Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences (JEAS). Naroua et al., 2020. Volume 22(2): 20-25
Open Access – Research Article
Effects of Fertilizer Micro-Dosing on Grain Yield of Cereals and Legumes in Western Niger, West Africa
Illiassou Naroua 1,*, Souley Issaka 2, Addam Kiari Saidou 3, Issoufou Ali Rachida 4,
Maman Sadi Souley 5, Jens B. Aune 6
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Université Boubakar Bâ de Tillabéri, BP 175 Tillabéri, Niger
2 Department of Sustainable crops production, Université Boubakar Bâ de Tillabéri, BP 175 Tillabéri, Niger
3 Department of Natural Resources Management, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Niger
4 Université Dan Dicko Dankoulodo de Maradi, BP 465, Maradi, Niger
5 Université Boubakar Bâ de Tillabéri, Niger
6 Department of International Environment & Development Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ã…s, Norway
Abstract: In an unfavourable pedoclimatic condition, rapid population growing and rainfed agriculture predominance, it is imperial to improve crops yield by practising sustainable techniques, in order to achieve food security. Fertilizer intake becomes essential but must be done judiciously and seasonally to minimize its usage cost as well as its degradation effect on soils. In this view, an experiment has been conducted in the department of Kollo in the Niger Republic. The principal objective of the study was to determine the effects of different NPK (15-15-15) fertilizer micro-doses on some cereals and legumes crops grain yield. The Fisher’s randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used to assess the fertilizer effect up taken with seven (7) treatments levels (0 g/hole; 0.25 g/hole; 0.5 g/hole; 1 g/hole; 2 g/hole; 4 g/hole; and 6 g/hole) for cereals and five treatments levels (0 g; 0.25 g; 0.5 g; 1 g, et 2 g) for legumes; and with four (4) repetitions for each treatment. Results showed a substantial increase of grain yield for pearl millet (87 and 149%) sorghum (117.69 to 164.32%), cowpea (106.40% to 149.08%) and, peanut (119.66% to 451.41%). The economic efficiency analysis showed that the optimal doses were 0.5g/hole; 0.25g/hole; 0.25g/hole and 1g/hole respectively for pearl millet, sorghum, cowpea and peanut. These results will serve as a reference for the fertilization of farmers’ fields.
Keywords: NPK micro-doses, rainfed crops, pearl millet, sorghum, cowpea, peanut.
*Corresponding author: Illiasou Naroua, : iliaso2002@gmail.com
Cite this article as Naroua, I., S. Issaka, A.K. Saidou, R.A. Issoufou, S.M. Sadi and J.B. Aune. 2020. Effects of fertilizer micro-dosing on grain yield of cereals and legumes in Western Niger, West Africa. Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences.22(2):20-25.
Copyright © Naroua et al., 2020. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original author and source are appropriately cited and credited.