The micro-dosing fertilizer application technology was designed for

small and medium scale farmers to maximize the effect of small quan-

tity of available organic and inorganic fertilizers. While the technology

presently rely on ruminants manure as the organic source, poultry

production is on the rise and expected to generate significant quantity

of organic manure. This gives opportunity to use poultry manure in

micro-dose technology. It is generally believed that poultry manure

is higher in nutrient than ruminant manure. This may increase its po-

tential as a source of organic fertilizer for the micro-dosing technology.

It is necessary to evaluate the poultry manure in combination with

other organic and inorganic fertilizers.

• baCkground

• To identify the effect of different rates and sources of organic ma-

nure and combination with synthetic fertilizer on the growth and

yield of cereals

• To assess the effectiveness in terms of nutrients supply to the soil

from both organic and inorganic manures.

• objeCtives

Eight Micro-dosing fertilizer treatments were tested with two controls

of no fertilizer and the blanket recommendation of NPK 80:60:60

using millet and sorghum as test crops. The trial was planted in two

locations in the Sudan savanna zone of Nigeria.

• metHodology

On-farm trial demonstrating the effect of the selected microdosing

treatments covering over 600 farmers in 4 States of Northern Nigeria.

Each farmer compared 2 microdose treatment with a control which

was either a no fertilizer or an NPK 80:60:60 application.

• aCtivities

Millet: While there was no significant differences among the micro-

dose treatments in the relatively higher fertile soil of Minjibir, there

were significant differences in the relatively low fertile soil of Gam-

bawa. Micro-dose with 150 gm poultry manure/hill produced highest

grain yield (793 kg/ha) followed by 100 gm poultry manure/hill (743

kg/ha) while control (no fertilizer) produced the lowest yield (188

kg/ha).

Sorghum: The response of sorghum was slightly different from the

response of millet. Full application of NPK at 80:60:60 produced hi-

ghest grain yields (1706 kg/ha) followed by NPK 15 plus cow manure

100 gm/hill (1685 kg/ha).

• results and main aCHievements

• Current and PartnersHis future

engagements for out sCaling

Poultry manure present a complimentary source of organic manure

for use in the fertilizer micro-dose technology for small and medium

scale farmers in the dry savannas of west Africa. The effect of the

poultry manure is more feasible and significant under the low fertility

conditions common among these farmers.

• ConClusions

The best treatments are undergoing farmer participatory testing

and would be upscale through the ATASP-1 projects in 4 States in

the Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria.

Exploring new source of Organic Manure for Fertilizer Micro-dose technology:

Response of Cereals to Different Source of Micro-dose Fertilizer Hakeem A. Ajeigbe and Ramat Mohammed

1International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Kano Station, Kano Nigeria2Bayero University Kano, Nigeria

Corresponding author email: h.ajeigbe@cgiar.org

Partners:

• Dr Ignatius Angarawai (ICRISAT)

• Prof Lawal Abubakar (Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto)

• ATASP-1 Zonal Project Coordinators in three Zones

• Dr Shehu Yahaya (CDA-BUK).