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Environmental and Earth Sciences Proceedings
Volume 36
Issue 1
10.3390/eesp2025036010
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Proceeding Paper

Immediate and Residual Effects of Cattle Corralling and Mineral Fertilizer in Maize Cropping Systems in the Sub-Humid Zone of Northern Benin: Yields, Resource-Use Efficiency, Economic Profitability, and Post-Harvest Soil Fertility †

by
Pierre G. Tovihoudji
,
Sourogou Anasse Gounou
*,
Mouiz W. I. A. Yessoufou
,
Sissou Zakari
,
André Adjogboto
and
P. B. Irénikatché Akponikpè
Laboratory of Hydraulics and Environmental Modeling (HydroModE Lab), Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, Parakou 03 BP 351, Benin
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the 2nd International Electronic Conference on Land (IECL 2025), 4–5 September 2025; Available online: https://sciforum.net/event/IECL2025.
Environ. Earth Sci. Proc. 2025, 36(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/eesp2025036010
Published: 9 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 2nd International Electronic Conference on Land)
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Abstract

Effective management of organic and inorganic fertilizers is vital for sustaining productivity in intensive cropping systems. This four-year study (2012–2015) assessed the immediate and residual effects of cattle corralling combined with mineral fertilizer on maize in northern Benin using a strip-plot design with five corralling levels No corralling(NM), immediate application (C0) and residual effects one (C1), two (C2), and three (C3) years after the initial corralling and three fertilizer rates F0 (no fertilizer), F1 (50% of the recommended rate) and F2 (the recommended rate). Cattle corralling doubled maize yield from 2.0 to 4.0 t ha−1 and increased net profitability from 384 to 1000 USD ha−1 compared to non-manured plots. Water-use efficiency increased from 3.4 to 6.8 kg ha−1 mm−1, and soil organic carbon increased nearly fourfold (3.0 to 11.2 g kg−1). Residual effects declined over time without mineral inputs (C0 > C1 > C2 > C3 > NM); however, these benefits were sustained or enhanced when combined with fertilizer (C3 > C2 > C1 > C0 > NM). Fertilizer responses were minor in C0 and C1 but significant in C2 and C3, demonstrating a strong organic–inorganic synergy. Nutrient recovery efficiency was initially lower in recently corralled plots but surpassed non-manured levels after two years. These results confirm that integrating livestock corralling with optimized fertilizer use strengthens soil fertility, resource efficiency, and profitability, providing a sustainable intensification pathway for maize systems in sub-humid, low-fertility regions.
Keywords: crop-livestock integration; resources-use efficiency; economic profitability; carbon sequestration; sub-Saharan West-Africa crop-livestock integration; resources-use efficiency; economic profitability; carbon sequestration; sub-Saharan West-Africa

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MDPI and ACS Style

Tovihoudji, P.G.; Gounou, S.A.; Yessoufou, M.W.I.A.; Zakari, S.; Adjogboto, A.; Akponikpè, P.B.I. Immediate and Residual Effects of Cattle Corralling and Mineral Fertilizer in Maize Cropping Systems in the Sub-Humid Zone of Northern Benin: Yields, Resource-Use Efficiency, Economic Profitability, and Post-Harvest Soil Fertility. Environ. Earth Sci. Proc. 2025, 36, 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/eesp2025036010

AMA Style

Tovihoudji PG, Gounou SA, Yessoufou MWIA, Zakari S, Adjogboto A, Akponikpè PBI. Immediate and Residual Effects of Cattle Corralling and Mineral Fertilizer in Maize Cropping Systems in the Sub-Humid Zone of Northern Benin: Yields, Resource-Use Efficiency, Economic Profitability, and Post-Harvest Soil Fertility. Environmental and Earth Sciences Proceedings. 2025; 36(1):10. https://doi.org/10.3390/eesp2025036010

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tovihoudji, Pierre G., Sourogou Anasse Gounou, Mouiz W. I. A. Yessoufou, Sissou Zakari, André Adjogboto, and P. B. Irénikatché Akponikpè. 2025. "Immediate and Residual Effects of Cattle Corralling and Mineral Fertilizer in Maize Cropping Systems in the Sub-Humid Zone of Northern Benin: Yields, Resource-Use Efficiency, Economic Profitability, and Post-Harvest Soil Fertility" Environmental and Earth Sciences Proceedings 36, no. 1: 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/eesp2025036010

APA Style

Tovihoudji, P. G., Gounou, S. A., Yessoufou, M. W. I. A., Zakari, S., Adjogboto, A., & Akponikpè, P. B. I. (2025). Immediate and Residual Effects of Cattle Corralling and Mineral Fertilizer in Maize Cropping Systems in the Sub-Humid Zone of Northern Benin: Yields, Resource-Use Efficiency, Economic Profitability, and Post-Harvest Soil Fertility. Environmental and Earth Sciences Proceedings, 36(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/eesp2025036010

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