Soil data importance in guiding maize intensification and yield gap estimations in East Africa

ABSTRACT

Wide maize yield gaps have been reported in Eastern Africa, hence possibility for increasing production. Previous yield gap studies relied on generic soils data such as Harmonized World Soils Database (HWSD). Using CERES-Maize model, the importance of newly available and detailed Africa Soil and Information Service (AFSIS) data in estimating yield gaps and assessing intensification potentials was studied at Sidindi, Kenya and Mbinga, Tanzania. Predicted water-limited yields (Yw) at Sidindi using AFSIS and HWSD soils data were 9.21 Mg ha⁻¹ and 9.88 Mg ha⁻¹ (p = 0.002); and at Mbinga 10.48 Mg ha⁻¹ and 10.90 Mg ha⁻¹ (p = 0.085). Adequate rainfall masks differences in simulated Yw. The calibrated model predicted grain yield with a root mean square (RMSE) of 1.7 Mg ha⁻¹ at Sidindi; and 2.13 Mg ha⁻¹ at Mbinga. The model was sensitive to available phosphorus, with a 15% increase resulting in yield increases of 177% for treatment NK and 46% for the control. For stable organic carbon content, a 15% decrease increased grain yields for treatment PK by 57.6%. To guide intensification and yield gap estimations, accurate active soil carbon, total carbon, available phosphorus and texture data are vital.

KEYWORDS:

• Available phosphorus
• calibration
• sensitivity analysis
• soil carbon
• texture

Acknowledgments

Blinded for anonymous review.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

The AFSIS project was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. The work presented in this paper was funded by CGIAR core funds allocated to CRP 5