IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i16p6449-d397147.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mineral Fertilizer Demand for Optimum Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Yield Potentials of Legumes in Northern Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Shimbahri Mesfin

    (Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia
    Institute of Climate and Society, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia)

  • Girmay Gebresamuel

    (Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia)

  • Mitiku Haile

    (Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia)

  • Amanuel Zenebe

    (Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia
    Institute of Climate and Society, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia)

  • Girma Desta

    (Natural Resource Management, Kebridhar University, Kebridhar, Ethiopia)

Abstract

Farmers in Northern Ethiopia integrate legumes in their cropping systems to improve soil fertility. However, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) potentials of different legumes and their mineral nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) demands for optimum BNF and yields are less studied. This study aimed to generate the necessary knowledge to enable development of informed nutrient management recommendations, guide governmental public policy and assist farmer decision making. The experiment was conducted at farmers’ fields with four N levels, three P levels, and three replications. Nodule number and dry biomass per plant were assessed. Nitrogen difference method was used to estimate the amount of fixed N by assuming legume BNF was responsible for differences in plant N and soil mineral N measured between legume treatments and wheat. The result revealed that the highest grain yields of faba bean (2531 kg ha −1 ), field pea (2493 kg ha −1 ) and dekeko (1694 kg ha −1 ) were recorded with the combined application of 20 kg N ha −1 and 20 kg P ha −1 . Faba bean, field pea and dekeko also fixed 97, 38 and 49 kg N ha −1 , respectively, with the combined application of 20 kg N ha −1 and 20 kg P ha −1 ; however, lentil fixed 20 kg ha −1 with the combined application of 10 kg N ha −1 and 10 kg P ha −1 . The average BNF of legumes in the average of all N and P interaction rates were 67, 23, 32 and 16 kg N ha −1 for faba bean, field pea, dekeko and lentil, respectively. Moreover, faba bean, field pea, dekeko and lentil accumulated a surplus soil N of 37, 21, 26 and 13 kg ha −1 , respectively, over the wheat plot. The application of 20 kg N ha −1 and 20 kg P ha −1 levels alone and combined significantly ( p < 0.05) increased the nodulation, BNF and yield of legumes; however, 46 kg N ha -1 significantly decreased BNF. This indicated that the combination of 20 kg N ha −1 and 20 kg P ha −1 levels is what mineral fertilizer demands to optimize the BNF and yield of legumes. The results of this study can lead to the development of policy and farmer guidelines, as intensification of the use of legumes supplied with starter N and P fertilizers in Northern Ethiopian cropping systems has the multiple benefits of enhancing inputs of fixed N, improving the soil N status for following crops, and becoming a sustainable option for sustainable soil fertility management practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Shimbahri Mesfin & Girmay Gebresamuel & Mitiku Haile & Amanuel Zenebe & Girma Desta, 2020. "Mineral Fertilizer Demand for Optimum Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Yield Potentials of Legumes in Northern Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:16:p:6449-:d:397147
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/16/6449/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/16/6449/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Smith, Alex & Snapp, Sieglinde & Dimes, John & Gwenambira, Chiwimbo & Chikowo, Regis, 2016. "Doubled-up legume rotations improve soil fertility and maintain productivity under variable conditions in maize-based cropping systems in Malawi," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 139-149.
    2. Bertrand Hirel & Thierry Tétu & Peter J. Lea & Frédéric Dubois, 2011. "Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Crops for Sustainable Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(9), pages 1-34, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shen Yuan & Shaobing Peng, 2017. "Exploring the Trends in Nitrogen Input and Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Agricultural Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Hasan Mirzakhaninafchi & Manjeet Singh & Anoop Kumar Dixit & Apoorv Prakash & Shikha Sharda & Jugminder Kaur & Ali Mirzakhani Nafchi, 2022. "Performance Assessment of a Sensor-Based Variable-Rate Real-Time Fertilizer Applicator for Rice Crop," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-25, September.
