Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern Ethiopia
Low nutrient input and low soil fertility are limiting agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. The main objectives were therefore to evaluate the effects of combined compost and mineral fertilizer (MF) application on soil properties, yield, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, and adoption of compost a...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| author | Zeleke Asaye Dong-Gill Kim Fantaw Yimer Katharina Prost Oukula Obsa Menfese Tadesse Mersha Gebrehiwot Nicolas Brüggemann |
| author_facet | Zeleke Asaye Dong-Gill Kim Fantaw Yimer Katharina Prost Oukula Obsa Menfese Tadesse Mersha Gebrehiwot Nicolas Brüggemann |
| author_sort | Zeleke Asaye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low nutrient input and low soil fertility are limiting agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. The main objectives were therefore to evaluate the effects of combined compost and mineral fertilizer (MF) application on soil properties, yield, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, and adoption of compost application in maize (<i>Zey mays</i> L.)—potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) cropping systems. Yield data were collected from 20 smallholders applying (i) compost and MF at a total rate of 110 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>, with 6 Mg compost ha<sup>−1</sup> + MF (6CF), 12 Mg compost ha<sup>−1</sup> + MF (12CF), and 16 Mg compost ha<sup>−1</sup> + MF (16CF; compost on a fresh weight basis), (ii) MF application of 108 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> (F), and (iii) zero fertilization. Soil from 0–20 and 20–40 cm depths was collected from 16 farms using compost and MF. Compost + MF treatments showed significantly lower soil bulk density and iron contents, while pH, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity were higher compared to F treatments. The 6CF, 12CF, and 16CF showed 22, 43, and 54% higher maize grain yield and 8, 16, and 18% higher potato tuber yield compared to F, respectively. The scarcity of organic material was a major socioeconomic constraint for smallholders for producing and applying compost. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:19:00Z |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:19:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e30c849e7331474ebdfd42a8e7f6e49c2023-11-23T17:30:34ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-05-0111678410.3390/land11060784Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern EthiopiaZeleke Asaye0Dong-Gill Kim1Fantaw Yimer2Katharina Prost3Oukula Obsa4Menfese Tadesse5Mersha Gebrehiwot6Nicolas Brüggemann7Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Shashemene P.O. Box 128, EthiopiaWondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Shashemene P.O. Box 128, EthiopiaWondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Shashemene P.O. Box 128, EthiopiaForschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-3, Agrosphere), 52425 Jülich, GermanyWondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Shashemene P.O. Box 128, EthiopiaWondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Shashemene P.O. Box 128, EthiopiaWondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Shashemene P.O. Box 128, EthiopiaForschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-3, Agrosphere), 52425 Jülich, GermanyLow nutrient input and low soil fertility are limiting agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. The main objectives were therefore to evaluate the effects of combined compost and mineral fertilizer (MF) application on soil properties, yield, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, and adoption of compost application in maize (<i>Zey mays</i> L.)—potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) cropping systems. Yield data were collected from 20 smallholders applying (i) compost and MF at a total rate of 110 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>, with 6 Mg compost ha<sup>−1</sup> + MF (6CF), 12 Mg compost ha<sup>−1</sup> + MF (12CF), and 16 Mg compost ha<sup>−1</sup> + MF (16CF; compost on a fresh weight basis), (ii) MF application of 108 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> (F), and (iii) zero fertilization. Soil from 0–20 and 20–40 cm depths was collected from 16 farms using compost and MF. Compost + MF treatments showed significantly lower soil bulk density and iron contents, while pH, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity were higher compared to F treatments. The 6CF, 12CF, and 16CF showed 22, 43, and 54% higher maize grain yield and 8, 16, and 18% higher potato tuber yield compared to F, respectively. The scarcity of organic material was a major socioeconomic constraint for smallholders for producing and applying compost.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/6/784compostnutrient depletionsmallholder agriculturesocio-economic constraintsyieldagronomic nitrogen use efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Zeleke Asaye Dong-Gill Kim Fantaw Yimer Katharina Prost Oukula Obsa Menfese Tadesse Mersha Gebrehiwot Nicolas Brüggemann Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern Ethiopia Land compost nutrient depletion smallholder agriculture socio-economic constraints yield agronomic nitrogen use efficiency |
| title | Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern Ethiopia |
| title_full | Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern Ethiopia |
| title_short | Effects of Combined Application of Compost and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Content, Yield, and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize-Potato Cropping Systems in Southern Ethiopia |
| title_sort | effects of combined application of compost and mineral fertilizer on soil carbon and nutrient content yield and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency in maize potato cropping systems in southern ethiopia |
| topic | compost nutrient depletion smallholder agriculture socio-economic constraints yield agronomic nitrogen use efficiency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/6/784 |
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