Sole Millet Research Articles

Peanut-based intercropping systems altered soil bacterial communities, potential functions, and crop yield.

Intercropping is an efficient land use and sustainable agricultural practice widely adopted worldwide. However, how intercropping influences the structure and function of soil bacterial communities is not fully understood. Here, the effects of five cropping systems (sole sorghum, sole millet, sole peanut, sorghum/peanut intercropping, and millet/peanut intercropping) on soil bacterial community structure and function were investigated using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The results showed that integrating peanut into intercropping systems increased soil available nitrogen (AN) and total nitrogen (TN) content. The alpha diversity index, including Shannon and Chao1 indices, did not differ between the five cropping systems. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) illustrated a distinct separation in soil microbial communities among five cropping systems. Bacterial phyla, including Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi, were dominant across all cropping systems. Sorghum/peanut intercropping enhanced the relative abundance of phyla Actinobacteriota and Chloroflexi compared to the corresponding monocultures. Millet/peanut intercropping increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Nitrospirota. The redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that bacterial community structures were primarily shaped by soil organic carbon (SOC). The land equivalent ratio (LER) values for the two intercropping systems were all greater than one. Partial least squares path modeling analysis (PLS-PM) showed that soil bacterial community had a direct effect on yield and indirectly affected yield by altering soil properties. Our findings demonstrated that different intercropping systems formed different bacterial community structures despite sharing the same climate, reflecting changes in soil ecosystems caused by interspecific interactions. These results will provide a theoretical basis for understanding the microbial communities of peanut-based intercropping and guide agricultural practice.

Soil Bacterial Community Structure and Function Prediction of Millet/Peanut Intercropping Farmland in the Lower Yellow River

The objective of this study was to explore the microecological variability in farmland soil fertility in response to millet-peanut intercropping patterns by clarifying the effects of millet-peanut 4:4 intercropping on soil bacterial community structure and its diversity, as well as to provide a reference basis for promoting ecological restoration and arable land quality improvement in the lower Yellow River farmland. The Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology and QIIME 2 platform were used to analyze the differences in bacterial community composition and their influencing factors in five soils[sole millet (SM), sole peanut (SP), intercropping millet (IM), intercropping peanut (IP), and millet-peanut intercropping (MP)] and to predict their ecological functions. The results showed that the α-diversity of intercropping soil bacterial communities differed from that of monocropping, though not significantly, whereas the β-diversity was significantly different (P<0.05). A total of 7081 ASVs were obtained from all soil samples, classified into 34 phyla, 109 orders, 256 class, 396 families, 710 genera, and 1409 species, of which 727 ASVs were shared, accounting for 24.5% to 27.8% in five soil species. The bacterial communities of millet-peanut intercropping and its monocropping soils were similar in phylum composition but varied in relative abundance. All five soils were dominated by the Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi, with a relative abundance of 79.40%-81.33%. Soil organic carbon and alkaline nitrogen were the most important factors causing differences in the structures of the five soil bacterial communities at the phylum and genus levels, respectively. The PICRUSt functional prediction revealed that the relative abundance of primary functional metabolism was the largest (78.9%-79.3%), and the relative abundance of secondary functional exogenous biodegradation and metabolism fluctuated the most (CV=3.782%). In terms of the BugBase phenotype, the relative abundance of oxidative stress-tolerant bacteria increased in intercropping millet or peanut soils compared to that in the corresponding monocultures and significantly increased in intercropping millet soils compared to that in sole millet (P<0.05). Oxidative stress-tolerant, Gram-positive, and aerobic phenotypes were highly significantly positively correlated with each other (P<0.01), and all three showed highly significant negative correlations with potential pathogenicity and Gram-negative and anaerobic phenotypes (P<0.01). This showed that millet-peanut intercropping resulted in differences in soil bacterial community diversity, abundance, and metabolic functions and the possibility of reducing the occurrence of potential soil diseases. It can be used to regulate the soil microbiological environment to promote ecological restoration and sustainable development of farmland in the lower Yellow River.

