Effectiveness of combined application of Kodjari phosphate rock, water soluble phosphorus fertilizer and manure in a Ferric Lixisol in the centre west of Burkina Faso

ABSTRACT

Increasing soil phosphorus and organic matter content for crop production while reducing the cost of production are required to facilitate the achievement of green revolution in Africa. Field and pot experiments were laid out during 2012 and 2013 to assess the effects of combined application of Kodjari phosphate rock (PR) and water soluble phosphorus on sorghum yields, P uptake and Lixisol characteristics in the centre west of Burkina Faso. Five P fertilizers treatments (zero P, 100% TSP (triple super phosphate), 100% PR, 50% PR + 50% TSP, 75% PR + 25% TSP) and two cow manure treatments (zero, 5 t ha⁻¹) were tested. In field experiment, 50% PR + 50% TSP was as effective as 100% TSP in increasing sorghum yield above the control by 30% in 2012 and 50% in 2013 and P uptake by 30% in both years. Manure had an additive effect on phosphorus fertilizers in increasing sorghum yields and P uptake. In pot experiment, increases of Ca uptake, soil pH and microbial P were observed with the application of 50% PR + 50% TSP. Our results suggest that formulation of fertilizer combining phosphate rock and mineral P would improve sorghum yields and income of smallholders.

KEYWORDS:

• Phosphate rock
• triple super phosphate (TSP)
• manure
• Lixisol
• Burkina Faso

Acknowledgments

We thank Mr Adama Kaboré who helped for field works.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ Association of Official Analytical Chemists.

Additional information

Funding

The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa is gratefully acknowledged for financing this work through a PhD grant accorded to the first author. The National Institute for Environment and Agricultural Research of Burkina (INERA) is gratefully acknowledged for providing the experimental site and technical support during field and laboratory works.