Interactive Effects of Drought-Tolerant Varieties and Fertilizer Microdosing on Maize Yield, Nutrients Use Efficiency, and Profitability in the Sub-Humid Region of Benin
Frontiers in Agronomy March 17, 2022 Pierre G. Tovihoudji, B. Moukaïla Bagri, Michel Batamoussi Hermann et al.
Combining drought-tolerant maize varieties with fertilizer micro-dosing substantially improved yields and profitability for smallholder farmers in northern Benin. Over two years, micro-dosing increased grain yields by 171% and stover yields by 98% compared to no fertilizer, with the highest micro-dosing rate matching the recommended broadcast rate. Drought-tolerant varieties yielded 19% more than a drought-sensitive variety, and the best combination—the TZE-Y variety with the highest micro-dosing rate—boosted grain yield by 658 kg ha⁻¹ and gross return by $203 USD over the sensitive variety with micro-dosing. Further on-farm testing is needed before precise recommendations can be made.