Combined effect of fertilizer micro-dosing and intercropped millet/cowpea effect on agronomic and economic advantages in prone Sahel area, Niger

Climate change is affecting crop production in the West Africa Sahel. Farmers develop many adaptation strategies However, few of them have been tested to find their climate smartness, primarily their agronomic and economic benefits. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the field experiment in two successive years, 2020 and 2021, in rainy conditions, the combined effect of millet/cowpea intercropping and fertilizer microdosing on the yield and their economic advantages. Two genotypes of cowpea (ISV128 and Tiligré) and a variety of millet, Heini Kirey Précoce (HKP), were intercropped. At the treatment level, there is a net benefit of the crop association compared to the pure cultivation of each of the millet and cowpea species with total LERs, an average of 1.48 in 2020, and 1.43 in 2021 for microdose treatment and 1.55 in 2020 and 1.13 in 2021 for the control. However, there is no significant difference in cowpea genotype on LER and millet yields in the 2 years (P = 0.65 in 2020 and 0.29 in 2021). Yields of millet and cowpea were higher in the sole crop than in intercropping. The intercropping showed a significantly higher monetary advantage than the sole millet crop in both years. ISV128 is the most profitable because it is less competitive and less aggressive in intercropping with millet and offers a considerable monetary advantage. The findings are invaluable in implementing resilience strategies for smallholders who must be encouraged to adopt these cultural practices due to global warming.

Improving the productivity of millet based cropping systems in the West African Sahel: Experiences from a long-term experiment in Niger

Resource-poor farmers who are living in the harsh environments of the West African Sahel (WAS) depend on subsistence orientated, low-input farming systems for meeting their livelihood needs. These largely extractive farming systems have resulted in nutrient depletion, soil fertility decline, low productivity and land degradation. A study conducted over 25 years in Niger, aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of organic and mineral fertilizers, cropping systems (CS) of millet and cowpea on crop productivity. The traditional millet/cowpea intercrop system without P fertilizer (TrM/C) was compared with four improved CS receiving P fertilizer: sole millet (MM), millet/cowpea intercrop (M/C), millet-cowpea rotation (M-C), and M/C and rotation with cowpea (M/C-C). Nitrogen fertilizer (N) and the residues of millet (CR) were applied alone or in combination in all five cropping systems. CR were always applied as mulch. The traditional system (TrM/C) produced the lowest millet grain yields (GY) (0.02–0.43 t/ha). All the four improved CS (MM, M/C, M-C and M/C-C) increased GY compared with the traditional system (TrM/C). The M/C and MM systems increased millet GY 3 and 3.3 times compared with the TrM/C, respectively. The M/C-C and M-C systems produced 4 and 4.2 times more GY than that of the TrM/C system, respectively. The lowest revenue was obtained with the TrM/C system. Except for the TrM/C, the revenue of the MM system was lower compared with combined cultivation of millet and cowpea. Compared with the TrM/C system, M/C and M/C-C provided 2 times more revenue. By providing 2.4 times more revenue than the TrM/C system, the M-C system was the most productive system. Cowpea provided from 54% and 56% of the revenue in M/C-C and M-C system, respectively. Soil organic carbon decreased in all the CS from 46% to 63% compared with the soil kept under natural vegetation fallow. The improved CS increased soil P from 3.4 to 4 times. Over the 25 years of cropping, the highest millet yields were obtained with the lower levels of rainfall indicating the role of nutrients in the system. The four improved systems maintained millet yields over the 25 years of cropping. By improving water and nutrient use efficiency, integrated management of mineral fertilizers, CR and cowpea affected more crop productivity than the rainfall. We concluded that cereal-legume based cropping systems treated with small doses of mineral fertilizers and CR could be used for sustainable management of soil fertility in low-input farming systems.

