Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Financial performance of fertilization strategies for sustainable soil fertility management in Sudano–Sahelian West Africa. 2: Profitability of long-term capital investments in rockphosphate

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major impediment to securing crop productivity on the acid, sandy soils of Sudano-Sahelian West Africa (SSWA). However, given the low profitability of many annually applied fertilization strategies with imported P, the effects of yield-enhancing, alternative P-sources, such as rockphosphate (RP), should be considered. Therefore, the financial performance of 14 strategies—including 2 annual and 11 long-term fertilization strategies plus 1 farmers’ practice—were compared in three rainfall zones in SSWA. The comparison comprised the net present value, the annuity, the internal rate of return, and a risk analysis. Agronomic data came from a four-year, five-location trial complemented by information on farming systems, labor demands, and input–output prices. Compared with farmers’ practices, none of the P-fertilization strategies examined were financially superior at all locations. The financial performance of medium-term RP-strategies tended to increase with rainfall, but remained highly variable. Net returns to land with high rates of RP were often superior to annual inputs of mineral-P, but never the best alternatives. In most cases, the most profitable strategies comprised medium-level RP-applications with or without supplementary hill-placed NPK-fertilizer (also known as “micro-dosing”). The financial performance of medium quantities of RP sometimes increased and sometimes decreased with supplementary nitrogen (N) additions. The combination of hill-placed NPK and broadcast RP as well as N-applications with broadcast RP are alternatives to the use of RP alone. Our results can assist researchers and development institutions in advocating and implementing more effective strategies to enhance agricultural production in SSWA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baidu-Forson J (1988) Characteristics of farm households and economy in Western Niger villages: some evidence from baseline surveys. In: Resource management program, Economics group, Progress Report 87. ICRISAT, Niamey 1988

  • Bationo A, Mokwunye AU (1991) Alleviating soil fertility constraints to increased crop production in West Africa: the experience in the Sahel. Fertil Res 29:95–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bationo A, Chien SH, Henao J, Christianson CB, Mokwunye AU (1990) Agronomic evaluation of two unacidulated and partially acidulated phosphate rocks indigenous to Niger. Soil Sci Soc Am J 54:1772–1777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bationo A, Ayuk E, Ballo D, Koné M (1997) Agronomic and economic evaluation of Tilemsi phosphate rock in different agroecological zones of Mali. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 48:179–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruentrup M (1997) Agricultural price policy and its effect on production, income, employment, and the adoption of innovations: a farming systems based analysis of cotton policy in Northern Benin, Hohenheim University dissertation; Frankfurt/M.: Europäischer Verl. der Wissenschaften (Development Economics and Policy 9)

  • Bruentrup M, Lamers JPA, Heidhues F (1996) The economics of millet crop residues for wind erosion control in Niger, West Africa. In: Buerkert B, Allison BE, von Oppen M (eds) Wind erosion in West Africa: the problem and its control. Markgraf Verlag, Weikersheim, pp 243–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Buerkert A, Hiernaux P (1998) Nutrients in the West African Sudano–Sahelian zone: losses, transfers and role of external inputs. Z Pflanzenernähr Bodenkd 161:365–383

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buerkert A, Schlecht E (2013) Agricultural innovations in small-scale farming systems of Sudano–Sahelian West Africa: some prerequisites for success. Secheresse 24:322–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Buerkert A, Bagayoko M, Bationo A, Marschner H (1997) Site-specific differences in the response of cereals and legumes to rockphosphate, crop residue mulch and nitrogen in the Sudano–Sahelian zone of West Africa. In: Renard G, Neef A, Becker K, von Oppen M (eds) Soil fertility management in West African land use systems. Margraf Verlag, Weikersheim, pp 53–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Buerkert A, Bationo A, Piepho HP (2001) Efficient phosphorus application strategies for increased crop production in sub-Saharan West Africa. Field Crops Res 72:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buerkert A, Piepho HP, Bationo A (2002) Multi-site time trend analysis of soil fertility management effects on crop production in sub-Saharan West Africa. Exp Agric 38:163–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bumb LB, Johnson ME, Fuentes MA (2011) Policy options for improving regional fertilizer markets in West Africa. In: IFPRI discussion paper 01084, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington. www.ifpri.org p. 73

