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Combining organic and mineral fertilizers as a climate-smart integrated soil fertility management practice in sub-Saharan Africa: A meta-analysis

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  • Gil Gram
  • Dries Roobroeck
  • Pieter Pypers
  • Johan Six
  • Roel Merckx
  • Bernard Vanlauwe

Abstract

Low productivity and climate change require climate-smart agriculture (CSA) for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), through (i) sustainably increasing crop productivity, (ii) enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems, and (iii) offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. We conducted a meta-analysis on experimental data to evaluate the contributions of combining organic and mineral nitrogen (N) applications to the three pillars of CSA for maize (Zea mays). Linear mixed effect modeling was carried out for; (i) grain productivity and agronomic efficiency of N (AE) inputs, (ii) inter-seasonal yield variability, and (iii) changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) content, while accounting for the quality of organic amendments and total N rates. Results showed that combined application of mineral and organic fertilizers leads to greater responses in productivity and AE as compared to sole applications when more than 100 kg N ha-1 is used with high-quality organic matter. For yield variability and SOC, no significant interactions were found when combining mineral and organic fertilizers. The variability of maize yields in soils amended with high-quality organic matter, except manure, was equal or smaller than for sole mineral fertilizer. Increases of SOC were only significant for organic inputs, and more pronounced for high-quality resources. For example, at a total N rate of 150 kg N ha-1 season-1, combining mineral fertilizer with the highest quality organic resources (50:50) increased AE by 20% and reduced SOC losses by 18% over 7 growing seasons as compared to sole mineral fertilizer. We conclude that combining organic and mineral N fertilizers can have significant positive effects on productivity and AE, but only improves the other two CSA pillars yield variability and SOC depending on organic resource input and quality. The findings of our meta-analysis help to tailor a climate smart integrated soil fertility management in SSA.

Suggested Citation

  • Gil Gram & Dries Roobroeck & Pieter Pypers & Johan Six & Roel Merckx & Bernard Vanlauwe, 2020. "Combining organic and mineral fertilizers as a climate-smart integrated soil fertility management practice in sub-Saharan Africa: A meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(9), pages 1-30, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0239552
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239552
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    Cited by:

    1. Mvile, Benatus Norbert & Bishoge, Obadia Kyetuza, 2024. "Mining and sustainable development goals in Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Assan Ng’ombe & Mupangi Sithole & Collins Muimi Musafiri & Milka Kiboi & Tomas Sales & Felix Ngetich, 2023. "Building a Resilient and Sustainable Sorghum Value Chain in Tanzania’s Lake Zone Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Yong Liu & Jorge Ruiz-Menjivar & Junbiao Zhang, 2023. "Do soil nutrient management practices improve climate resilience? Empirical evidence from rice farmers in central China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 10029-10054, September.
    4. Paolo Ceci & Lavinia Monforte & Chiara Perelli & Clara Cicatiello & Giacomo Branca & Silvio Franco & Fatoumata Binta Sombily Diallo & Emanuele Blasi & Giuseppe Scarascia Mugnozza, 2021. "Smallholder farmers’ perception of climate change and drivers of adaptation in agriculture: A case study in Guinea," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 1991-2012, November.
    5. Ronner, E. & van de Ven, G.J. & Nowakunda, K. & Tugumisirize, J. & Kayiita, J. & Taulya, G. & Uckert, G. & Descheemaeker, K.K.E., 2023. "What future for banana-based farming systems in Uganda? A participatory scenario analysis," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    6. Dong-Gill Kim & Elisa Grieco & Antonio Bombelli & Jonathan E. Hickman & Alberto Sanz-Cobena, 2021. "Challenges and opportunities for enhancing food security and greenhouse gas mitigation in smallholder farming in sub-Saharan Africa. A review," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(2), pages 457-476, April.
    7. Ndung’u, M. & Mugwe, J.N. & Mucheru-Muna, M.W. & Ngetich, F.K. & Mairura, F.S. & Mugendi, D.N., 2023. "Tied-ridging and soil inputs enhance small-scale maize productivity and profitability under erratic rainfall conditions in central Kenya," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).

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