364 Blood Profile of Kiko Does Raised on Grass-legume-mixed Pastures vs. Sole-grass Pastures During Fall

Abstract Goats raised in pastures dominated with perennial grasses in the southeast United States commonly show poor health and performance. Addition of legumes to grass pastures may improve nutrient content and enhance animal performance. However, how legume addition to pastures would impact blood profile in goats has not been documented well. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of legume-grass mixed pastures on the blood profile of Kiko does. The study was conducted in fall 2020 using 10 fenced plots (average plot size: 0.44 ha). Five plots were sown to southern peas (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)-browntop millet (Urochloa ramosa L. Nguyen) 50:50 mix) and remaining five plots to sole browntop millet. Nineteen Kiko does (initial age 15–16 months and live weight - 34 ± 1.4 kg) were divided into two uniform groups: Group 1 and Group 2. Does in Group 1 were allocated to legume-grass plots and Group 2 to sole grass plots; they were rotationally stocked in their respective plots for 87 days. Blood samples were collected on Day 1 before allowing them to their respective plots, Day 47, and Day 87. Samples were analyzed for different cellular and metabolic parameters. GLM procedure in SAS 9.4. was used to analyze the data. Group-1 does had higher level of basophil, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen, but lower level of globulin concentration was significantly higher in compared to Group 2 (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Interaction effect of group and sampling date occurred for 21 variables (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Results indicated that addition of legume forage in pastures can alter blood profile of grazing goats. Further investigation on the impact of mixing legumes with grass pastures on animal performance, economics, and soil health will be helpful to understand the holistic effect of legumes on animal agriculture.

English

A field experiment was conducted at College Agronomy Farm, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during summer, 2019 and 2020 comprising four intercropping treatments i.e. pearlmillet sole, pearlmillet+greengram, pearlmillet+cowpea, pearlmillet+clusterbean and three fertility levels viz., 75 % RDF, 100 % RDF and 125 % RDF. Among the different intercropping system examined, sole pearl millet (I1) accumulated significantly less content of N and P in pearl millet grain and straw as compared to intercropping with pulses treatments. Pearl millet + green gram (I2) recorded significantly higher N and P uptake by pearl millet straw than other intercropping systems. The sole pearl millet (I1) was at par with pearl millet intercropped with green gram (I2) had significantly higher K content and uptake in pearl millet grain and straw. In case of fertility levels, nitrogen and phosphorus content and uptake in pearl millet grain and straw were recorded significantly higher by application of 100 % RDF. Significantly higher N, P and K uptake by pearl millet grain and straw in pooled results were produced by treatment combination of pearl millet + green gram (I2) intercropping along with 75 % RDF (F1).

Analysis of Economic Efficiency and its Determinants in Millet Based Production Systems in the Derived Savanna Zone of Nigeria

Millet is grown in the large savanna region of Nigeria mostly in a system of intercropping with other crops. The study seeks to analyse the efficiencies of millet-based production pattern and its determining factors in the derived savanna zone of Nigeria. Data were collected from primary sources using a structured questionnaire administered to the selected 196 millet-based farmers. Input oriented Data Envelope Analysis (DEA) and Tobit regression model were used to achieve the aims of the research. The mean Technical Efficiency (TE) of the millet and sorghum (MS), millet-sorghum-groundnut and cowpea (MSGC), millet-sorghum and groundnut (MSG), millet-sorghum and cowpea (MSC) and sole millet (SM) were 40, 21, 38, 32 and 48 % respectively. This suggests that in the short run, there are gaps of 60, 79, 62, 68 and 52 % to increase the efficiency levels respectively. This may be through enhanced use of accessible production inputs. The mean Allocative Efficiency (AE) for the millet-based farmers was 0.56, 0.55, 0.67, 0.56 and 0.91 for MS, MSGC, MSG, MSC and SM respectively. The results revealed that estimates of factors that influence millet-based farmers’ systems have different degrees of statistical significance and where the level of significance is the same, the magnitude and direction were not the same. The numbers of millet-based farms operating under constant, increasing, and decreasing returns to scale were also estimated. The result of sensitivity analysis for an optimum plan for millet-based inputs used showed that land, seed, labour, fertilizer and agrochemicals are not limiting resources to obtain optimal farm plan. These results indicate the units needed to be decreased from various millet farms respectively for optimal production. More youths should be encouraged by the government and private organizations by providing them with necessary incentives to engage in farming to minimize inefficiency associated with older aged farmers.

Nutrient competition and requirement in finger millet-haricot bean intercropping system

There is not a special recommended fertilizer rate for component crops in intercropping systems. Rather, soil nutrient applications for intercropped crops are mainly based on recommended rates for the respective individual crops. A field experiment was conducted at two sites in northwestern Ethiopia to assess the nutrient competition and requirement for finger millet-haricot bean intercropping. Factorial combinations of three cropping systems (sole finger millet, sole haricot bean, and their intercropping) and five fertilizer levels (0, 50%, 100%, 150%, and 200% of the recommended NP fertilizer rate of each sole crop) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results revealed that maximum nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake by finger millet and haricot bean were recorded in finger millet-haricot bean intercropping (FM + HB) at 150% and 200% NP, respectively. Greater relative N yield (RNY) than relative dry matter yield (RDMY) was obtained at 150% NP to both component crops indicating that N at this treatment was not limited to both crops in FM + HB. The relative P yield (RPY) was greater than RDMY of finger millet at all but 200% NP, while RPY of haricot bean was less than RDMY at all fertilizer levels. Thus, it can be concluded that FM + HB at 2:1 row ratio and 150% NP increased the nutrient and land use efficiency more than sole cropping.

Evaluating the Intercropping of Millet with Cowpea for Forage Yield and Quality

A field study was scheduled to estimate the impact of intercropping of pearl millet with cowpea on forage yield and quality at Agronomy Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. It was done in kharif season 2016. Randomized complete block design was used to conduct this experiment. It has three replications. The size of net plot is 3.6 m × 6 m. It comprised of five treatments (T1 = one row of millet alternating with one row of cowpea (1M:1C), T2 = two rows of millet alternating with one row of cowpea (2M:1C), T3 = one row of millet alternating with two rows of cowpea (1M:2C), T4 = sole millet, T5 = sole cowpea). We found that intercropping significantly effected the yield and quality of forage. Intercropping system had significant effects on nutritive value of forage crop. Within various treatments of intercropping, it is evident that treatment T2 (two rows of millet alternating with one row of cowpea) gives maximum total dry matter yield (9.68 t ha-1). It was then tracked by treatment T1 (one row of millet alternating with one row of cowpea) and treatment T3 (one row of millet alternating with two rows of cowpea) producing dry matter yield (9.07 t ha-1 and 8.33 t ha-1, respectively). Based on high grain and suitable environmental condition, intercrop productivity compared to sole crop could be selected for improving the productivity of millet/cowpea mixture in the Punjab.

Effect of Intercropping Pattern on Stem Borer Infestation in Pearl Millet (&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Pennisetum glaucum&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; L.) Grown in the Nigerian Sudan Savannah

Fields experiments were conducted at the Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri Teaching and Research Farm, Maiduguri during 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons to investigate the effects of intercropping pattern on stem borer pest infestation in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) intercropped with ground nut (Arachis hypogea L.). A split-plot design was used to test the intercrop pattern of 1:0 ratio (sole millet), 1:1 ratio (1 millet row to 1 ground nut row), 2:1 ratio (2 millet rows to 1 ground nut row) and 1:2 ratio (1 millet row to 2 ground nut rows). The results obtained showed that the intercrop pattern of 1:2 ratio and 1:1 ratio yielded less stem borer infestation and abundance in pearl millet, and as well supported high panicle weight and grain yield. In addition to recommending either of these two intercropping patterns to pearl millet farmers for more effective stem borer pest management, results further show the need for identification of effective intercropping patterns in other cropping systems.

