Abstract
Production of pearl millet with yield improvement would have a direct impact on the drought-prone areas of Ethiopia since pearl millet is drought tolerant and early maturing with high water use efficiency. An experiment was conducted to study the performance of pearl millet under different technologies in 2013 and 2014 main cropping seasons at the main site of the research center, Aybra, with the objective of evaluating and identifying appropriate combinations of technologies that enhance the production of pearl millet in the study area. About fourteen integrated technologies were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The analysis was done by using SAS software version 9.1, and means were separated through the Duncan multiple range test. Results of analysis of variance showed that yield-related traits of pearl millet were significantly influenced by the integration of technologies in the 2013 cropping season. According to the results, the maximum yield (3084 kg ha−1) was recorded with the application of the treatment combination of recommended fertilizer application + seed primming + tie ridging, while the minimum was recorded (919 kg ha−1) in the treatment combination of microdose application of fertilizer + primed seed + intercropping of pearl millet with mung bean. In the case of the 2014 cropping season, the highest grain yield (3687 kg ha−1) was recorded with the treatment combination of microdose fertilizer application + primed seed + tie ridging + intercropping of pearl millet with mung bean, whereas the lowest grain yield (2115 kg ha−1) was recorded in the treatment combination of no fertilizer application + primed seed + flat bed. Based on the results of the current investigation, it could be recommended that using technology integration of microdose, tied ridge, primed seed, and intercropping of pearl millet with mung bean is better to attain maximum yield in the study area and similar agroecologies.
Highlights
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most important crop in the drier parts of semiarid tropics and accounts for almost half of the global production of different millet species cultivated
To phonological parameters, integration of technologies had significantly affected the number of tillers and plant height in both seasons. e highest plant height (173.00 cm) was recorded in the integration of fertilizer + primed seed + tied ridge, while the lowest (129.20 cm) was recorded in the treatment combination of no fertilizer application + dry seed + flat bed in 2013. is might be due to the terminal moisture deficit for the plant to be stunt; the same is true in the case of tie ridge which does not expose the plant moisture deficits and, as a result, the plant became tall as compared to that in the flatbed
The maximum yield (3084 kg ha− 1) was recorded with the application of the treatment combination of recommended fertilizer application + seed priming + tied ridge, while the minimum was recorded (919 kg ha− 1) in the treatment combination of microdose application of fertilizer + primed seed + intercropping of pearl millet with mung bean
Summary
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most important crop in the drier parts of semiarid tropics and accounts for almost half of the global production of different millet species cultivated. Global millet production is broken down into pearl millet (50%), finger millet (10%), and other millets (40%). Over 30% of the population (over 100 million people) of Eastern and Central Africa (ECA) live in these semiarid areas and rely on agriculture and livestock as their main livelihood (Omamo et al, 2006). E communities in these areas depend on millets and sorghum as the main staple crop providing sources of food and income. As the conditions become drier, pearl millet is the only crop that is grown where normal rainfall does not permit the reliable production of sorghum. Production exceeds that of sorghum due to its drought-tolerant character, and the reverse is the case as rainfall increases. Being able to thrive on harsh habitats, pearl millet is perhaps the best of all life-supporting grain (FAO, 1992)
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