Abstract
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. Br.) constitutes a major food crop in the semiarid region of West Africa but yields are extremely low in subsistence cropping systems because of inappropriate management and scarcity of water. This study was designed to see if pearl millet could become a component of crop rotation in an irrigated scheme, and additionally, at a particular season (hot dry season - February to May when evapotranspiration levels are too high for other crops) when water supplies are low. The effects of fertilisation, plant density and land preparation on yields of improved varieties were tested under irrigation. Land preparation did not affect mean yields of the two very early dwarf millet genotypes, hybrid 68 A x MLS from Nebraska (4025 kg ha-1) and a local synthetic, variety GAM 8201 (4018 kg ha-1). However, yield of taller, but early, local synthetic variety increased by 60% when planted on flat as opposed to ridges. Effect of fertiliser on yield of hybrid GB 87-35 was significant. In addition, method of land preparation and plant density increased yields of 68 A x MLS but not GB87-35. Application of 10 N, 9 P and 17 kg K ha-1 and 45 kg N ha-1 as urea gave the highest grain yield of variety 68 A x MLS. Neither frequency nor amount of irrigated water significantly (P Key Words: Agro-ecological zone, fertiliser use, irrigation, pearl millet, semi-arid RESUME Le mil est la principale culture vivriere dans les regions semi-arides de l'Afrique Occidentale. Les faibles rendements enregistres dans les systemes de culture de subsistance sont le fait d'une gestion inadequate et de la rarete de l'eau. Cette etude a pour but de determiner l'aptitude du mil a s'integrer dans une rotation avec d'autres cultures en culture irriguee, et particulierement en contre saison (saison seche chaude - de fevrier a mai - quand l'indice d'evaporation est tres eleve pour les autres cultures) durant laquelle les ressources en eau sont limitees. Les effets de la fertilisation, de la densite des plantes et de la preparation du sol sur les rendements des varietes ameliorees ont ete etudies sous irrigation. La preparation du sol n'a pas affecte le rendement moyen des deux varietes du mil, l'hybride nain, 68 AX MLS de Nebraska et la variete synthetique locale de grande taille, GAM 8201 produisant respectivement 4025 kg ha-1 et 4018 kg ha-1. Cependant, le rendement de la variete synthetique locale a augmente de 60% sur la culture a plat par rapport a la culture sur billon. L'apport d'engrais a un effet significatif sur le rendement de l'hybride GB 87-35. Par ailleurs, le mode de preparation du sol et la densite des plantes ont ameliore les rendements de la variete 68A X MLS, mais pas ceux de la variete GB 87-35. L'application de 10N 9P et 17 kg K ha-1 et 45 kg N ha-1 comme uree a produit le rendement le plus eleve chez la variete 68A X MLS. Si la frequence et les doses d'irrigation n'ont pas affecte d'une facon significative (P>0.05) le rendement de la variete de mil 68A x MLS, les parcelles irriguees une fois par semaine et recevant un maximum de 75% de leurs besoins en eau (526 mm) ont produit les rendements les plus eleves (P Mots Cles: Utilisation d'engrais, irrigation, mil, zone agroecologique semi aride (African Crop Science Journal 8(3) 2000: 243-250)
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