Nutrient balances for different farm types in Southern Mali

S. Kanté, E.M.A. Smaling, H. van Keulen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Soil nutrient mining is one of the main causes of the current stagnation, or even decline in crop yields in Southern Mali. Limited information is available on the impact on soil fertility of different management packages as implemented at different farm types. The aim of the current study was to analyse nutrient flows in agricultural systems in Southern Mali for different farm types in two villages, varying in pressure on the soil resource. In each of the villages, 20 farms were selected and classified in three classes on the basis of differential nutrient management. Partial nutrient balances (imports in fertilizers minus exports in grain and straw) and complete nutrient balances (including difficult-to-quantify flows) were established.

The results show that for cotton, the partial balances for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were positive, contrary to balances for millet-sorghum. Partial farm balances for nitrogen in the two villages varied between –2.5 and 12 kg ha-1 a-1. P-balances were positive, while those for K were generally negative. The deficits were more pronounced in systems based on cotton-millet/sorghum than in those based on cotton-maize. Complete farm balances were negative for N and K and positive for P. Without improvements in soil fertility management, soil nitrogen stocks will decrease by about half over the next 20 years.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa
Subtitle of host publicationChallenges and opportunities
EditorsAndre Bationo, Boaz Waswa, Job Kihara, Joseph Kimetu
Place of PublicationDordrecht, The Netherlands
PublisherSpringer
Pages557-566
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-4020-5760-1
ISBN (Print)978-1-4020-5759-5, 978-94-024-0471-5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Keywords

  • ADLIB-ART-254
  • NRS

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