Profitability and Impact of Inorganic Fertilizers on the Maize Production in Ekona, Cameroon

L. Nanganoa, F. Ngome, Juliana Namein Ngong, Sone Kone Edigar Atache, Jeremiah Ndande Ebonlo, J. Njukeng
{"title":"Profitability and Impact of Inorganic Fertilizers on the Maize Production in Ekona, Cameroon","authors":"L. Nanganoa, F. Ngome, Juliana Namein Ngong, Sone Kone Edigar Atache, Jeremiah Ndande Ebonlo, J. Njukeng","doi":"10.2478/contagri-2021-0012","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Summary Declining soil fertility and low fertilizer use are the major abiotic factors limiting the maize production in Cameroon. Therefore, the design and introduction of appropriate fertilizer schemes, which would improve maize yields and provide incentives for smallholder farmers, are considered imperative. In 2018, a field experiment was conducted on the farm of the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) in Ekona, the south-west region of Cameroon, to investigate the profitability and impact of inorganic fertilizers on maize production. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications and four treatments, using different fertilizer rates per hectare in each treatment (namely unfertilized control (T1), 50 kg urea + 50 kg N-P-K (T2), 100 kg urea + 100 kg N-P-K (T3) and 150 kg urea + 150 kg N-P-K (T4)). The results obtained indicate that all the maize growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves per plant, stem girth and leaf area) and yield components considered (cob length, cob diameter and test weight of 100 grains) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T4 than T1. The grain yields recorded ranged from 4.09–5.88 t ha−1 and were also statistically (P < 0.05) higher in T4 than T1. The incremental income based on the fertilizer use was the highest in T4, followed by T3 and T2. The value cost ratio (VCR) was greater than 2 in all the treatments and was found to be highest in T2 (3.15), followed by T4 (2.52) and T3 (2.49). As T2, T3 and T4 did not differ statistically (P > 0.05), all the fertilizer rates considered were economically viable, but T4 provide the most cost-effective due to its higher grain yields and incremental income.","PeriodicalId":221412,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Agriculture","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2021-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Contemporary Agriculture","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2478/contagri-2021-0012","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Summary Declining soil fertility and low fertilizer use are the major abiotic factors limiting the maize production in Cameroon. Therefore, the design and introduction of appropriate fertilizer schemes, which would improve maize yields and provide incentives for smallholder farmers, are considered imperative. In 2018, a field experiment was conducted on the farm of the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) in Ekona, the south-west region of Cameroon, to investigate the profitability and impact of inorganic fertilizers on maize production. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications and four treatments, using different fertilizer rates per hectare in each treatment (namely unfertilized control (T1), 50 kg urea + 50 kg N-P-K (T2), 100 kg urea + 100 kg N-P-K (T3) and 150 kg urea + 150 kg N-P-K (T4)). The results obtained indicate that all the maize growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves per plant, stem girth and leaf area) and yield components considered (cob length, cob diameter and test weight of 100 grains) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T4 than T1. The grain yields recorded ranged from 4.09–5.88 t ha−1 and were also statistically (P < 0.05) higher in T4 than T1. The incremental income based on the fertilizer use was the highest in T4, followed by T3 and T2. The value cost ratio (VCR) was greater than 2 in all the treatments and was found to be highest in T2 (3.15), followed by T4 (2.52) and T3 (2.49). As T2, T3 and T4 did not differ statistically (P > 0.05), all the fertilizer rates considered were economically viable, but T4 provide the most cost-effective due to its higher grain yields and incremental income.
喀麦隆Ekona地区无机肥料对玉米生产的盈利能力和影响
土壤肥力下降和肥料利用率低是限制喀麦隆玉米生产的主要非生物因素。因此,设计和引进适当的肥料方案,这将提高玉米产量并为小农提供激励,被认为是必不可少的。2018年,在喀麦隆西南地区埃科纳农业研究发展研究所(IRAD)的农场进行了一项田间试验,以调查无机肥料对玉米生产的盈利能力和影响。试验采用随机完全区组设计,设4个重复,4个处理,每个处理采用不同的施肥水平(即未施肥对照(T1)、50 kg尿素+ 50 kg N-P-K (T2)、100 kg尿素+ 100 kg N-P-K (T3)和150 kg尿素+ 150 kg N-P-K (T4))。结果表明,T4处理的玉米生长参数(株高、单株叶数、茎长、叶面积)和产量指标(穗轴长、穗轴直径、百粒试重)均显著(P < 0.05)高于T1处理。籽粒产量在4.09 ~ 5.88 t / h - 1之间,且在T4处理下均高于T1处理(P < 0.05)。施肥增收在T4期最高,T3和T2次之。所有处理的价值成本比(VCR)均大于2,其中T2最高(3.15),T4次之(2.52),T3次之(2.49)。由于T2、T3和T4三者之间差异无统计学意义(P > 0.05),因此,所有考虑的施肥量在经济上都是可行的,但T4因其更高的粮食产量和增加的收入而最具成本效益。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
自引率
0.00%
发文量
0
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信