Integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) tries to integrate all available means of soil and crop management so as to achieve locally optimum land productivity under sustainable soil and fertility management. It is widely seen as an opportunity and a chal1enge for promoting better soil management at the farm level. Considerable research has been done in Nepal on components of IPNM, but these have so far not been integrated into a coherent concept for extension. The paper describes the pilot testing of a Farmer-Field-School approach to implement IPNM in a maize/fingermil1et relay inter-cropping system. A tota1 of 20 farmers in Sindhupalchowk participated in monthly meetings to discuss soil and crop management options for IPNM under a maize/mil1et system. Farmers implemented split-plots of farmer-managed and IPNM treatments in their farms and recorded subsequent observations on their own. Available nitrogen was monitored through the Nitrate Strip Test and the amount and timing of nitrogen application was suggested. Farmers were also allowed to use locally available resources such as cattle urine, pig manure and Tonal Tonic (Gitte Mal) prepared by themselves. At crop maturity, the participating farmers made subjective and qualitative observations. The experiences of field-testing of IPNM on the maize/mil1et system are discussed. The results, lessons learnt and future research and extension needs for wider application of IPNM in the hil1s of Nepal are also discussed. It has been learnt that this programme facilitated farmers to take decisions about nutrient management in their farm and the efficiency of nitrogen use has been improved substantial1y through balanced, need-based and timely application. Farmers have developed confidence on the nutrient management in their maize/finger mil1et crops.

English

0304|AGRIS 0201|AL-Maize Program|R01PROCE

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection