Out-scaling 4R Nutrient Stewardship Knowledge to Support Crop Production Intensification in Ethiopia

As Ethiopia take steps to help smallholder farmers increase fertilizer use, approaches and tools to adapt and transfer 4R Nutrient Stewardship knowledge to extension systems are essential to ensure sustainable crop production intensification. The project was initiated in 2014 with funding from the International Fertilizer Industry Association and in collaboration with the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), the Ministry of Agriculture and CIMMYT. Project objectives are to demonstrate the impact of various 4R techniques on crop productivity and profits. The main objectives of the project are to: 1) generate agronomic and economic knowledge on the impact of 4R components on crop production intensification in high potential maize zones; 2) train extension agents and lead farmers in pilot sites on the implementation of 4R practices; 3) Adapt and translate 4R extension knowledge products for use in Ethiopia; and 4) support the dissemination of 4R information and and project outputs through television, radio and print media.

In 2015, 110 nutrient omission trial sites were established in Southern, Central and Eastern Ethiopia to determine site-specific fertilizer requirements in major maize production zones and to serve as learning sites for 4R practices for farmers and extension agents. Experimental results showed highly variable yield responses to fertilizer application at the site and farm levels. The low season rainfall (<500mm) in Central Ethiopia had an overriding negative effect on maize yields. Limited yield response to nutrient application was evident in sites that had moisture limitations, particularly when K and the micronutrients were missing. Addition of N, P and K and micronutrients increased yields by 1.3 t/ha, while addition of N, P and K without micronutrients enhanced yields by 1 t/ha. This implies that the average micronutrient effect on yield was approximately 0.3 t/ha. The Southern and Eastern regions received higher rainfall (> 700 mm). Average yields at these sites ranged from 4 to 7 t/ha. On average application of N and P gave yield comparable to NPK and NPK + micronutrient treatments, suggesting the N and P were the most limiting nutrients. However, application of K and micronutrients increased yields by 1 to 3 t/ha at specific sites that had poor soils. The results will be used in 2016 to develop Nutrient Expert for Ethiopia, to be used in promoting site-specific fertilizer linked to the new fertilizer blends available in the country.