Naab Jesse

Bio: Naab Jesse is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Tillage & Mulch. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 3 publications receiving 71 citations.

Reducing soil CO2 emission and improving upland rice yield with no-tillage, straw mulch and nitrogen fertilization in northern Benin

Abstract: To explore effective ways to decrease soil CO 2 emission and increase grain yield, field experiments were conducted on two upland rice soils (Lixisols and Gleyic Luvisols) in northern Benin in West Africa. The treatments were two tillage systems (no-tillage, and manual tillage), two rice straw managements (no rice straw, and rice straw mulch at 3 Mg ha −1 ) and three nitrogen fertilizers levels (no nitrogen, recommended level of nitrogen: 60 kg ha −1 , and high level of nitrogen: 120 kg ha −1 ). Potassium and phosphorus fertilizers were applied to be non-limiting at 40 kg K 2 O ha −1 and 40 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 . Four replications of the twelve treatment combinations were arranged in a randomized complete block design. Soil CO 2 emission, soil moisture and soil temperature were measured at 5 cm depth in 6–10 days intervals during the rainy season and every two weeks during the dry season. Soil moisture was the main factor explaining the seasonal variability of soil CO 2 emission. Much larger soil CO 2 emissions were found in rainy than dry season. No-tillage significantly reduced soil CO 2 emissions compared with manual tillage. Higher soil CO 2 emissions were recorded in the mulched treatments. Soil CO 2 emissions were higher in fertilized treatments compared with non-fertilized treatments. Rice biomass and yield were not significantly different as a function of tillage systems. On the contrary, rice biomass and yield significantly increased with application of rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilizer. The highest response of rice yield to nitrogen fertilizer addition was obtained for 60 kg N ha −1 in combination with 3 Mg ha −1 of rice straw for the two tillage systems. Soil CO 2 emission per unit grain yield was lower under no-tillage, rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilizer treatments. No-tillage combined with rice straw mulch and 60 kg N ha −1 could be used by smallholder farmers to achieve higher grain yield and lower soil CO 2 emission in upland rice fields in northern Benin.

Combining no-tillage, rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilizer application to increase the soil carbon balance of upland rice field in northern Benin

Abstract: Agricultural management practices are frequently non conservative and can lead to substantial loss of soil organic carbon and soil fertility, but for many regions in Africa the knowledge is very limited. To study the effect of local agricultural practices on soil organic carbon content and to explore effective ways to increase soil carbon storage, field experiments were conducted on an upland rice soil (Lixisol) in northern Benin in West Africa. The treatments comprised two tillage systems (no-tillage, and manual tillage), two rice straw managements (no rice straw, and rice straw mulch at 3 Mg ha ⿿1 ) and three nitrogen fertilizer levels (no nitrogen, 60 kg ha ⿿1 , 120 kg ha ⿿1 ). Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied to be non-limiting at 40 kg P 2 O 5 ha ⿿1 and 40 kg K 2 O ha ⿿1 per cropping season. Heterotrophic respiration was higher in manual tillage than no-tillage, and higher in mulched than in non-mulched treatments. Under the current management practices (manual tillage, with no residue and no nitrogen fertilization) in upland rice fields in northern Benin, the carbon added as aboveground biomass and root biomass was not enough to compensate for the loss of carbon from organic matter decomposition, rendering the upland rice fields as net sources of atmospheric CO 2 . With no-tillage, 3 Mg ha ⿿1 of rice straw mulch and 60 kg N ha ⿿1 , the soil carbon balance was approximately zero. With no other changes in management practices, an increase in nitrogen level from 60 kg N ha ⿿1 to 120 kg N ha ⿿1 resulted in a positive soil carbon balance. Considering the high cost of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer and the potential risk of soil and air pollution often associated with intensive fertilizer use, implementation of no-tillage combined with application of 3 Mg ha ⿿1 of rice straw mulch and 60 kg N ha ⿿1 could be recommended to the smallholder farmers to compensate for the loss of carbon from organic matter decomposition in upland rice fields in northern Benin.

Improving soil quality and upland rice yield in northern Benin with no-tillage, rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilization

Abstract: Management practices that simultaneously improve soil properties and yield are crucial to sustain high crop production and minimize detrimental impact on the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of tillage, rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilization on soil quality and upland rice yield in northern Benin, West Africa. The 2-year (2014-2015) field experiment was conducted with two tillage systems (no-tillage, and manual tillage), two rice straw managements (no rice straw, and rice straw mulch at 3 Mg ha-1) and three nitrogen fertilizer levels (no nitrogen, moderate level of nitrogen: 60 kg ha-1, and high level of nitrogen: 120 kg ha-1). Rice yield was not significantly different as a function of tillage systems. On the contrary, rice yield significantly increased with application of rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilizer. The highest response of rice yield to nitrogen fertilizer addition was obtained for 60 kg N ha-1 in combination with 3 Mg ha-1 of rice straw for the two tillage systems. Soil moisture and soil microbial carbon were higher under no-tillage, rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilizer. No-tillage combined with rice straw mulch and 60 kg N ha-1 could be used by smallholder farmers to improve soil quality and achieve higher grain yield in upland rice fields in northern Benin. (Resume d'auteur)

The combined effects of maize straw mulch and no-tillage on grain yield and water and nitrogen use efficiency of dry-land winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract: Excessive soil evaporation induced water loss resulting in drought stress is a significant yield-limiting factor in dry-land regions of China. However, the crop yield response to straw mulch and tillage depends on the cumulative rainfall that varies greatly from year to year due to frequent occurrences of extreme weather events. The aim of this study was to investigate the responses of grain yield and water and nitrogen use efficiency to mulch-based no-tillage in both humid and dry climates. The experiment was laid out in split plot design using tillage as a main factor and maize straw mulch as sub-plot with three replications each. Maize straw mulch combined with no-tillage was able to conserve soil moisture (0.348 cm3 cm–3 vs. 0.398 cm3 cm–3) at tillering stage and reduce daily variation of soil temperature in the topsoil layer, and thereby increased the maximum number of wheat tillers and fertile spikes by 51.3% and 72.3%, respectively, compared to the no-mulch control. The favorable soil hydrothermal regime also enhanced the activities of soil urease and neutral phosphatase, which activated the release of plant-available soil N and Olsen–P by 61.4% and 43.2%, respectively, compared to the no-mulch control. Improved plant-available soil N lead to greater root system vigor and root surface area and thus promoted the nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), maximum value of LAI and the plant assimilate accumulation. The grain yield, WUE and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) in mulch-based no-tillage were 36.8%, 16.0% and 14.8% greater, respectively, than those in no-mulch control, and they were more effective in a dry climate than in a humid climate. These results suggest that maize straw mulch combined with no-tillage can not only conserve soil moisture for wheat tillering but also activate the release of plant-available soil N and plant N acquisition for higher grain yield and water and nitrogen use efficiency.