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An in‐depth examination of maize yield response to fertilizer in Central Malawi reveals low profits and too many weeds

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  • William J. Burke
  • Sieglinde S. Snapp
  • Thom S. Jayne

Abstract

We examine the productivity of fertilizer used on maize in Central Malawi using field‐level panel data from over 1,200 observations on more than 500 fields over 4 harvest years. There are several novel aspects of this analysis compared to other on‐farm fertilizer efficiency studies, including (a) precise and accurate yield measurement using crop cuts, (b) estimating the impact of timely weeding, (c) the use of data on multiple soil characteristics from a panel of soil samples, and (d) the ability to control for field‐level fixed effects by tracking the same land over time. We find critical ecological and management threshold effects on fertilizer effectiveness at 0.94% soil carbon content, 57–58% sandiness, and weeding within 4 weeks of planting. Overall, we estimate lower yield response to fertilizer than reported in earlier studies: 2.6 maize kg/N kg under ideal circumstances, and statistically nil under many other conditions. We discuss the implications of our findings for farmers, policymakers, and researchers.

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  • William J. Burke & Sieglinde S. Snapp & Thom S. Jayne, 2020. "An in‐depth examination of maize yield response to fertilizer in Central Malawi reveals low profits and too many weeds," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(6), pages 923-940, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:agecon:v:51:y:2020:i:6:p:923-940
    DOI: 10.1111/agec.12601
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    Cited by:

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    3. Snapp, Sieglinde, 2022. "Embracing variability in soils on smallholder farms: New tools and better science," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    4. Falconnier, Gatien N. & Leroux, Louise & Beillouin, Damien & Corbeels, Marc & Hijmans, Robert J. & Bonilla-Cedrez, Camila & van Wijk, Mark & Descheemaeker, Katrien & Zingore, Shamie & Affholder, Franç, 2023. "Increased mineral fertilizer use on maize can improve both household food security and regional food production in East Africa," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    5. Kosmowski, Frederic & Chamberlin, Jordan & Ayalew, Hailemariam & Sida, Tesfaye & Abay, Kibrom & Craufurd, Peter, 2021. "How accurate are yield estimates from crop cuts? Evidence from smallholder maize farms in Ethiopia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    6. Sinafikeh Asrat Gemessa, 2022. "An alternative approach to measuring the welfare implications of input subsidies: Evidence from Malawi," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(1), pages 112-138, February.
    7. William J. Burke & Stephen N. Morgan & Thelma Namonje & Milu Muyanga & Nicole M. Mason, 2023. "Beyond the “inverse relationship”: Area mismeasurement may affect actual productivity, not just how we understand it," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 54(4), pages 557-569, July.

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