
3611b
3792bc
4625a
4009.3
Mean
2579.5
2868.0
3586.8
LSD (0.05)
582
CV (%)
11.22
N: Nitrogen; CV: Coefficient of Variation; LSD: Least Significant Difference
Table 6: Grain yield (kg/ha) of maize as affected by the interaction effect of applied N fertilizer and green manure.
The work of Tesfa et al. (2004) by using of Sesbania biomass and dried FYM with total Nitrogen (N) contents of 2.25% and 1.25% respectively at Jima during 1999 and 2000 main cropping season indicate that maize exhibited very attractive performance on plots that received the highest rate of sesbania and farmyard manure. Subsequently, at the same rate both gave significantly higher mean grain yield of 7.10 t ha-1. Application of sesbania biomass and dry FYM greater than five t ha-1 gave comparable or greater maize yield to 69 kg N ha-1 from urea fertilizer. The grain yield gains due to N from organic sources were 50% and 40% as compared to the control and N received plots, respectively (Table 7). Five ton per hectare can definitely substitute the N-requirement of maize and determined to be a minimum dry weight to incorporate to soil for legumes and well managed FYM of total N-contents of greater than 2.5% and 1.25% respectively. Therefore, these should be advised for low cost and sustainable maize production in areas similar to Jima.
Available Inputs
Cropping seasons
Mean
% increase
1999
2000
5 t ha-1 sesbania
6.41
6.28
6.34ab
46
10 t ha-1sesbania
7.19
6.96
7.08a
63
5 t ha-1farmyard manure
5.82
6.04
5.93bc
36
10 t ha-1 farmyard manure
6.83
7.53
7.18a
65
69 kg ha-1 N
5.52
4.45
5.04cd
16
0 kg ha-1N
4.59
4.1
4.34d
-
Mean
6.06
5.91
Figures followed by the same letters are not significantly different at p<0.01
Source: Tesfa et al., [25]
Table 7: Minimum total dry biomass of a legume and FYM required for enhanced maize production.
At Hawassa, integrated uses of coffee by product and N fertilizer were evaluated to enhance low soil fertility and produce information on low input maize cropping system. Combinations of different rates of coffee by product and N rates were tested in maize-common bean intercropping system. Significant increment of grain yield of maize was obtained where nine ton per hectare coffee residue without N fertilizer applied. The same treatment had yield advantage of 91% over the control (Table 8). While N fertilizer alone accounted for 149% yield advantage over the control. Likewise, combinations of coffee by product and nitrogen had greater yield advantage up to 213% over the untreated control. Application of N fertilizer raised the uptake of N up to 60 kg ha-1. Therefore, coffee growers in southern region can sustain their maize production system through integrated uses of 90 kg N ha-1 with six ton ha-1 coffee by product.
Coffee by product
(t ha-1)N fertilizer (kg ha-1)
0
30
60
90
Mean
0
1541
3540
3911
4044
3259 b
3
2237
3600
1985
3244
2766 c
6
2800
3289
2755
3866
3177 b
9
3807
3348
3659
4133
3737 a
Mean
2596 d
3444 b
3077 c
3822 a
Means followed by same letters denote no significant difference between treatments (P>0.05).
Source: Tenaw et al., [23]
Table 8: Effect of coffee by product and N fertilizer on grain yield (kg ha-1) of intercropped maize.
Other study by Wakene et al. (2004) around Bako on integrated use of compost and mineral fertilizer in 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons. The combined analysis of maize grain yield across location and season showed significant differences (P=0.05) among the treatments. The recommended rate of NP (110/20 kg N/P ha-1) gave the highest mean grain yield, though five tons ha-1 compost integrated with 25/11 kg N/P and 50/10 kg N/P ha-1produced comparable average maize grain yield (Table 9). Therefore, use of five tons ha-1 of compost with 55/10 kg of N/P ha-1 is found economical for maize production in western regions.
NP kgha-1 + compost th-1
Bako
Kejo
Anno
0/0 + 0
4025b
3670c
3740d
0/0 + 5 compost
5450ab
5340b
4730c
25/11 N/P + 5 compost
5840ab
6600a
5680b
55/10 N/P + 5 compost
6990a
6120a
6510a
110/20 N/P + 0
6490a
7350a
6850a
Means within a column followed by the same letter(s) are not significantly different at P<0.05
Source: Wakene et al., [34]
Table 9: Effect of integrated use of compost and low doses of NP fertilizers on maize grain yield.
Summary and Conclusion
The productivity of maize in potential agro-ecologies has been notified in decreasing trends, mainly because of declining soil fertility. In the past farmers used traditional methods of soil fertility restoring practices.
These methods have been abandoned and adversely affecting maize production. To alleviate this production problem in the country, commercial fertilizers have been relied to boost the productivity of maize that commonly cultivated in continuous production system. However, increasing costs of chemical fertilizers may not encourage the smallholder farmers to use the full recommended dose for their maize, research efforts has been made on integrated uses of different sources of organic and inorganic fertilizers to offer low input technology for soil fertilization.
The research outputs of various institutions in the country confirmed variable results because of differences in soil types, agro-ecology, varieties used and crop management systems. Maize planted using combinations of FYM, compost, biogas effluent, crops with lower rates of NP fertilizers at Bako and enriching FYM at Chiro with inorganic fertilizers gave comparable yield to the recommended NP rates. The uses of legumes as short fallows and green manuring indicated that mucuna at Bako and sesbania at Jimma, planted Legumes as precursor crop at Bako could partially or fully replace the N-fertilizer need of subsequently sown maize. At Hawassa also nine t ha-1 coffees by product combined with 60 kg N ha-1enhanced soil fertility and promised sustainable production of maize in respective location.
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