scholarly journals VALORIZATION OF SIDA CORDIFOLIA L. BIOMASS IN COMPOST FOR PEARL MILLET (PENNISETUM GLAUCUM) PRODUCTION IN NIGER

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 211-226
Author(s):  
Maman Sadi Souley ◽  
ADDAM KIARI SAIDOU ◽  
Boubé Morou ◽  
Jens B. Aune

Sida cordifolia L. (SC) is an invading species that represents a threat to grazing lands in Niger. In order to enhance this invasive species, we studied the use of this plant for compost-making. First, the study evaluated the development of chemical properties under aerobic composting of SC in pit (P) and in heap (H) composting with two different mixtures. Mixture 1 (M1) contained 75% SC, 20% manure and 5% ash, while mixture 2 (M2) contained 95% SC and 5% manure. Then, the phytotoxicity test of the composts obtained was carried out by evaluating the effects of four different concentrations of compost on germination of pearl millet. The study of the effect of the rates 1000 kg ha-1 and 1500 kg ha-1 (100g and 150 g hill-1) of the different composts on pearl millet yield under field conditions. The composting was undertaken at Molli fishery station and the agronomic tests at the N’Dounga experimental site during two seasons (2018 and 2019). The chemical analysis showed that the composts from M1 were richer in plant nutrients than the M2 composts. All four rates of composts gave germination rates beyond 50% independent of composting method or compost mixture. On both seasons, the 1000 kg ha-1 M1P gave the best result in terms of grain yield. In 2018, M1P treatment increased grain yield compared to the control by 652 kg ha-1 (105.2%), while in 2019, the corresponding yield increase was 812 kg ha-1 (118.02%). Application of 1000 kg M1 compost ha-1 corresponded to about 11.1 kg N ha-1, which is more than three times the amount of N applied when using the recommended rate of 20 kg NPK ha-1 as micro dosing. This result showed that compost of SC can be used as a supplement to mineral fertilizer for increasing pearl millet yield.

2008 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
PIERRE B. I. AKPONIKPE ◽  
KARLHEINZ MICHELS ◽  
CHARLES L. BIELDERS

SUMMARYIn the Sahelian zone of Niger, there is a need to develop guidelines for integrated nutrient management, which relies on the potential nutrient sources of manure, pearl millet residue and mineral fertilizers. A fully factorial on-station experiment was conducted during the 1994 and 1995 rainy seasons at Sadoré, Niger, combining application of: (i) broadcast millet residue (300, 900 and 2700 kg ha−1), (ii) broadcast cattle manure (300, 900 and 2700 kg ha−1) and (iii) mineral fertilizer (unfertilized control, 15 kg N ha−1 + 4.4 kg P ha−1 and 45 kg N ha−1 + 13.1 kg P ha−1). Manure and fertilizer increased millet yields in both years whereas residue was effective in 1995 only. The effect of manure and residue were additive, as was the effect of manure and fertilizer but only up to 50 kg N ha−1. However in 1995, the response to fertilizer was approximately doubled in the presence of 900 or 2700 kg residue ha−1 compared to fertilizer with 300 kg ha−1 residue, indicating a strong synergistic effect. This synergistic effect was reflected in the partial factor productivity of nitrogen and phosphorous in both years. Two treatment combinations stand out as particularly relevant based on yield, partial factor productivity and nutrient balance criteria: 2700 kg manure ha−1 combined with (i) 300 kg residue and no fertilizer (95% grain yield increase); (ii) 900 kg residue ha−1 and 15 kg N + 4 kg P ha−1 (132% grain yield increase). There is a need for similar, long-term experiments to confirm the present results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Om Parkash Yadav ◽  
S. K. Gupta ◽  
Mahalingam Govindaraj ◽  
Rajan Sharma ◽  
Rajeev K. Varshney ◽  
...  

