@article{fdi:010093611,
  title = {{M}odelling the impact of nitrification inhibition in a fallow-based {W}est {A}frican corn cropping system},
  author = {{O}uattara, {W}. {A}. and {K}onar{\'e}, {S}. and {T}ondoh, {E}. {J}. and {B}arot, {S}{\'e}bastien},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}o solve soil fertility problems, most smallholder farmers in sub-{S}aharan {A}frica use fallow periods. {H}owever, population growth along with land shortage tends to shorten the duration of fallows, resulting in a steady decline in soil fertility. {A}lthough nitrogen ({N}) plays a key role in soil fertility, current methods for maintaining {N} supply in cropping systems are inadequate, especially in {N} poor soils. {A}ddressing this issue is crucial for improving agricultural productivity and reducing environmental impact. {T}he objective of this study was to explore innovative ways to maintain {N} supply in {N} poor soils by identifying the appropriate levers and practices. {W}e designed a general model describing {N} cycle in a cropping system in a humid savanna in {I}vory {C}oast. {W}e examined the impact of different processes involved in {N} cycle, including mineralization, nitrification, and fallow characteristics on the yield of a crop such as corn. {O}ur study innovatively assesses the benefits of incorporating nitrification inhibition into traditional {A}frican cropping systems and provides a modelling tool to assess its impact. {T}he model confirms that in low input agricultural systems, soil fertility is maintained by the increase in soil organic matter during fallow and its subsequent mineralization. {W}e showed that variation in nitrification during the cropping cycle (fallow-crop) does not have a significant effect on corn yield. {H}owever, with the addition of {N} fertilizers, nitrification inhibition significantly increases crop yield. {I}ndeed, nitrification inhibition increases the efficiency of fertilizer use, which reduces losses of {N} fertilizer. {F}urthermore, legume-based fallow is able to increase corn productivity much more than a nitrification-inhibiting fallow regardless of the length of fallow periods. {F}inally, the models suggest that using nitrification-inhibiting grasses as cover crops for corn would be beneficial if mineral {N} fertilizer is used.},
  keywords = {{S}oil fertility ; {N}itrification inhibition ; {N}itrogen ; {F}allow ; {C}orn ; {S}mall-holder agriculture ; {COTE} {D}'{IVOIRE} ; {AFRIQUE} {SUBSAHARIENNE} ; {AFRIQUE} {DE} {L}'{OUEST}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}gronomy for {S}ustainable {D}evelopment},
  volume = {45},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {28 [14 p.]},
  ISSN = {1774-0746},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1007/s13593-025-01026-1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010093611},
}