TITLE:
Optimizing Nutrient Use Efficiency and Returns from Soybean Production under Smallholders in Three Agro-Ecologies of Malawi
AUTHORS:
Moses Munthali, Patson Nalivata, Wilkson Makumba, Emmanuel Mbewe, Hastings Manase, George Oduor, Martin Macharia, Kaizzi Kayuki
KEYWORDS:
Soybean, Net Returns, Economically Optimum Rates, Agronomic Use Efficiency of Phosphorous and Potassium, Nutrient Combination, Value Cost Ratio
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.8 No.8,
August
18,
2017
ABSTRACT:
Field trials were conducted to determine the economically optimum fertilizer rates for soybean production and for optimizing net profits in Dedza, Lilongwe and Salima Districts of Malawi. The effects of PK fertilizer rates on rain use efficiency (RUE), harvest index, agronomic use efficiency of phosphorous (AEP) and potassium (AEK), and value cost ratio (VCR) were evaluated. The applied diagnostic PK fertilizer rates significantly improved soybean grain yields, harvest index, rainwater use efficiency, AEP, AEK and returns to fertilizer use expressed as value cost ratio (VCR). However, the results differed significantly (P