Effect of Zinc-fertilizer on varietal performance of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and soybean (Glycine max) in western Kenya

Abstract

Soil zinc deficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a major contributor to poor crop responses to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P and K) fertilizer leading to low economic returns on fertilizer use. Despite being drought-tolerant crops, finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and soybean (Glycine max) yields are consistently lower than 1000 kg ha−1 in western Kenya. On-farm trials were conducted in Bungoma and Siaya Counties of western Kenya during two subsequent cropping seasons (long & short rains of 2019) to evaluate the responses of two varieties of finger millet (U15 and SEC915) and soybean (SB19 and SB134) to N, P and K after addition of Zn. Zinc was applied at 0, 1.5, and 3 kg ha−1 and N, P and K at blanket rates. Results showed that application of Zn fertilizer alongside N, P and K fertilizer significantly (p 1) for growing finger millet and soybean in Bungoma and Siaya during long rains and short rains. We recommend applying Zn along with N, P and K fertilizer in Zn-depleted soils to increase finger millet and soybean yields.

Keywords

• Crop response
• Depleted micronutrients
• Micronutrients
• Value cost ratio
• Zinc-depleted soils
• Zn agronomic use efficiency