Record Details

Long-term application of low C:N residues enhances maize yield and soil nutrient pools across Kenya

CGSpace

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title Long-term application of low C:N residues enhances maize yield and soil nutrient pools across Kenya
 
Creator Sprunger, C.D.
Culman, S.W.
Palm, Cheryl A.
Thuita, Moses N.
Vanlauwe, Bernard
 
Subject maize
crop production
soil organic matter
nutrients
cycling
agroecosystems
soil fertility
africa south of sahara
 
Description Declines in soil fertility and limited access to inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer constrain crop production in Sub-Saharan Africa. The incorporation of organic residues could increase nutrient mineralization and replenish soil carbon (C), however, the effect that long-term residue management (10+ years) has on maize (Zea mays L.) yields and soil nutrient pools (C and N) is largely unknown. In four identical long-term trials in Kenya that differ by soil type and climate, we compared maize yield and soil C (0–0.15 m) across four treatments comparing organic inputs of contrasting C:N ratios: tithonia [Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray] + N (120 kg N ha−1); tithonia − N (0 kg N ha−1); maize stover + N (120 kg N ha−1); maize stover − N (0 kg N ha−1). On average, maize yields were 92% greater under tithonia compared to maize stover at the sandy sites and in general followed this trend: tithonia + N > tithonia − N = stover + N > stover − N. The continuous application of tithonia also increased soil C and N pools; for instance, mineralizable C was up to 57% greater than that of maize stover at the sandy sites. Increases in yield and nutrient pools under tithonia were less apparent at the clay sites. When exploring the relationship between soil C and maize yield, we found that both mineralizable and processed pools were related to agronomic performance. Our findings demonstrate that low C:N residues could significantly benefit crop production and enhance soil organic matter at sandy sites across Kenya.
 
Date 2019-07
2019-07-11T10:09:34Z
2019-07-11T10:09:34Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Sprunger, C.D., Culman, S.W., Palm, C.A., Thuita, M. & Vanlauwe, B. (2019). Long-term application of low C: N residues enhances maize yield and soil nutrient pools across Kenya. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 114, 261–276
1385-1314
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102155
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-019-10005-4
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
 
Language en
 
Rights Copyrighted; all rights reserved
Limited Access
 
Format 261-276
 
Publisher Springer Science and Business Media LLC
 
Source Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems