Nitrogen Use Efficiency Trends for Sustainable Crop Productivity in Lake Victoria Basin: Smallholder Farmers’ Perspectives on Nitrogen Cycling

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dc.contributor.authorNtinyari, Winnie
dc.contributor.authorGweyi-Onyango, Joseph
dc.contributor.authorGiweta, Mekonnen
dc.contributor.authorMochoge, Benson
dc.contributor.authorMutegi, James
dc.contributor.authorNziguheba, Generose
dc.contributor.authorMasso, Cargele
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-20T06:22:51Z
dc.date.available2023-07-20T06:22:51Z
dc.date.issued2022-01-27
dc.descriptionarticleen_US
dc.description.abstractNitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) is one of the established metrics for benchmarking management of Nitrogen (N) in various systems. Numerous approaches to calculateNUEexist, making it difficult to compare the performances of systems depending on the methodology used. This study adopted the conceptualized framework by European Union Nitrogen Expert Panel (EUNEP) to calculateNUE values for cereal crops to determine future trends for the first time in the Lake Victoria region. Data were collected through in-person interviews among maize and rice smallholder farmers within the Lake Victoria region. Atotal of 293 observations were recorded. Collected data on yield andNfertilizer were used to make projections on the changes ofNUEbased on scientific and policy recommendations for Sub-Saharan Africa for 2020 (base year), 2025, 2030, and 2050. Significant differences in maize grain yield for both fertilized and unfertilized farms were observed with very low yields of 2.4 t ha−1 (fertilized) and 1.4 t ha−1 (unfertilized). The graphical representation ofNUEof both maize and rice showed that most farmers were in the zone of soilNmining. Projected results showed that most maize farmers within Lake Victoria region will continue to experienceNUEvalues>90%, low Ninputs<50 kgNha−1) and less than 5 t ha−1 maize crop yield over the years. For rice farmers, Nyando and Nzoia catchments had surpassed the set target of both yield (6 t ha−1) andNinput (50 kgNha−1). However,NUEvalues remain higher than the optimal ranges of 50%–90% (127.14%−267.57%), indicating risks of depleting soilNstatus. The unbalancedNfertilization also showed a trend below the linear neutrality option and the averageNoutput for goodNmanagement for both crops. Therefore, farmers need to explore various crop management options that could increaseNuse efficiencies. This should be coupled with policies that promote farmers to access more Ninput and advocate for optimal management ofNand improved quality of the cereals.en_US
dc.identifier.citationNtinyari, W., Gweyi-Onyango, J., Giweta, M., Mutegi, J., Mochoge, B., Nziguheba, G., & Masso, C. (2022). Nitrogen budgets and nitrogen use efficiency as agricultural performance indicators in Lake Victoria basin. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6, 1023579.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ac40f2
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/26332
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherIOP Publishingen_US
dc.subjectsoil miningen_US
dc.subjectNinputen_US
dc.subjectNoutputen_US
dc.subjectunbalanced fertilizationen_US
dc.subjectNdeficitsen_US
dc.titleNitrogen Use Efficiency Trends for Sustainable Crop Productivity in Lake Victoria Basin: Smallholder Farmers’ Perspectives on Nitrogen Cyclingen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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