    3. Ming Tang & Huchang Liao & Zhengjun Wan & Enrique Herrera-Viedma & Marc A. Rosen, 2018. "Ten Years of Sustainability (2009 to 2018): A Bibliometric Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Saka Habeebah Adewunmi & Uzoho Bethel Ugochukwu & Ahukaemere Chioma Mildred & Nkwopara Ugochukwu Nnamdi, 2023. "Dynamics of Nitrate- Nitrogen of Poultry and Sheep Manures Amended Degraded Ultisols in Ihiagwa, Southeastern, Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 10(8), pages 59-72, August.
    5. Luís Silva & Luís Alcino Conceição & Fernando Cebola Lidon & Benvindo Maçãs, 2023. "Remote Monitoring of Crop Nitrogen Nutrition to Adjust Crop Models: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-23, April.
    6. Władysław Szempliński & Bogdan Dubis & Krzysztof Michał Lachutta & Krzysztof Józef Jankowski, 2021. "Energy Optimization in Different Production Technologies of Winter Triticale Grain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-12, February.
    7. Zulu, Leo Charles & Adams, Ellis Adjei & Chikowo, Regis & Snapp, Sieglinde, 2018. "The role of community-based livestock management institutions in the adoption and scaling up of pigeon peas in Malawi," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 141-155.
    8. Michael Friedrich Tröster, 2023. "Assessing the Value of Organic Fertilizers from the Perspective of EU Farmers," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-11, May.
    9. Rebecca Jo Stormes Newman & Claudia Capitani & Colin Courtney-Mustaphi & Jessica Paula Rose Thorn & Rebecca Kariuki & Charis Enns & Robert Marchant, 2020. "Integrating Insights from Social-Ecological Interactions into Sustainable Land Use Change Scenarios for Small Islands in the Western Indian Ocean," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-22, February.
    10. Timothy R. Silberg & Robert B. Richardson & Maria Claudia Lopez, 2020. "Maize farmer preferences for intercropping systems to reduce Striga in Malawi," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(2), pages 269-283, April.
    11. Gollakota, A.R.K. & Kishore, Nanda & Gu, Sai, 2018. "A review on hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 1378-1392.
    12. Komarek, Adam M. & Drogue, Sophie & Chenoune, Roza & Hawkins, James & Msangi, Siwa & Belhouchette, Hatem & Flichman, Guillermo, 2017. "Agricultural household effects of fertilizer price changes for smallholder farmers in central Malawi," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 168-178.
    13. Yang, Xuan & Zheng, Lina & Yang, Qian & Wang, Zikui & Cui, Song & Shen, Yuying, 2018. "Modelling the effects of conservation tillage on crop water productivity, soil water dynamics and evapotranspiration of a maize-winter wheat-soybean rotation system on the Loess Plateau of China using," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 111-123.
    14. Grabowski, Philip & Schmitt Olabisi, Laura & Adebiyi, Jelili & Waldman, Kurt & Richardson, Robert & Rusinamhodzi, Leonard & Snapp, Sieglinde, 2019. "Assessing adoption potential in a risky environment: The case of perennial pigeonpea," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 89-99.
    15. Snapp, Sieglinde S. & Grabowski, Philip & Chikowo, Regis & Smith, Alex & Anders, Erin & Sirrine, Dorothy & Chimonyo, Vimbayi & Bekunda, Mateete, 2018. "Maize yield and profitability tradeoffs with social, human and environmental performance: Is sustainable intensification feasible?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 77-88.
    16. Zhao, Jiongchao & Wang, Chong & Shi, Xiaoyu & Bo, Xiaozhi & Li, Shuo & Shang, Mengfei & Chen, Fu & Chu, Qingquan, 2021. "Modeling climatically suitable areas for soybean and their shifts across China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    17. Niccolò Pampuro & Christian Preti & Eugenio Cavallo, 2018. "Recycling Pig Slurry Solid Fraction Compost as a Sound Absorber," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, January.
    18. Kinyua, M.W. & Kihara, J. & Bekunda, M. & Bolo, P. & Mairura, F.S. & Fischer, G. & Mucheru-Muna, M.W., 2023. "Agronomic and economic performance of legume-legume and cereal-legume intercropping systems in Northern Tanzania," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    19. Sara Marinari & Emanuele Radicetti & Verdiana Petroselli & Mohamed Allam & Roberto Mancinelli, 2022. "Microbial Indices to Assess Soil Health under Different Tillage and Fertilization in Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) Crop," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-12, March.
    20. Marlena Gołaś & Piotr Sulewski & Adam Wąs & Anna Kłoczko-Gajewska & Kinga Pogodzińska, 2020. "On the Way to Sustainable Agriculture—Eco-Efficiency of Polish Commercial Farms," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-24, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:16:p:6449-:d:397147. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.