Microdose and N and P fertilizer application rates for pearl millet in West Africa

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the grain and stover yield response of pearl millet to microdose fertilizer application alone, and microdose combined with N and P fertilizer application rates across years and locations in West Africa. Microdose fertilizer application increased pearl millet grain yields by 240 to 300 kg ha-1 on sandy soils across a broad range of climatic and soil conditions in West Africa, while increasing pearl millet grain yields by 400 kg ha-1 on silty clay soils in Mali. Stover yield increases of pearl millet were 250 to 400 kg ha-1 on sandy soils and 500 to 2500 kg ha-1 on silty clay soils in Mali. Application of 20 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 30 kg ha-1 N in addition to microdose commonly increased grain yields by 140 to 180 kg ha-1 and stover yields by 600 to 1500 kg ha-1 over that of microdose application only. These results indicate that micodose in combination with 20 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 30 kg ha-1 N fertilizer application is required to optimize both grain and stover yield of pearl millet in West Africa to meet food, fuel and soil improvement needs of farmers. Key words: Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., grain yield, stover yield.