African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6900

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring on-farm additive common bean yield potential to organic and mineral fertilizers on contrasting soils of Buganda Catena, Central Uganda

Stewart Kyebogola
  • Stewart Kyebogola
  • College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Google Scholar
Onesimus Semalulu
  • Onesimus Semalulu
  • National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL) - Kawanda, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Google Scholar
Andrew W. Lenssen
  • Andrew W. Lenssen
  • Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
  • Google Scholar
Russell S. Yost
  • Russell S. Yost
  • Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Science, University of Hawai’I, Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
  • Google Scholar
Prossy Kyomuhendo
  • Prossy Kyomuhendo
  • College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Google Scholar
Moses M. Tenywa
  • Moses M. Tenywa
  • College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Google Scholar
Robert E. Mazur
  • Robert E. Mazur
  • Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Accepted: 11 February 2020
  •  Published: 31 March 2021

Abstract

Mineral and organic fertilizers have great potential to enhance crop yields in low fertility soils of the Buganda catena. However, the need for site-specific knowledge on use and yield of the two fertilizer types in a complex soil scape is acute among smallholder farmers exploiting any soil differences. This study evaluated on-farm grain yield response of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to organic and mineral N and P fertilizers on three soils. Treatments included poultry manure at 0, 2.5 and 5.0 t ha-1, and N and P each at 0, 7.5, and 15 kg ha-1 in a complete factorial for two rainy seasons on each of the local farmers’ soils classified as Phaeozem, Cambisol, and Umbrisol.  Fertilizer application resulted in 20, 25 and 36% maxima grain yield increase relative to soils (Phaeozem, Cambisol and Umbrisol soil, respectively) potentials when no nutrient inputs is applied. Mineral fertilizers applied separately reduced yield on the Cambisol while on Umbrisol soil, there was no particular increase; hence these were risky applications on highly degraded soils. Yield increases were greater with manure, with or without mineral fertilizers, but yield increase was not particularly fundamental on Phaeozem sites but was on Cambisol and marginal on the Umbrisol, resulting into positive and negative interaction effects, respectively. Thus, soil specific rates of manure nutrient ratios or with N and P mineral fertilizers are an effective strategy for targeting improved common bean yield under indigenous soil taxonomy of Buganda catena soils.

Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris L, integrated soil fertility management, smallholder farming, soil type.