  • Charoy J (1980) Utilisation des phosphates naturels au Niger. Agron Tropic 35(5):250–253

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dahui KP (1995) Costs determinants of phosphate rock in some West African countries. In: Gerner H, Mokwunye AU (eds) Use of phosphate rock for sustainable agriculture in West Africa. IFDC, Lomé

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1980) Les Engrais et Leurs Applications. Précis à l’usage des vulgarisateurs. Collection FAO: mise en valeur des terres et des eaux, no 8, 3eme édition. FAO, Rome

  • Gerner H, Banaante CA (1995) Economic aspects of phosphate rock application for sustainable agriculture in West Africa. In: Gerner H, Mokwunye AU (eds) Use of phosphate rock for sustainable Agriculture in West Africa. Miscellaneous Fertilizers Studies 11, IFDC, Lomé, pp 134–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Gittinger JP (1982) Economic analysis of agricultural projects. EDI series in economic development. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore-London

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson AKC (1995) Inventory and mining of local mineral resources in West Africa. In: Gerner H, Mokwunye AU (eds) Use of phosphate rock for sustainable Agriculture in West Africa. Miscellaneous Fertilizers Studies 11, IFDC, Lomé

    Google Scholar 

  • Khasawneh FE, Doll EC (1978) The use of phosphate rock for direct application to soils. Adv Agron 30:155–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuyvenhoven A, Chien SH (2004) Economic factors in the adoption and utilisation of phosphate rocks. In: Casanova E, Zapata E, Roy RN (eds) Use of phosphate rocks for sustainable Agriculture. FAO bulletin, Fertilizer and plant nutrition bulletin 13, FAO, Rome, pp 99–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamers JPA (1998) Wind erosion in Niger: farmer perceptions, traditional techniques to prevent and combat wind erosion, and farmer adoption of modern soil conservation technologies. In: Shivakumar MVK, Zoebisch MA, Koala S, Maukonen T (eds) Wind erosion in Africa and West Asia: problems and Control Strategies. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamers JPA, Bruentrup M (1996) Comparative advantage of single and multipurpose uses of millet stover in Niger. Agric Syst 50(3):273–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamers JPA, Bruentrup M, Buerkert A (1998) The profitability of traditional and innovative mulching techniques using millet crop residues in the West African Sahel. Agric Ecosyst Environ 67:23–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamers JPA, Bruentrup M, Buerkert A (2015) Financial performance of fertilisation strategies for sustainable soil fertility management in Sudano–Sahelian West Africa. Vol 1. Profitability of annual fertilisation strategies. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst. doi:10.1007/s10705-015-9673-x

  • McIntire J, Hopkins J, Lamers JPA, Fussell LK (1989) The millet system of western Niger. I Crop production. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (unpublished)

  • McIntire J, Bourzat D, Pingali P (1992) Crop-livestock interaction in sub-Saharan Africa. The international bank for reconstruction and development. The World Bank, Washington, pp 1–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Michels K, Sivakumar MVK, Allison BE (1993) Wind erosion in the Southern Sahelian zone and induced constraints to pearl millet production. Agric For Meteorol 67:65–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miscellaneous Fertilizers Studies 11, IFDC (1995) Use of phosphate rock for sustainable Agriculture in West Africa. Miscellaneous Fertilizers Studies 11, IFDC, Lomé

    Google Scholar 

  • Mokwunye AU (1995) Phosphate rock as capital investment. In: Gerner H, Mokwunye AU (eds) Use of phosphate rock for sustainable Agriculture in West Africa. Miscellaneous Fertilizers Studies 11, IFDC, Lomé, pp 100–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Nabos J, Charoy J, Pichot J (1974) Fertilisation phosphateé des sols au Niger- Utilisation des phosphates naturels de Tahoua. Agron Trop 29(11):1140–1150

