HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Geiger, S. C. Articles by Bationo, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Geiger, S. C. Articles by Bationo, A. Agricola Articles by Geiger, S. C. Articles by Bationo, A.

Changes in a Sandy Sahelian Soil Following Crop Residue and Fertilizer Additions

Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences/TropSoils, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843

A. Bationo

ICRISAT, B.P. 12404, Niamey, Niger.

ABSTRACT

The use of crop residues as surface mulches has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the growth of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] in the Sahelian zone of West Africa. This study was conducted to discern the mechanism(s) responsible for yield increases resulting from crop-residue additions in a field trial located on a sandy soil at the ICRISAT Sahelian Center near Niamey, Niger. Soil chemical and physical properties were examined to a depth of 120 cm after 5 yr of application of millet residue as a surface muich, P and N fertilizer, or a combination of fertilizer and residue. Annual residue application resulted in a higher exchangeable-base content, lower Al saturation, and slightly higher available-P values than the control. The use of fertilizer resulted in an increase in available P and exchangeable Ca. The combination of residue plus fertilizer resulted in greater enhancement of soil fertility parameters than the use of tbese inputs alone. Differences in soil chemistry were operative in only the top 20 cm of the soil profile, bowever, the surfaces of the plots receiving residues were 15 to 20 cm higher than the surfaces of the control and fertilizer-only plots. The surfaces of the residue plots also had lower clay contents than the surface soils in the nonresidue plots. The increase in soil fertility following the application of millet residue as a surface mulch was due to two mechanisms: (i) the recycling of nutrient elements to the soil following termite and microbial decomposition of the residue, and (ii) the entrapment of eolian materials, which generally have better fertility characteristics than the subsoil, or protection of the more fertile surface soil from the erosive effects of the strong winds that are common in the Sahel.

^* Corresponding author.

Received for publication May 14, 1990.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. M. Powell, R. A. Pearson, and P. H. Hiernaux Crop-Livestock Interactions in the West African Drylands Agron. J., March 1, 2004; 96(2): 469 - 483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Rockström, J. Barron, J. Brouwer, S. Galle, and A. de Rouw On-Farm Spatial and Temporal Variability of Soil and Water in Pearl Millet Cultivation Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 1999; 63(5): 1308 - 1319. [Abstract] [Full Text]