Abstract
Declines in soil fertility and limited access to inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer constrain crop production in Sub-Saharan Africa. The incorporation of organic residues could increase nutrient mineralization and replenish soil carbon (C), however, the effect that long-term residue management (10+ years) has on maize (Zea mays L.) yields and soil nutrient pools (C and N) is largely unknown. In four identical long-term trials in Kenya that differ by soil type and climate, we compared maize yield and soil C (0–0.15 m) across four treatments comparing organic inputs of contrasting C:N ratios: tithonia [Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray] + N (120 kg N ha−1); tithonia − N (0 kg N ha−1); maize stover + N (120 kg N ha−1); maize stover − N (0 kg N ha−1). On average, maize yields were 92% greater under tithonia compared to maize stover at the sandy sites and in general followed this trend: tithonia + N > tithonia − N = stover + N > stover − N. The continuous application of tithonia also increased soil C and N pools; for instance, mineralizable C was up to 57% greater than that of maize stover at the sandy sites. Increases in yield and nutrient pools under tithonia were less apparent at the clay sites. When exploring the relationship between soil C and maize yield, we found that both mineralizable and processed pools were related to agronomic performance. Our findings demonstrate that low C:N residues could significantly benefit crop production and enhance soil organic matter at sandy sites across Kenya.
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Acknowledgements
We thank professors Monicah Mucheru and Daniel Mugendi, in addition to the technical staff at TSBF-CIAT Nairobi for the maintenance of the field trials. We also thank Bethany Herman, Stuti Sharma, and Phoo Zone for their assistance with laboratory analyses. Finally, we thank two anonymous reviewers for their insightful and constructive feedback. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation (DEB: 0344971) and a National Science Foundation Post-doctoral Research Fellowship (Award No: 1523821).
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Sprunger, C.D., Culman, S.W., Palm, C.A. et al. Long-term application of low C:N residues enhances maize yield and soil nutrient pools across Kenya. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 114, 261–276 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-019-10005-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-019-10005-4