Tel: +254 (0)20 2271000/ 20

Email: ashc@cabi.org

Research & data tools

One of the key outcomes of the OFRA process is to improve the use of research data to support fertilizer use guidelines. The existing data on fertilizer responses has been supplemented with new data from on-station and on-farm nutrient-response trials using standard protocols and data entry protocols – both can be downloaded for reference.

The OFRA Trial Protocol manual is available as a PDF.

The data will be used to generate fertilizer response curves appropriate for local agro-ecological conditions. These will underpin the agronomic and economic conditions in determining how a farmer should use available finance for fertilizer use for maximizing net returns on the investment.

Once the research has been completed, all data are uploaded into a central database following the OFRA data entry protocol manual. All OFRA project partners have been set up with login credentials. The data are used to develop crop nutrient response functions that are applied for profit maximisation using a linear programming routine implemented in Microsoft Excel which drives the fertilizer optimisation tools (FOT)

The OFRA database

OFRA is creating a new database which collates existing research data on fertilizer response trials across sub-Saharan African. To address gaps emerging from previous work, fertilizer response trials are set up in the 13 OFRA countries across different agro-ecological zones. All these data are collected using standard excel templates and uploaded into the OFRA database.

The templates can be downloaded from the database online portal after logging in with a user name and password, the same are required when uploading data. All country project partners have been set up with these login credentials. The data are used to develop crop nutrient response functions that are applied for profit maximization using a linear programming routine implemented in Microsoft Excel and packaged as a fertilizer optimization tool (FOT). Dataset and attribute level meta data will be developed and available as a separate document. Anyone wishing to share their data on the OFRA website should contact George Oduor g.oduor@cabi.org