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br.) is an important staple and nutritious food crop in the semiarid and arid ecologies of South Asia (SA) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In view of climate change, depleting water resources, and widespread malnutrition, there is a need to accelerate the rate of genetic gains in pearl millet productivity. This review discusses past strategies and future approaches to accelerate genetic gains to meet future demand. Pearl millet breeding in India has historically evolved very comprehensively from open-pollinated varieties development to hybrid breeding. Availability of stable cytoplasmic male sterility system with adequate restorers and strategic use of genetic resources from India and SSA laid the strong foundation of hybrid breeding. Genetic and cytoplasmic diversification of hybrid parental lines, periodic replacement of hybrids, and breeding disease-resistant and stress-tolerant cultivars have been areas of very high priority. As a result, an annual yield increase of 4% has been realized in the last three decades. There is considerable scope to further accelerate the efforts on hybrid breeding for drought-prone areas in SA and SSA. Heterotic grouping of hybrid parental lines is essential to sustain long-term genetic gains. Time is now ripe for mainstreaming of the nutritional traits improvement in pearl millet breeding programs. New opportunities are emerging to improve the efficiency and precision of breeding. Development and application of high-throughput genomic tools, speed breeding, and precision phenotyping protocols need to be intensified to exploit a huge wealth of native genetic variation available in pearl millet to accelerate the genetic gains.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rechiatu Asei ◽  
Robert Clement Abaidoo ◽  
Andrews Opoku ◽  
Samuel Adjei-Nsiah ◽  
Philip Antwi-Agyei

A better understanding of soil fertility factors that constraint positive crop response to fertilizer inputs will facilitate the improvement of soil nutrient management. In this study, a nutrient omission trial was carried out in a greenhouse condition to identify soil chemical properties limiting in non-responsive soils and to ascertain their effect on soybean (Glycine max) production. The treatments evaluated were control (distilled water), complete nutrient solution (all nutrients), and complete solution with the omission of each of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, B, and Mo) arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. After the greenhouse study, the identified limiting nutrients were tested with or without FertiSoil (commercial compost) in a 3 year field experiment. Results of the soil analyses showed low fertility status of the non-responsive soils. The sufficiency quotient index revealed non-responsive soils in all the sites to be predominantly limiting in P and K. The occurrence of other limiting nutrients was also identified: Pishegu (Zn, B), Serekpere (Mg, S), Daffiama Saapare (Ca, Mg, S), and Naaga (Mg, S, Zn, B). The nutrient inputs positively influenced soybean yield response in all the locations. The application of PKZnB with FertiSoil and FertiSoil alone significantly increased soybean grain yields by 585 and 477 kg ha−1, respectively, at Pishegu. Soybean grain yields also increased by 585, 573, and 364 kg ha−1 under the FertiSoil, PKMgS + FertiSoil, and PKMgS applications at Serekpere, respectively. At Daffiama Saapare, the highest (103%) percent increase in soybean grain yield was recorded from the combined application of PKMgSCa and FertiSoil. However, the application of FertiSoil and PKMgSCa singly equally increased soybean grain yield by 77%. Percent soybean grain yield increases of 86, 84, and 74% were observed when PKMgSZnB + FertiSoil, PKMgSZnB, and FertiSoil were applied, respectively, at Naaga. In absolute terms, 83% of the fields had a positive response to mineral fertilizer and 93% to FertiSoil and mineral fertilizer + FertiSoil applications. Organic amendment and/or site-specific fertilizer applications are the best options for alleviating poor or no crop responses to inputs and improve productivity on non-responsive soils.


2019 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Sunday Ebonka NWAJEI ◽  
Anthony Uhunomwan OMOREGIE ◽  
Felix Omonkeke OGEDEGBE

<p>Effects of planting dates on the growth and grain yield of two indigenous varieties of pearl millet was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The experiment was a 2 × 5 factorial scheme fitted into a randomized complete block design with the two varieties of pearl millet (‘Gero Bida’ and ‘Gero Badeggi’) and five planting dates (April, May, June, July and August) replicated three times. The results obtained showed that delays in planting date significantly reduced growth in pearl millet examined. Similar pattern was observed on days to 50 % flowering and grain maturity. Improved growth with early sowing could have allowed increased availability of assimilates that later supported reproductive growth. These assimilates were remobilized under unfavourable climatic condition in the late cropping season to the reproductive structures. ‘Gero Badeggi’ sown in April, had significantly, the highest growth in the measured characters than ‘Gero Bida’ sown in August and other dates. ‘Gero Badeggi’ planted in May had the highest total grain yield (9.33 t ha<sup>-1</sup>) while ‘Gero Bida’ planted in July had the smallest (4.27 t ha<sup>-1</sup>). Therefore, ‘Gero Baddegi’ planted in May is a better variety for pearl millet grain production in Ekpoma.</p>


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