Use of Compost and Mineral Fertilizers for Millet Production by Farmers in the Semiarid Region of Senegal

ABSTRACT Increasing rural populations and the associated agricultural intensification and reduction in fallow periods of cropping systems in Senegal may be degrading soils. This may be related to the per capita decrease in food production of the semi-arid Sub-Sahel region. This study investigated the effect of applying combinations of manure/crop residue compost (2 t ha−1) and mineral fertilizer on yields of millet in the semi-arid agroecological zone of Senegal. Farmers who applied neither compost nor fertilizer had yields of 430 kg ha−1 compared with yields of 1230 kg ha−1 for farmers who used a mixture of both. Millet yields showed the highest response, and its yields were most stable across environments (p = 0. 01) when compost + NPK fertilizer was applied. Partial budget analysis indicated that net profits from compost + mineral fertilizer (US68) was higher than mineral fertilizer (US53), indicative of a synergistic effect. However, a net return from the use of compost alone was US43. Thus, in the absence of mineral fertilizers or rock phosphate, farmers could achieve reasonable yields and income with continuous use of compost alone.