Date
Corporate author
Editor
Illustrator
Producer
Photographer
Contributor
Writer
Translator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Access Rights
Share
APA citation
ISO citation
Abstract

Continuous cropping with inorganic inputs has limitations in terms of maintaining long-term soil fertility. However, crop rotation integrated with fertilizer application is one of the cheapest alternative methods for sustainable crop production. In recognition of this fact, the experiment was conducted at Bako in western Ethiopia with the objective of identifying the best precursor crops and optimum integration of farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizer in a maize based rotation sequence. Two separate trials with different precursor crops were combined with three rates of organic manure and three rates of inorganic fertilizer NP2O5. The experimental design was 3×3×3 factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design in three replications. Inclusion of precursor crops markedly increased maize yield as compared to mono crops. The highest grain yield was obtained when haricot beans and Niger seed were the precursor crops. Application of 12 t ha-1 FYM after precursor crops resulted in grain yield of 9.3 t ha-1 and a marginal rate of return 225%. However, continuous incorporation of manure after precursor crops did not significantly (P>0.05) increase the yield. Application of 89/-35 kg ha-1 NP2O5 after legume maize rotation gave a grain yield and the highest marginal rate of return (236%). Haricot bean, Niger seed followed by application of either 12 t ha-1FYM or 89-35NP2O5 kg ha-1 is a better option for sustainable maize production than continuous mono cropping. As conclusion, haricot bean, Niger seed and Soybean can be used as precursor crops with use of either 12 t ha-1 of FYM or 89/35 kg ha-1NP2O5.

Description
Keywords
Citation
Copyright
CIMMYT manages Intellectual Assets as International Public Goods. The user is free to download, print, store and share this work. In case you want to translate or create any other derivative work and share or distribute such translation/derivative work, please contact CIMMYT-Knowledge-Center@cgiar.org indicating the work you want to use and the kind of use you intend; CIMMYT will contact you with the suitable license for that purpose.
Journal
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Journal volume
8
Journal issue
46
Article number
Place of Publication
Nairobi, Kenya
Publisher
Academic Journals
Related Datasets