Abstract
The rainfall of agricultural areas of the West African semi-arid tropics varies from 300 to 1200 mm. Although in absolute terms rainfall is low only in the northern half of the desert margins, the high inter-annual variability associated with eratic distribution of rainfall both in location and during the growing season, constitute major limitations for agricultural production. Continuous and intensive cropping without restoration of the soil fertility has depleted the nutrient base of most of the soils. For many cropping systems in the region, nutrient balances are negative, indicating soil mining. Among soil fertility factors, phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint to crop production. Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) as defined as yield increase per kg fertilizer P added, is related to P sources, environmental factors, soil, and crop management. In addition to water-soluble P-fertilizers, the effect of rock phosphate (PR) sources from Niger (Parc-W PR and Tahoua PR), Mali (Tilemsi PR), and Burkina Faso (Kodjari PR) and modified partially acidulated phosphate rocks (PAPR) on P-use efficiency is reported. PAPR improved the PUE of all PR sources. Among the four PR sources in the region, Tahoua PR (TPR) recorded the highest PUE as compared to Kodjari (KPR) or Parc-W (PRW). It is concluded that rainfall received in September at grain filling and maturation stage was best correlated to PUE. There are large differences in the PUEs of different pearl millet cultivars, and values varied from 25 to 77 kg grain (kg P ha)−1. Hill placement of 4 kg P ha−1 at sowing time improved PUE more than the present recommendation of 13 kg ha−1 broadcast, and also improved the efficiency of PAPR. The rotation of cereals and cowpea, and soil amendment with crop residue application drastically increased PUE in the region.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Aguilar S A and van Diest 1981 Rock phosphate mobilization induced by the alkaline uptake pattern of legumes utilizing symbiotically fixed N. Plant Soil 61, 27–42.
Bado V B 1998 Efficacite agronomique des phosphates naturels du Burkina Faso sur le riz pluvial en sol ferralitique. Cahiers Agric. 7 (3), 236–238.
Bationo A, Chien S H and Mokwunye A U 1987 Chemical characteristics and agronomic values of some phosphate rocks in West Africa. In Food Grain Production in Semi-Arid Africa. Eds J M Menyonga, T Bezuneh and A Youndeowei. pp 399–407. Coordination Office OAU/SAFGRAD Essex, UK.
Bationo A, Mokwunye A U and Christianson C B 1989a Gestion de la fertilité des sols sableux au Niger: un aperçu de quelques résultats de recherche de l’JFDC/ICRISAT. In Les Actes du Séminaire National sur l’Aménagement des Sols, la Conservation de l’Eau, et la Fertilisation. pp 177–194. Tahoua, Niger.
Bationo A, Christianson C B and Baethgen W E 1989b Plant density and nitrogen fertilizer effects on pearl millet production in Niger. Agron. J. 82 (2), 290–295.
Bationo A, Chien S H, Christianson C B, Henao J and Mokwunye A U 1990 A 3-year evaluation of two unacidulated and partially acidulated phosphate rocks indigenous to Niger. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 54, 1772–1777.
Bationo A and Mokwunye A U 1991 Alleviating soil fertility constraints to increased crop production in West Africa. The experience in the Sahel. Fertil. Res. 29, 98–115.
Bationo A, Buerkert A, Sedogo M P, Christianson B C and Mokwunye A U 1995 A critical review of crop residue uses a soil amendment in the West African semi-arid tropics. In Livestock and Sustainable Nutrient Cycling in Mixed Farming Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa, Proceedings of an International Conference. Eds J M Powell, S Fernandez-Rivera, T O Williams and C Renard. pp 305–322. International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Bationo A, Ayuk E D, Ballo and Kone M 1997 Agronomic and economic evaluation of Tilemsi phosphate rock in different agro-ecological zones of Mali. Nutr. Cycling Agroecosyst. 48, 179–189.
Breman H and de Wit C T 1983 Rangeland productivity and exploitation in the Sahel. Science 221, 1341–1347.
Caradus J R 1980 Distinguishing between grass and legume species
for efficiency of phosphorus use. N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 23, 75–81. Chien S H 1977 Thermodynamic considerations on the solubility of phosphate rock. Soil Sci. 123, 117–121.
Chien S H and Hammond L L 1978 A simple chemical method for evaluating the agronomic potential of granulated phosphate rock. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 42, 615–617.
Daft M J 1991 Influences of genotypes, rock phosphate and plant densities on mycorrhizal development and the growth responses of five different crops. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 35, 151–169.
Föhse D N, Claasen, and Jungk A 1988 Phosphorus efficiency of plants. I. External and internal P requirement and P uptake efficiency of different plant species. Plant Soil 110, 101–109.
Fox R L and Kamprath E J 1970 Phosphate sorption isotherm for evaluating the requirements of soils. Soils Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 31, 902–907.
Friesen D 1991 Fate and efficiency of sulfur fertilizer applied to food crops in West Africa. In Alleviating Soil Fertility Constraints to Increased Crop Production in West Africa. Ed. A U Mokwunye. pp 59–68. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Goldsworthy P R 1967a Responses of cereals to fertilizers in Northern Nigeria I. Sorghum. Exp. Agric. 3, 29–40.
Goldsworthy P R 1967b Responses of cereals to fertilizers in Northern Nigeria II. Maize. Exp. Agric. 3, 263–268.
Hammond L L, Chien S H and Mokwunye A U 1986 Agronomic value of unacidulated and partially acidulated phosphate rocks indigenous to the tropics. Adv. Agron. 40, 89–140.
Hedley M J, Nye P H and Bolan S N 1982 Plant-induced changes in the rhizosphere of rape (Brassica napus var. Emerald) seedings. II: Origin of the pH change. New Phytol. 91, 31–44.
INRAN 1988 Départment des recherches écologiques. Bilan de cinq années de recherches Institut National des Recherches Agronomiques du Niger, Niamey, Niger (1982–1987). 80 pp.
Khasawneh F E and Doll E C 1978 The use of phosphorus rock for direct application to soils. Adv. Agron. 30, 155–206.
Kirk G J D and Nye P H 1986 A simple model for predicting the rate of dissolution of sparingly soluble calcium phosphate in soil: The basic model. J. Soil Sci. 37, 529–540.
Langmuir J 1918 The adsorption of gases on plain surface of glass, mica and platinum. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 40, 1361–1403.
Lee K K and Wani S P 1991 Possibilities for manipulating mycorrhizal associations in crops. In Phosphorus Nutrition of Grain Legumes in the Semi-Arid Tropics. Eds C Johansen, K K Lee and K L Sahrawat. pp 107–166. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Mahamane I, Bationo A, Seyni F and Hamidou Z 1997 Acquis récents des recherches sur les phosphates naturels du Niger. In Soil Fertility Management in West African Land Use Systems: Proceedings of a Regional Workshop Niamey, Niger, 4–8 March 1997. Eds G Renard, A Neef, K Becker and M von Oppen. pp 73–78. University of Hohenheim, ICRISAT, INRAN, Margraf Verlag, Weikersheim, Germany.
Manu A, Bationo A and Geiger S C 1991 Fertility status of selected millet producing soils of West Africa with emphasis on phosphorus. Soil Sci. 152, 315–320.
Marschner H, Römheld V, Horst W J and Martin P 1986 Root-induced changes in the rhizosphere: Importance for the mineral nutrition of plants. Z. Planzenemahr. Bodenk. 149, 441–456.
McClellan G H and Northolt A J G 1986 Phosphate deposits of tropical sub-Saharan Africa. In Management of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Eds A U Mokwunye and P L G Vlek. pp 173–223. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
McLachlan K D 1976 Comparative phosphorus response in plants to a range of available phosphorus situations. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 27, 323–341.
Muelhig-Versen B A, Buerkert A, Bationo A and Maschner H 1997 Crop residue and phosphorus management in millet based cropping systems on sandy soils of Sahel. In Soil Fertility Management in West African Land Use Systems: Proceedings of a Regional Workshop. Niamey, Niger, 4–8
March 1997. Eds G Renard, A Neef, K Becker and M von Oppen. pp 31–40. University of Hohenheim. ICRISAT, INRAN, Margraf Verlag, Weikersheim, Germany.
Nielsen N E and Schjorring J K 1983 Efficiency and kinetics of phosphorus uptake from soil by various barley genotypes. Plant Soil 72, 225–230.
Ohwaki Y and Hirata H 1992 Differences in carboxilic acid exudation among P-starved leguminous crops in relation to carboxylic acid contents in plant tissues and phospholipid levels in roots. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 38, 235–243.
Payne W A, Hossner L R, Onken A B and Wendt C W 1995 Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in pearl millet and its relation to nutrient-and water-use efficiency. Agron. J. 87, 425–431.
Pichot J and Roche P 1972 Le phosphate dans les sols tropicaux. Agron. Trop. 27, 939–965.
Sanchez P A and Uehara G 1980 Management considerations for acid soils with high phosphorus fixation capacity. In The Role of Phosphorus in Agriculture. Ed. F E Khasawneh. pp 471–509. Am. Soc. Agron., Madison, WI, USA.
Silberbush M and Barber S A 1983 Sensitivity of simulated phosphorus uptake to parameters used by a mechanistic-mathematical model. Plant Soil 74, 93–100.
Spencer K, Govaars A G and Hely F W 1980 Early phosphorus nutrition of eight forms of two clover species. Trifolium ambiguam and T. repens. N.Z. J. Agric. Res. 23, 457–475.
Stoorvogel J J, Smaling E M A 1990 Assessment of soil nutrient depletion in sub-Saharan Africa: 1983–2000. Report 28, DLO Winand Staring Centre for Integrated Land, Soil and Water Research (SC-DLO), Wageningen, The Netherlands. 173 pp.
Thibaut F, Traoré M F C and Pichot J 1980 L’utilisation agricole des phosphates naturels de Tilemsi (Mali). Synthèse des résultats de la recherche agronomique sur les cultures vivrières et oléagineuses. Agron. Trop. 35, 240–249 (in French).
Traoré F 1974 Etude de la fumure azotée intensive des céréales et du role specific de la matière organique dans la fertilité des sols du Mali. Agron. Trop. 29, 567–586 (in French). van Keulen H and Breman H 1990 Agricultural development in the West African Sahel region: a cure against land hunger? Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 32, 177–197.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bationo, A., Kumar, K.A. (2002). Phosphorus use efficiency as related to sources of P fertilizers, rainfall, soil, crop management, and genotypes in the West African semi-arid tropics. In: Adu-Gyamfi, J.J. (eds) Food Security in Nutrient-Stressed Environments: Exploiting Plants’ Genetic Capabilities. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 95. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1570-6_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1570-6_16
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6013-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1570-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive