Your search found 25 records
1 Kirkham, M. B. 1983. Elemental content of soil, sorghum and wheat on sludge-injected agricultural land. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 9:281-292.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: P 7693 Record No: H039576)
(Location: IWMI HQ Record No: H040763)
The use of commercial organic fertilizer is being encouraged in place of inorganic fertilizer in soil fertility improvement in Oyo State of Nigeria. This study was designed to determine if switching to from inorganic to organic fertilizer could be profitable. We took a case study of users of commercial organic fertilizer (UCOF) and users of inorganic fertilizer (UIF) in vegetable production. Nested sampling technique was used in selecting UCOF and UIF. Primary data on quantities and prices of vegetable production inputs and output were collected and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, partial budgetary technique and importance ranking. Results indicated both the UCOF and UIF used less than the recommended quantities of fertilizer and obtained less than the optimal yield. However, the UCOF on the average used more level of organic fertilizer that supply more soil nutrient though at higher cost. Yet they obtained higher vegetable yield (9169 kg·ha-1) and a marginal rate of return of 229%. However, either a marginal 2.6% decrease in each of yield or price of vegetable or a 32.4% increase in price of commercial organic fertilizer will make commercial organic fertilizer technology not superior to inorganic fertilizer. The identified constraints to the use of commercial organic fertilizer by UIF in descending order of importance are offensive odour, doubtful efficacy, heavy weed infestation, unavailability and bulkiness of commercial organic fertilizer which if eliminated will boost the demand for and allow the enjoyment of the additional benefits of commercial organic fertilizer.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042151)
(0.22 MB)
Soil fertility depletion is among the major impediments to sustained agricultural productivity especially in the less developed countries because of limited application of fertilizers. Soil fertility maintenance requires a balanced application of inorganic and organic nutrient sources. This study was conducted on a Vertisol in Ethiopia to determine the optimum farm yard manure (M) and nitrogen (N) application rates for maximum return under cereal-pulse-cereal rotation system. The main and interaction effects of M and N significantly affected biomass, grain and straw yields of wheat (Triticum durum) and tef (Eragrostis tef), but the residual effect on chickpea (Cicer arietinum) was not significant. Application of 6 t M ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1, gave the largest grain yield of both crops but a comparable result was obtained due to 3 t M ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1. The economic analysis revealed that 6.85 t M ha-1 and 44 kg N ha-1 for wheat, and 4.53 t M ha-1 and 37 kg N ha-1 for tef were the economic optimum rates. The additional benefit obtained due to these rates was about 450 USD ha-1. Therefore, application of the economic optimum combination of both organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen is recommended for use on cereals in the cereal-legume-cereal rotation system.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042259)
(0.62 MB)
Recovery of the organic fraction of municipal waste for peri-urban agriculture could contribute to the improvement of environmental sanitation and increase agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, municipal waste co-compost (Co) has low nitrogen (N) content. Therefore, this study investigated the type and form of inorganic N fertiliser that is capable of improving the nitrogen content of Co and monitored the changes in the properties of this N-enriched product under storage. To attain 30,000 mg kg1 (3%) N content, different amounts of urea or ammonium sulphate were applied in various forms (dry, paste and liquid) to enrich Co. The product termed comlizer was stored and its moisture, pH, total nitrogen, NHþ4 -N, NO3 –N, and C/N ratio were monitored under ambient conditions for two years. In the first four months of storage, total N content of 50 kg Co + 3.26 kg urea (CoUD) increased from 31,333 to 54,000 mg kg1, and 50 kg Co + 7.14 kg (NH4)2SO4 (CoASD) from 35,333 to 52,000 mg kg1. At the end of two years of storage, the initial N content of CoUD and CoASD decreased by 47% and 24%, respectively. Based on these results, it is recommended that dry (NH4)2SO4 should be used in N enrichment of Co, and that the comlizer should be stored in sealed bags but not more than four months.
5 Chitrakar, P. L. 1990. Planning agriculture and farmers: strategy for Nepal. Kathmandu, Nepal: Ganesh Devi Chitrakar. 332p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 630 G726 CHI Record No: H043962)
(0.11 MB)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: PER Record No: H044861)
(0.38 MB)
The uncontrolled release of sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural run-off continue to affect Asia. Although many Asian countries are getting closer to meeting the improved sanitation targets, much of the waste remains untreated. Comprehensive databases are rarely available and national data indicate that the water quality situation is serious. However, there are many signs of hope. Water quality monitoring efforts are improving and several countries now have systems in place that could guide other nations in the region. The efforts of basin agencies, such as the Mekong River Commission, could lead the way to transboundary or even regional assessments. Many regulatory and economic options are being tested for pollution control, but institutional and social challenges remain, in particular those related to population growth and the various ways in which it is affecting water quality across the region.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047113)
(0.79 MB)
This study assesses the impact of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) on farmers' investments in sustainable land management (SLM) practices in the Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia. Primary data were collected using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire for a sample of 159 households (82 PSNP participants and 77 non-participants) in four kebeles (the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia) of two weredas (districts). Using a cross-sectional household survey, propensity score matching (PSM) was used to assess the impact of PSNP on households' investments in soil erosion control and soil fertility management. The PSM results show that the control group of households (non-participants in PSNP) invested more in soil erosion control measures as compared to the treated group of households (participants in PSNP). On the contrary, however, the treated group of households significantly invested more in soil fertility management practices (e.g. inorganic fertilizer and compost) as compared to the control group of households. The negative impact of PSNP on households’ investments in soil erosion control in the treated group of farmers is related to their high labor investment in public works, which is not the case for the non-participants in PSNP. This implies that PSNP should pay more attention to capacity building and awareness raising, which requires a restructuring of the program that would benefit long-term and more sustainable impact on reducing food insecurity and enhancing natural resources in the CRV of Ethiopia.
8 Buerkert, A.; Marschner, B.; Steiner, C.; Schlecht, E.; Wichern, M.; Schareika, N.; Lowenstein, W.; Drescher, A. W.; Glaser, R.; Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G.; Gnankambary, Z.; Drechsel, Pay; Jean-Pascal Lompo, D. 2015. UrbanFoodplus – African-German Partnership to enhance resource use efficiency in urban and peri-urban agriculture for improved food security inWest African cities [Abstract only] In Tielkes, E. (Ed.). Management of land use systems for enhanced food security: conflicts, controversies and resolutions. Book of abstracts. International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, Tropentag 2015, Berlin, Germany, 16-18 September 2015. Witzenhausen, Germany: German Institute for Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics. pp.350-351.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047212)
(0.09 MB)
Food security in West Africa not only depends on productivity increases in marginal rural areas, but also on enhanced use of intensively farmed agricultural “niche” lands such as the urban and peri-urban spaces. They are characterised by easy market access and input availability which allows self-reinforcing processes of agricultural intensification. However, too little is known about resource use efficiencies, matter flows and negative externalities in these systems. Starting from general assessments (status quo analyses), the African-German UrbanFoodPlus (UFP) network develops and tests site-specific, farmer-tailored innovations. These directly address the above mentioned knowledge gaps in the fourWest African cities of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Tamale (Ghana), Bamako (Mali), and Bamenda (Cameroon). At all locations farmers attempt to cope with increasing land pressure by cultivating along electrical power lines, on public property, and on undeveloped private land.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H047216)
(2 MB)
The report summarizes key results from surveys carried out on urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in Tamale (Ghana) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) in 2013. The aim was to provide a broad overview of the state of UPA in the study cities and a basis for future research endeavors. The randomized sampling approach used aerial photography to identify 10 sites in different categories of farm in each city. Farmers provided information on their cropping and livestock-rearing activities. There were similarities between the cities, but the differences in the expression of UPA in Tamale and Ouagadougou were more intriguing, as in farm sizes, crops grown and livestock ownership. Farmers were particularly concerned about diminishing access to land in Tamale, where sales by chiefs to private investors were accelerating. In Ouagadougou, formal reallocation of land to homeowners by the state had similarly decreased available farmland. Water availability was a universal concern, and the quality of water used for irrigation was potentially more questionable in Ouagadougou than in Tamale. The results point to the need for further work on uncontaminated, perennial water sources and soil fertility management, alongside focuses on commercialization of animal production, and the legal, political and institutional context of UPA in different West African cities.
10 Negussie, A.; Achten, W. M. J.; Norgrove, L.; Mekuria, Wolde; Hadgu, K. M.; De Both, G.; Leroy, B.; Hermy, M.; Muys, B. 2016. Initial effects of fertilization and canopy management on flowering and seed and oil yields of Jatropha curcas L. in Malawi. BioEnergy Research, 9:1231-1240. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-016-9767-6]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047879)
Appropriate canopy management, including planting density and pruning, and application of fertilizer may increase flowering success and seed and oil yields of Jatropha curcasL.Twofieldexperimentswereperformedfrom2009to 2011 in Balaka, Malawi, to assess the effect of planting density and pruning regime and single fertilizer application (N, P, and K) on male and female flower number and seed and oil yields of J. curcas. Planting density influenced flower sex ratio and female flower number. Branch pruning treatments did not influence the flower sex ratio but reduced seed and final oil yield by 55 % in the following year. It is claimed that J.curcas can be grown on soils with low nutrient content, but this study revealed that yield was low for non-fertilized trees. WeobservedhigherseedandoilyieldsathigherNapplication rates(upto203±42%seedand204±45%oilyieldincrease) compared with the non-fertilized control. The study suggests thatcurrentlyusedheavypruningpracticeisnotrecommended for J.curcas cultivation, although it needs further longer term investigation. Applying nitrogen fertilizer is effective in increasing yield.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047992)
(585 KB)
Purpose: Faecal sludge (FS) has been co-composted with many organic solid wastes globally. Agricultural wastes, such as oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) and cocoa pod husks (CPH), have received very little research attention as far as combining with FS is concerned. This study aimed at co-composting these wastes at different ratios to produce safe compost for use as soilless medium for raising tomato transplants. Methods: Dewatered FS (DFS) was mixed with shredded EFB and CPH at five different ratios: 1DFS:1EFB, 1DFS:1CPH, and DFS:EFB:CPH in ratios of 1:1:1, 2:1:1, and 2:2:1 and composted for 3 months. Select physicochemical parameters and pathogens were monitored every fortnightly and 3 weeks, respectively. Results: Maximum temperatures obtained ranged 46.8–54.5 °C. Though these temperatures were lower than sanitizing temperatures prescribed by USEPA, no E. coli was found in any of the piles at the end of composting. The ratio 2DFS:2EFB:1CPH was found to be the safest formulation and hence was used to grow tomato under greenhouse conditions. Tomato seeds were sown in three different growing media: 100% FS-based compost, 100% rice husk biochar, and 50% FS-based compost–50% rice husk biochar mix. Conclusion: Results showed that FS-based compost was a suitable growing medium for tomato. Further studies into the optimal rate and frequency of application of compost teas on tomato are recommended.
12 Grau, Felix; Drechsel, Nikita; Haering, V.; Trautz, D.; Weerakkody, W. J. S. K.; Drechsel, Pay; Marschner, B.; Dissanayake, D. M. P. S.; Sinnathamby, V. 2017. Impact of fecal sludge and municipal solid waste co-compost on crop growth of Raphanus Sativus L. and Capsicum Anuum L. under stress conditions. Resources, 6(3):1-12. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6030026]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048191)
(1.15 MB)
Co-composted dewatered faecal sludge (FS) with organic fractions of municipal solid waste (MSW) has a high potential to be used as an agricultural resource in Sri Lanka. In addition to options for cost recovery in waste management, closing the nutrient and carbon cycles between urban and rural areas, substitution of mineral fertilizers, reduced pollution. and the restoration of degraded arable land are possible with important benefits. Up to now little is known about the usage of FS-MSW as fertilizer and it needs to be studied in order to achieve a better understanding and generate application recommendations. The aim of these experiments has been to evaluate the possibility of substituting mineral fertilization. Two field experiments were conducted on sandy loam to assess the effects of MSW compost and FS-MSW co-compost, its pelletized forms, and mineral-enriched FS-MSW on crop growth. As a short-term crop Raphanus sativus “Beeralu rabu” (radish) was studied for 50 days in a randomized complete block design (RCDB). Results show that, under drought conditions, FS-MSW co-compost increased the yield significantly, while MSW and FS-MSW compost enabled the highest survival rate of the plants. Similarly, the second field trial with a long-term crop, Capsicum anuum “CA-8” (capsicum), was planted as RCBD, using the same treatments, for a cultivation period of 120 days. Results display that during a drought followed by water saturated soil conditions co-compost treatments achieved comparable yields and increased the survival rate significantly compared to the control, fertilized with urea, triple super phosphate, and muriate of potash. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) revealed that pelletizing decreased the monetary benefits if only fertilizer value is considered. It can be concluded that, under drought and water stress, co-compost ensures comparable yields and enables more resistance, but might not be economical viable as a one-crop fertilizer. These findings need to be validated with further trials under different climate regimes and soils.
13 Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Zadeh, S. M.; Turral, H.; Burke, J. 2017. Water pollution from agriculture: a global review. Executive summary. Rome, Italy: FAO; Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 35p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048244)
(3.02 MB) (3.02 MB)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048493)
Fecal sludge (FS) contains significant amounts of plant nutrients and organic matter although it also contains pathogens. Therefore, FS can be used as fertilizer after proper sanitization. This study was designed to test dried fecal sludge (DFS)-based pellet fertilizers on maize cultivation. The DFS fertilizers were produced by composting, co-composting with sawdust, or irradiated by gamma-irradiation, and then nitrogen-enriched and pelletized using gelatinized or gamma-irradiated cassava starch. These DFS pellet fertilizers were compared to each other and to no-fertilization, mineral fertilizer, and agro-industrial waste compost. The fertilizer applications were 150 or 210 kgN/ha. Maize was cultivated in pots containing Cambisol and Ferric Lixisol growth media. The EC-SDFS-PG pellet (DFS + sawdust co-composted, enriched with nitrogen and pelletized) at a rate of 210 kgN/ha produced the highest maize yield (4.4 ton/ha) among all other treatments, while mineral fertilizer produced 3.9 ton/ha. It is concluded that the EC-SDFS-PG pellet produces similar or higher maize yields than mineral fertilizer and more than the agro-industrial compost in both growth media types.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048599)
(1.68 MB)
We estimate the global anthropogenic phosphorus (P) loads to freshwater and the associated grey water footprints (GWFs) for the period 2002–2010, at a spatial resolution of 5 3 5 arc min, and compare the GWF per river basin to runoff to assess the P-related water pollution level (WPL). The global anthropogenic P load to freshwater systems from both diffuse and point sources is estimated at 1.5 Tg/yr. More than half of this total load was in Asia, followed by Europe (19%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (13%). The domestic sector contributed 54% to the total, agriculture 38%, and industry 8%. In agriculture, cereals production had the largest contribution to the P load (31%), followed by fruits, vegetables, and oil crops, each contributing 15%. The global total GWF related to anthropogenic P loads is estimated to be 147 3 1012 m3 /yr, with China contributing 30%, India 8%, USA 7%, and Spain and Brazil 6% each. The basins with WPL > 1 (where GWF exceeds the basin’s assimilation capacity) together cover about 38% of the global land area, 37% of the global river discharge, and provide residence to about 90% of the global population.
16 Otoo, Miriam. (Ed.) 2018. Nutrient and organic matter recovery - Section III. In Otoo, Miriam; Drechsel, Pay (Eds.). Resource recovery from waste: business models for energy, nutrient and water reuse in low- and middle-income countries. Oxon, UK: Routledge - Earthscan. pp.316-546.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H048653)
(8.29 MB)
17 Otoo, Miriam; Rao, Krishna C.; Hope, L.; Atukorala, I. 2018. Fecal sludge and municipal solid waste composting for cost recovery (Balangoda Compost Plant, Sri Lanka) - Case Study. In Otoo, Miriam; Drechsel, Pay (Eds.). Resource recovery from waste: business models for energy, nutrient and water reuse in low- and middle-income countries. Oxon, UK: Routledge - Earthscan. pp.341-350.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H048656)
(1.05 MB)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050106)
(2.53 MB)
Climate variability and shocks threaten current systems of agricultural production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), leading to the promotion of soil, and water conservation measures to enhance the resilience of farming systems. This paper analyzes the factors influencing the probability and intensity of adoption of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices in Ghana, and identify the possible combinations of ISFM practices used by farmers based on their perceptions of climate variability and shocks. The empirical results revealed that demographic, farm-related variables, land quality, institutional factors, relative isolation, and recent experience of climate variability and shocks influence the probability and intensity of ISFM adoption. Perceptions of climate variability and shocks have a heterogeneous effect on the adoption of multiple ISFM practices. Farmers exposed to precipitation shocks are more likely to complement mulch with residue as an adaptive response to evapotranspiration while substitute mulch with mineral fertilizer. The results highlight the risk-averse decisions and mitigation strategies employed by farmers. Providing adequate and timely climate information to farmers will mitigate the biases related to the perception of climate variability and subsequently improve soil fertility choice. Strengthening the farmer-research-extension linkages coupled with communication of “better fit” ISFM practices will increase adoption.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050422)
(1.34 MB) (1.34 MB)
The effects of climate change and variability cause a shift in climatic patterns and increasing shocks. These changes and shocks are affecting soil that is the backbone of many, particularly the farming communities. Climate-Smart soil (CSS) practices among farmers are known to rehabilitate and protect it. These practices will improve soil fertility, increase crop productivity and mitigate climate change as soil act as carbon sinks. The CSS practices uptake is low and varied among the farmers due to differences in farmer attributes, resource endowment, farm characteristics, CSS practice requirements, and climate change perceptions. This study examines the socio-economic factors that influence the adoption choice of CSS practices among farmers in three Counties: Kakamega, Bungoma, and Siaya, in western Kenya. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, the data was collected through structured interviews with the aid of a close-ended questionnaire. A multinomial logit model was used to analyze the socio-economic factors influencing the choice of CSS practice among farmers. The findings indicate that the household head age, education level, gender, farming experience, duration of the practice, farm size, plot size, number of plots in the farm, form of land ownership influenced the adoption of CSS practices. Therefore, development practitioners should consider these factors that inform the CSS practices adoption when rolling out programs that aim to increase the uptake. Policies, which improve agricultural education levels, climate change sensitization and financing, access to resources, and gender mainstreaming to address inequalities should be put in place to increase and bridge the gap of varied uptake of CSS practices among farmers.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051137)
(0.64 MB) (652 KB)
Irrigation has significant potential to enhance productivity, resilience to climatic risks and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa. While the focus has historically been on large-scale dam-based schemes, farmer-managed small-scale irrigation (SSI) has gained increased attention in recent years. Using data from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Ghana, we first examine patterns of adoption of different SSI technologies. Next, we employ hierarchical modelling to examine which variables are associated with observed adoption patterns and cluster effects that explain variation in irrigation adoption. We document significant cross-country variation in adoption patterns and find a positive association between plot-level use of SSI and the intensity of agricultural labor and inorganic fertilizers applied on the plot. Community-level intra-cluster correlation (ICC) is the highest in Tanzania, where gravity-fed irrigation is most common while farm-level ICC is the highest in Ethiopia where motorized technologies are more common. These results suggest the need for localized investments to ease locale-specific potential constraints. For example, easing possible liquidity constraints to acquiring motorized technologies can be more effective in Ethiopia while the construction of dams and improved conveyance systems, as well as the strengthening of community-based irrigation management (e.g., through Water User Associations (WUAs)) can be more effective in Tanzania. Further research is needed to understand pathways for selected plot-level characteristics that affect use of SSI including status of plot ownership and the gender of the plot manager.
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