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2024 Annual Photo Contest Results

Once again, it’s our pleasure to be able to announce the results of our annual photo contest! We are pleased to see the continued interest in this forum with submissions coming in from across the Continent. The contest organizers are grateful for your participation.

According to the rules of our contest, we have been in search of clear examples of nutrient deficiency in African crops, and plant nutrient research, or use, in Africa. As we gather more images, our hope is for this forum to continue to increase awareness about healthy crops and soils, and to shine a light on those doing the great work to improve nutrient use in Africa.

Our contest awards cash prizes to the top photos in each category, but we would also like to take this opportunity to feature a few other photos deserving honorable mentions.

This contest will open once again in early 2025 so please keep us in mind the next time you are out in the field! Watch for details in our next issue of Growing Africa, our website https://apni.net/photo-contest, or follow us on social media for the latest news.

Crop Nutrient Deficiency Category
Winning Entry: Zinc Deficiency in Maize

Magret explains that this crop of maize is expressing the common zinc (Zn) deficiency symptoms (i.e., whitish stripes parallel to the midrib on the young leaves) because it has received a triple 15 NPK fertilizer application without micronutrients. Zinc is an essential micronutrient needed for optimum crop health and growth. Although this crop is well established, the deficiency can be resolved by applying either an organic or inorganic nutrient source before plants start to mature. This can be commonly supplied with manure or farm compost if adequate amounts exist nearby, or through inorganic fertilizers containing micronutrients.

Crop Nutrient Deficiency Category
Honorable Mention: Calcium Deficiency in Bell Pepper

Ambani provided these images from his fields where he grows oranges, avocados, and bell peppers. Both photos show the effects of calcium (Ca) deficiency, which is a major problem for farmers in the region. As is visible, the leaves of pepper (right) and citrus (right) have turned yellow and curled. To correct this deficiency, he applied a foliar fertilizer rich in Ca as well as a top dressing of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fertilizer to elevate plant available Ca in the soil.

Plant Nutrition Research Category
Winning Entry: Agronomic Biofortification of Rice

Andrialalao took this photo from experimental plots used in a study on agronomic biofortification of rice through Zn fertilizer management. The research was conducted in farmers’ fields located in the commune of Ankilizato, Menabe region, Madagascar. Four Zn fertilizer management strategies were tested (i.e., i) no zinc application, ii) soil-applied Zn, iii) foliar applied Zn, and iv) a combination of soil + foliar-applied Zn) to evaluate their effect on Zn content in rice grain. Soil-applied zinc was incorporated as basal fertilizer at transplanting, along with the recommended rates of NPK. The foliar Zn sprays were applied at flowering stage and at dough stage (around two weeks after flowering). In this photo, a field technician is spraying the foliar Zn at dough stage, using a 0.5% w/v aqueous zinc sulfate solution at 800 to 1000 L ha-1. The foliar spray application took place in the late afternoon (between 5 and 6 pm) to prevent leaf damage and maximize solution absorption by minimizing evaporation.

Plant Nutrition Research Category
Honorable Mentions

Marwa’s first image highlights an experiment exploring the ecological response of species of the Vigna plant genus under the Mediterranean environment, drawing upon facets of evolutionary response, adaptation, competition, stress-tolerance, etc. This experiment will highlight how climate-smart plant nutrition can support sustainable agriculture in such environments challenged by drought and heat. Marwa also sent in an interesting image of resilience seen in the terraces of the High Atlas Mountains where the community near Tessaout is trying to preserve their landscapes against the challenges of seasonal weather extremes and climate change.
Andrialalao provided this picture from on-farm trials conducted in the commune of Soavina, Vakinankaratra
region, in the central highlands of Madagascar. The image shows a close-up of small doses (microdoses) of phosphorus based fertilizer applied directly into planting holes for upland rice. This technique aims to increase P use efficiency and to help upland rice withstand drought events by improving deep root development. In this photo, triple superphosphate (TSP) was applied at the rate of 12 kg P ha-1, equating to six TSP granules per planting hole. After placing the granules, they were covered with a 1 mm soil layer followed by the rice seeds.

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