Nutrient flows and balances in intensively managed vegetable production of two West African cities

• DOI: 10.1002/jpln.201800339
• Publication Date: 2019-01-24T18:40:18Z
• Authors: Edmund Kyei Akoto...; Delphine Manka'abusi; Christoph Steiner; Steffen Werner; Volker Haering; Désiré J.-P. Lompo; George Nyarko; Bernd Marschner; Pay Drechsel; Andreas Buerkert
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; wastewater irrigation; potassium; soil fertility; horticulture; crop production; nutrient use efficiency; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; 15. Life on land; vegetable growing; irrigation water; 6. Clean water; leaching; nitrogen fertilizers; nutrient balance; emission; 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; biochar; phosphorus; volatilization

Abstract This study reports and analyzes nutrient balances in experimental vegetable production systems of the two West African cities Tamale (Ghana) Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) over a two‐year period comprising thirteen eleven crops, respectively. Nutrient‐use efficiency was also calculated. In Ouagadougou, up to 2% (8 80 kg N ha −1 ) annually applied fertilizer nitrogen were leached. While biochar application or wastewater irrigation on fertilized plots did not influence leaching both cities, P K leaching, as determined with ion‐absorbing resin cartridges, reduced biochar‐amended Tamale. Annual amounted +362 , +217 –125 Tamale, while had +692 +166 –175 y . Under farmers' practice fertilization, agronomic nutrient‐use efficiencies generally higher than but declined during last season. result inputs compared relatively lower outputs. The high surpluses deficits call for adjustments local fertilization practices enhance prevent risks eutrophication.