Abstract
One of the major objectives of on-farm research is to test and refine recommendations coming from controlled research conditions to suit the variable conditions met under farmer circumstances. In developing countries, resources available for agricultural research are limiting. Therefore the challenge is to develop methodologies favouring resource–use efficiency and facilitating relatively fast results. At the same time researchers must take advantage of a high level of farmer participation and sample environmental variables suspected of affecting the technology's performance. In this context, ways in which to deal with variability, both in terms of environment as well as in farmer management, become important. To present lessons learned, this case study describes first relevant aspects of the farming system, a brief history of the problem and the resulting experimental program. For illustration purposes, one year of data is presented in detail. This came from a farmer-implemented, farmer-managed test on urea use (30 kg/ha nitrogen) in rice cultivation based on water harvesting.
Variation in rice yields has been investigated in order to determine whether known differences in cultivation circumstances (water level during fertilizer application, field position on the slope, rice variety used) warrant refining the recommendation regarding urea use. It is known for example that water height varying at application time can significantly influence the rice crop's response to nitrogen; however, in this investigation urea use proved to be an economically attractive option over the water level range investigated (5–15 cm).
Although variable response to urea use due to environmental factors was identified, economic evaluation using Marginal Rates of Return showed that under all conditions urea use was justified. Therefore, the recommendation does not need to be refined, given the assumptions presented.
Finally, the sustainability of urea use is discussed, in view of the fact that nitrogen application enhances crop yields and therefore increases the extraction of other crucial plant nutrients.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anon. (1988) From agronomic data to farmer recommendations: An economics training manual. Completely revised edition. CIMMYT, Mexico, D.F.
Anon. (1989) Diagnostic survey of Maswa and Meatu Districts. Informal Survey. Working Paper no. 4. Tanzania/Netherlands Farming System Research Project, Lake Zone, Mwanza, Tanzania
Anon. (1994) Informal survey and research priority setting: Farming System Research in Kwimba District. Working Paper no. 9. Tanzania/Netherlands Farming System Research Project, Lake Zone, Mwanza, Tanzania
Ashby J (1990) Evaluating technology with farmers: A handbook. CIAT, Cali, Columbia
Bosch C (1990) Rice cultivation in Maswa District. Field Note no. 7. Tanzania/ Netherlands Farming System Research Project, Lake Zone, Mwanza, Tanzania
Budelman A (1996) In search of sustainability–Nutrients, trees and farmer experimentation in North Sukumaland agriculture. Working Paper no. 16. Tanzania/ Netherlands Farming System Research Project, Lake Zone, Mwanza, Tanzania
Byerlee D (1987) From adaptive research to farmer recommendations and extension advice. Agricultural Administration and Extension 27: 231–244
Ebong C, Gijsman A, Husson O, Kivunge K, Li X, Rusamsi E, Timmermans m, Wongchanapai P (1991).An analysis of agricultural and livestock production systems in Misungwi Division, Lake Zone Tanzania. International Centre for development–oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA),Wageningen, The Netherlands
Harrington LW (1992) Measuring sustainability: Issues and alternatives. Journal for Farming Systems Research–Extension 3: 1–19
Kajiru GJ (1993) Results of a farmer implemented test concerning urea use in rice (Oryza sativaL.) cultivation, Maswa District, 1991–1992. Field Note no. 31. Tanzania/Netherlands Farming System Research Project, Lake Zone, Mwanza, Tanzania
Kajiru GJ (1994) Results of a farmer implemented test concerning urea use in rice (Oryza sativaL.) cultivation, Kwimba District, 1992–1993. Field Note no. 34. Tanzania/Netherlands Farming System Research Project, Lake Zone, Mwanza, Tanzania
Kajiru GJ (1995) Study on the non–acceptance of fertilizer recommendations in Malya rice valley, Lake Zone, North–west Tanzania. MSc thesis Wageningen Agricultural University, Department of Agronomy, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Magoggo JP (1990) Soils of Ukiriguru Research Institute. Semidetailed report D 30, Kwimba District. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. National Soil Service, Agricultural Research Institute, Mlingano, Tanga, Tanzania
Meertens HCC, Ndege LJ, Enserink HJ (1991) Results of the rice on–farm fertilizer trial using a farming system perspective: Maswa District 1989–90. Field Note no. 13. Tanzania/ Netherlands Farming System Research Project, Lake Zone, Mwanza, Tanzania
Meertens HCC, Ndege LJ, Enserink HJ (1992) Results of the urea demonstration on–farm trial: Maswa District 1990–91. Field Note no. 26. Tanzania/Netherlands Farming System Research Project, Lake Zone, Mwanza, Tanzania
Meertens HCC, Ndege LJ (1993) The rice cropping system in Sengerema Division, Maswa District. Field Note no. 37. Tanzania/ Netherlands Farming System Research Project, Lake Zone, Mwanza, Tanzania
Milne G (1947) A soil reconnaissance journey through parts of Tanganyika territory, December 1935 to February 1936. Journal of Ecology 35: 192–265
Morison CGT, Wright BI (1951a) The soils of Sukumaland. Part 1. (unpublished report). pp 31. Ukiriguru Agricultural Research Station, Lake Zone, Tanzania
Morison CGT, Wright BI (1951b) The soils of Sukumaland. Part 2. (unpublished report). pp 113 + Annexes. Ukiriguru Agricultural Research Station, Lake Zone, Tanzania
NCU (1992) A national farming systems research strategy for Tanzania: Report of a task force. National Coordinating Unit for FSR (NCU), Ministry of Agriculture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Nye PH (1954) Some soil–forming processes in the humid tropics Part I. A field study of a catena in the West African forest. Journal of Soil Science 5: 7–21
Palada MC, Walker P, Masajo TM, Jalloh M (1991) An on–farm rice variety trial in a toposequence of inland valley swamps. In: Mutsaers HJW, Walker P (ed's) On–farm research in theory and practice: 147–154. Proceedings of a workshop on design and analysis of on–farm trials, February 27th to March 3rd, 1989, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria
Posner JL, Gilbert E (1991) Sustainable agriculture and Farming Systems Research teams in semiarid West Africa: A fatal attraction? Journal of Farming Systems Research–Extension 2: 71–86
Rounce NV (1946) The agriculture of the cultivation steppe of the Lake, Western and Central Provinces. Department of Agriculture Tanganyika Territory. Longmans, Green and Co, Cape Town, South Africa
Rounce NV (1951) Technical considerations in the economic development of Sukumaland. Empire Journal of Experimental Agriculture 19 (76): 253–264
Stoop WA (1986) Agronomic management of cereal/cowpea cropping systems for major toposequence land types in the West African Savanna. Field Crops Research 14: 301–319
Stoop WA (1987a) Variations in soil properties along three toposequences in Burkina Faso and implications for the development of improved cropping systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 19: 241–264
Stoop WA(1987b) Adaptation of sorghum/maize and sorghum/pearl millet intercrop systems to the toposequence land types in the North Sudanian zone of the West African savanna. Field Crops Research 16: 255–272
Stroud A (1993) Conducting on–farm experiments. CIAT, Cali, Columbia
Sumberg J, Okali C (1988) Farmer, on–farm research and the development of new technology. Experimental Agriculture 24: 333– 342
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kajiru, G., Kileo, R., Stroud, A. et al. Validating a fertilizer recommendation across a diverse cropping environment. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 51, 163–173 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009774316190
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009774316190