    Google Scholar 

  • Napier TL (1992) Property rights and adoption of soil and water conservation practices. In: Arsyad S, Istiqlal A, Sheng T, Moldenhauer W (eds) Conservation policies for sustainable hill slope farming., pp 193–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson SE (2013) The West African Sahel: a review of recent studies on the rainfall Regime and its interannual variability. ISRN Meteorology. Hindawi Publishing Corporation, Cairo, pp 1–32. doi:10.1155/2013/453521

    Google Scholar 

  • OPVN (1997) Marchés des céréales et du niébé au Niger. Office des Produits Vivriers du Niger, Système d’Information sur les Marchés (S.I.M.), Niamey, Niger

  • OPVN (1998) Marchés des céréales et du niébé au Niger. Office des Produits Vivriers du Niger, Système d’Information sur les Marchés (S.I.M.), Niamey, Niger

  • Pieri C, Steiner KG (1996) The role of soil fertility in sustainable agriculture with special reference to sub-Saharan Africa. Entwick Ländl Raum 4(96):3–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Roesch M, Pichot J (1985) Utilisation du phosphate naturel de Tahoua en fumure de fond et en fumure d’entretien dans les sols sableux du Niger. Agron Trop 40(2):89–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlecht E, Buerkert A, Tielkes E, Bationo A (2006) A critical analysis of challenges and opportunities for soil fertility restoration in Sudano–Sahelian West Africa. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 76:109–136. doi:10.1007/s10705-005-1670-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber JF, Matlock WG (1978) The phosphate rock industry in north and west Africa. University of Arizona, Tuscon, pp 1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • SIM (Système d’Information sur les Marchés Agricoles) (2012) Bulletin Hebdo 249. Ministère du Commerce Et de la Promotion du Secteur Privé, République du Niger

    Google Scholar 

  • Sivakumar MVK (1992) Climate change and implications for agriculture in Niger. Clim Change 20:297–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teboh JF (1995) Phosphate rock as a soil amendment: who should bear the costs? In: Gerner H, Mokwunye AU (eds) Use of phosphate rock for sustainable Agriculture in West Africa. Miscellaneous Fertilizers Studies 11, IFDC, Lomé, pp 142–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanlauwe B, Giller KE (2006) Popular myths around soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa. Agric Ecosyst Environ 116:34–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter B (1994) Wirtschaftlichkeit der Rohphosphatanwendung in unterschiedlichen Regionen und Betriebssystemen Burkina Fasos. Farming systems and resource economics in the tropics, Vol 17. Wissenschaftsverlag, Kiel

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the valuable contributions made by anonymous reviewers in the form of thorough comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic cooperation and Development (BMZ) for funding the field research from which the agronomic data were taken.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Development Research, Walter–Flex-Str. 3, D-53113, Bonn, Germany

    John P. A. Lamers

  2. German Development Institute/Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Tulpenfeld 6, D-53113, Bonn, Germany

    Michael Bruentrup

  3. Organic Crop Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics (OPATS), University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, D-37213, Witzenhausen, Germany

    Andreas Buerkert

Authors
  1. John P. A. Lamers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Bruentrup
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andreas Buerkert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John P. A. Lamers.

Appendix

Appendix

See the Table 7.

Table 7 Millet grain yields (kg ha−1) of the unfertilized control plots and effects of annual and long-term fertilization strategies at five locations across the West African Sudano-Sahelian zone for four experimental years
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lamers, J.P.A., Bruentrup, M. & Buerkert, A. Financial performance of fertilization strategies for sustainable soil fertility management in Sudano–Sahelian West Africa. 2: Profitability of long-term capital investments in rockphosphate. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 102, 149–165 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9671-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-015-9671-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation