TAAT e-catalog
for
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https://e-catalogs.taat-africa.org/org/technologies/precision-fertilizer-micro-dosing-for-millet-and-sorghum-yield-enhancement
Smarter Fertilizer, Stronger Crops: Maximize Growth with Minimal Input
The Fertilizer Micro-Dosing for Enhanced Yield and Efficiency Technology is a practice that involves applying small amounts of fertilizer in shallow holes at the base of each plant. This precise method is low-risk, affordable, and efficient.
This technology is TAAT1 validated.
Adults 18 and over: Positive high
Adults engaged in agriculture experience increased crop productivity and income due to micro-dosing, leading to improved livelihoods.
The poor: Positive high
Micro-dosing is cost-effective, reduces fertilizer costs and increases yields, directly benefiting low-income farmers by improving food security and income.
Under 18: Positive medium
While children are not directly involved in farming, micro-dosing enhances household food security and nutrition, leading to better health outcomes for children.
Women: Positive medium
Micro-dosing is accessible and manageable for women farmers, enhancing their agricultural productivity and economic independence.
Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable
This practice is a climate-smart agriculture practice that improves crop resilience to climate variability by ensuring optimal nutrient availability, leading to better growth under changing climatic conditions.
Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement
Micro-dosing equips farmers with a cost-effective strategy to maintain productivity amid climate challenges, promoting sustainable farming practices.
Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity
Reduced chemical runoff from micro-dosing supports healthier ecosystems, indirectly benefiting biodiversity. Minimizing excessive fertilizer use through micro-dosing helps maintain soil and water quality, fostering environments where diverse species can thrive.
Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released
Optimizing fertilizer application reduces the need for excessive production and application, thereby decreasing associated carbon emissions.
Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health
Targeted fertilizer application reduces the potential for pollutants to enter ecosystems, safeguarding environmental quality.
Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility
Micro-dosing improves soil health by maintaining balanced nutrient levels and avoiding the adverse effects of over-fertilization.
Water use: Same amount of water used
Healthier plants resulting from adequate nutrition may utilize water more effectively, though direct impacts on water use are secondary.
Micro-dosing involves the precise application of small fertilizer quantities directly to the plant base, effectively addressing nutrient deficiencies and low yields in millet and sorghum cultivation. This method enhances nutrient uptake, reduces fertilizer waste, and minimizes environmental impact, making it a cost-effective and efficient solution for smallholder farmers.
In Niger, the adoption of micro-dosing, combined with inventory credit schemes, has increased household incomes by 34%, demonstrating its potential to improve livelihoods and food security.
Micro-dosing supports several Sustainable Development Goals by increasing crop yields to enhance food security and nutrition (SDG 2), promoting women’s participation and economic empowerment (SDG 5), ensuring efficient fertilizer use for reduced waste and environmental impact (SDG 12), and improving nutrient use efficiency to support climate-smart agricultural practices (SDG 13).
As part of the Millet and Sorghum Toolkit, micro-dosing synergizes with innovations such as Varieties for Better Nutrition and Stress Resistance, Dual-purpose Varieties for Crop and Livestock Integration, and Proactive Management of Striga Infestation. Collectively, these technologies enhance the productivity and resilience of millet and sorghum farming systems.
Fertilizer micro-dosing has been introduced in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda through the Enabling Sustainable Regional Agricultural Extension (ENSURE) project funded by AfDB. In Zimbabwe, this technology is being implemented under the Emergency Food Production Project funded by AfDB.
Application without equipment
Increase in yield
Open source / open access
| Country | Testing ongoing | Tested | Adopted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burkina Faso | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Chad | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Ethiopia | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Kenya | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Mali | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Niger | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Nigeria | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Senegal | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Sudan | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Tanzania | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
| Zimbabwe | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.
| AEZ | Subtropic - warm | Subtropic - cool | Tropic - warm | Tropic - cool |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arid | ||||
| Semiarid | – | – | ||
| Subhumid | – | – | ||
| Humid | – | – | – | – |
Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.
By enhancing crop yields, micro-dosing contributes to increased food production and improved food security. For instance, in Niger, combining micro-dosing with inventory credit schemes has increased household incomes by 34%, enabling better access to food resources.
Micro-dosing promotes efficient fertilizer use, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact. This method uses about one-tenth of the fertilizer amount typically applied to wheat and one-twentieth of that used on corn in the U.S., illustrating its efficiency in nutrient utilization.
By improving nutrient use efficiency, micro-dosing reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with fertilizer production and application, supporting climate change mitigation efforts. The fertilizer industry acknowledges its contribution to global GHG emissions and views the SDGs as a framework for promoting more sustainable production and application practices.
Procedure for implementing the technology of "Fertilizer Micro-Dosing to Enhance Yield and Use Efficiency":
1. Micro-dosing offers a low-risk strategy for farmers by using small and affordable quantities of inputs.
2. Fertilizer applied in shallow holes at the base of each plant is placed close to active roots, allowing crops to establish more quickly and absorb nutrients and water efficiently.
3. It decreases the investment costs of farmers and increases yield responses even with lower rates of fertilizer application.
4. Proportionally fewer nutrients from mineral inputs are lost to the environment.
5. Combining micro-dosing with organic matter input, water harvesting, and contour bunding techniques enhances nutrient assimilation.
6. The technology is adaptable to various millet and sorghum growing areas in Sub-Saharan Africa, including drylands.
7. It is particularly suitable for resource-limited farmers working on degraded lands who cannot afford recommended amounts of mineral fertilizers.
Last updated on 11 December 2024
This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones.
Precision Fertilizer Micro-Dosing for Millet and Sorghum Yield Enhancement
https://e-catalogs.taat-africa.org/org/technologies/precision-fertilizer-micro-dosing-for-millet-and-sorghum-yield-enhancement
Last updated on 11 December 2024, printed on 19 December 2024
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