[en] Soil depletion constitutes a major challenge for agriculture and food security in highlands of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the split-application of nitrogen fertilizer on grain yield and profitability of maize on Nitisols in eastern DRC. The urea fertilizer (100 kg ha−1) was applied in single, two, and three split-applications on three maize varieties for two cropping seasons. Results showed that maize growth and yield parameters varied significantly with N splitting strategy, varieties, and cropping season (p < 0.01). The single N application at the 45th day after sowing presented the highest grain yield (5.5 t ha−1) compared to split-applications for both cropping seasons. The variety 'ZM 627' had the highest grain yield in both seasons (5.4 and 5.8 t ha−1 for 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons, respectively). The benefit–cost ratio analysis showed that single application was more profitable, i.e. 1.63 USD kg−1 of fertilizer compared to two (0.6 USD kg−1) and three splits (0.22 USD kg−1 of fertilizer), though dependent on used varieties. The trend was the same for agronomic efficiency (AE); the single application yielded 11 kg kg−1 of maize grains. In addition, the split applications resulted in additional labor costs. Results from this study do not, therefore, recommend the N splitting strategy for maize on South-Kivu Nitisols.
Disciplines :
Agriculture & agronomy
Author, co-author :
Zamukulu, Patient M. ; Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo ; Institut Supérieur d’Etudes Agronomiques et Vétérinaires (ISEAV), Walungu, Democratic Republic Congo
Bagula, Espoir M.; Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo ; Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural (ISDR), Uvira, Democratic Republic Congo
Mondo, Jean M.; Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo
Chuma Basimine, Géant ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Sphères ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Service de géographie rurale (Laboratoire pour l'analyse des lieux, des paysages et des campagnes européennes LAPLEC) ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Faculté des Sciences > Form. doct. sc. (géog. - paysage) ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Faculté des Sciences > Doct. scienc. (géographie) ; UEA - Université Evangélique en Afrique
Bulonza, Gisèle M.; Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo
Mwaluke, Sarah; Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo
Mugumaarhahama, Yannick; Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo
Mwimangire, Céphas B.; Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo
Cinyabuguma, Eloïs L.; National Institute for Agricultural Study and Research, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo
Lubobo, Antoine K.; HarvestPlus Project, International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo
Mushagalusa, Gustave N.; Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo
Language :
English
Title :
Assessment of the nitrogen fertilizer split-application on maize grain yield and profitability on Nitisols of South-Kivu, Eastern D.R. Congo
The authors would like to thank the HarvestPlus program of CIAT and the Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA) for their scientific and technical support. We would also like to acknowledge the logistical support provided by INERA Mulungu during the experiment.
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