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Nitrogen effect on zinc biofortification of maize and cowpea in Zimbabwean smallholder farms

Manzeke, Muneta G.; Mtambanengwe, Florence; Watts, Michael J.; Broadley, Martin R.; Lark, Murray; Mapfumo, Paul

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Authors

Muneta G. Manzeke

Florence Mtambanengwe

Michael J. Watts

MURRAY LARK MURRAY.LARK@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Geoinformatics

Paul Mapfumo



Abstract

© 2020 The Authors. Agronomy Journal published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society of Agronomy Agronomic biofortification of crops with zinc (Zn) can be enhanced under increased nitrogen (N) supply. Here, the effects of N fertilizer on grain Zn concentration of maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) were determined at two contrasting sites in Zimbabwe over two seasons. All treatments received soil and foliar zinc-sulphate fertilizer. Seven N treatments, with three N rates (0, 45, and 90 kg ha−1 for maize; 0, 15, and 30 kg ha−1 for cowpea), two N forms (mineral and organic), and combinations thereof were used for each crop in a randomized complete block design (n = 4). Maize grain Zn concentrations increased from 27.2 to 39.3 mg kg−1 across sites. At 45kg N ha−1, mineral N fertilizer increased maize grain Zn concentration more than organic N from cattle manure or a combination of mineral and organic N fertilizers. At 90kg N ha−1, the three N fertilizer application strategies had similar effects on maize grain Zn concentration. Co-application of N and Zn fertilizer was more effective at increasing Zn concentration in maize grain than Zn fertilizer alone. Increases in cowpea grain Zn concentration were less consistent, although grain Zn concentration increased from 39.8 to 52.7 mg kg−1 under optimal co-applications of N and Zn. Future cost/benefit analyses of agronomic biofortification need to include information on benefits of agro-fortified grain, complex farmer management decisions (including cost and access to both N and Zn fertilizers), as well as understanding of the spatial and site-specific variation in fertilizer responses.

Citation

Watts, M. J., Manzeke, M. G., Mtambanengwe, F., Broadley, M. R., Lark, M., & Mapfumo, P. (2020). Nitrogen effect on zinc biofortification of maize and cowpea in Zimbabwean smallholder farms. Agronomy Journal, 112(3), 2256-2274. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20175

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 31, 2020
Online Publication Date Apr 14, 2020
Publication Date May 26, 2020
Deposit Date Feb 12, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Agronomy Journal
Print ISSN 0002-1962
Electronic ISSN 1435-0645
Publisher American Society of Agronomy
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 112
Issue 3
Pages 2256-2274
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20175
Keywords Agronomy and Crop Science
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3950841
Publisher URL https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/agj2.20175

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