English

A study was conducted on nutrient dynamics through partial N, P and K balances during 2005 growing season. The treatments involved three levels of farmyard manure (FYM: 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 tons/ha) combined with half (N30P15K15 kg/ha) and full (N60P30K30 kg/ha) recommended rates of NPK fertilizer and sole recommended rates of FYM (7.5 tons/ha) and NPK (N60P30K30 kg/ha) and a control. The experiment was laid out in RCB design with three replicates. Data on nutrient inputs (fertilizers and FYM) and outputs (grains and crop residues) were estimated using the budgeted method. The treatment means were statistically compared using Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). The lowest N-balance (-44.70 kg/ha/year) resulted from combination of lowest levels of FYM and NPK, and increased with increasing rates. Sole 7.5 t of FYM resulted in positive N-balance (19.00 kg/ha/year) compared to sole recommended rate of NPK (-2.40 kg/ha/year). P balance varied from as low as -1.54 kg/ha/year in control to as high as +36.16 kg/ha/year in plots which received 7.5t FYM + N60P30K30 kg/ha. All the treatments had negative K-balances ranging from -6.60 kg/ha/year in plots applied with 7.5t FYM/ha to -108.89 kg/ha/year in plots which received 2.5 t FYM/ha + N60P30K30 kg/ha, depicting high plant K-uptake relative to inputs. The grain yields varied from 789 kg/ha in control to 2440 and 2301 kg/ha in plots applied with 7.5 t FYM/ha + N60P30K30 kg/ha and 7.5t FYM/ha + N30P15K15 kg/ha, respectively. Combination of sub-optimal rates of FYM and NPK fertilizers enhanced millet yields with positive N and P balances in the soils. &nbsp; Key words:&nbsp;Sole millet, sandy loam soil, nutrient balance, northeast Nigeria.

Effect of Natural Phosphate Rock Enhanced Compost on Pearl Millet-Cowpea Cropping Systems

about the usage effect of phosphate rock (PR) and compost on mixed cropping of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.). In this study, we investigated the effects of different PR application methods on pearl millet (millet) and cowpea cropping systems. This study was carried out at Senegal Agricultural Research Institute during the 2002 and 2003 rainy seasons, and com- prised a sole millet, sole cowpea and millet-cowpea intercrop. Treatments were a control (Cont), 3 tons ha -1 of compost (Com), 3 tons ha -1 of phospho-compost (P-Com) and 3 tons ha -1 of compost plus Taiba Nat- ural Phosphate (T-Com), replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. In sole millet, P-Com significantly increased the total dry weight compared to the control. Although P-Com was beneficial for intercrop millet, its increased yields through T-Com were more significant, giving evidence of the beneficial effect of mixed cropping on the usage of local phosphate rock directly applied to soil. In contrast, such a beneficial effect was not observed for cowpea which was likely not P limited growth. However, although sole crops gave higher yields, the Land Equivalent Ratios (LERs) over the two years indicated a greater advantage of applying treatments in the millet-cowpea intercrops except for P-Com (LER=0.93) which appeared to be more effective in sole cropping systems.

Effect of pearl millet–cowpea cropping systems on nitrogen recovery, nitrogen use efficiency and biological fixation using the 15N tracer technique

Nitrogen is one of the most limiting nutrients for crop production in many areas of Africa. One strategy to improve yields is to choose crops with high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) that can produce economic yields under limited water supply. Little information is available on the comparative performance of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in sole crops and intercrops systems for the NUE of applied fertilizers. This study was conducted under field conditions at the Senegal Agricultural Research Institute from July to October 2001. Two cropping systems were used and included sole crops of pearl millet and cowpea and a millet–cowpea intercrop. 15N-labeled urea at rates of 20 kg ha−1 (sole and intercrop cowpea) and 41 kg ha−1 (sole millet and intercrop millet) was applied. Sole millet produced 6,041 kg yield ha−1 and accumulated 95.27 kg N ha−1, of which 15.30% was derived from the nitrogen fertilizer and 84.70% from nitrogen mineralized in soil. Therefore, the NUE of the fertilizer was 36.29%. In intercrop millet, sole cowpea and intercrop cowpea, the NUEs were 15.20, 45.33 and 46.00%, respectively, indicating that the use of nitrogen fertilizer significantly decreased in intercrop only for millet. However, no significant difference was observed between sole and intercrop cowpea relative to the nitrogen derived from N2 fixation. The amount of nitrogen immobilized in the soil was significantly higher in sole millet than in sole cowpea and millet–cowpea intercrop. The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of grains and total dry matter showed an advantage of the millet–cowpea cropping system over sole crops.

Potential for sesame to contribute to integrated control of Striga hermonthica in the West African Sahel

Striga hermonthica is an important constraint to the production of pearl millet, a staple cereal in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Sesame is an important oilseed crop well adapted to the sandy soils of the West African Sahel. Intercropping of sesame and pearl millet has been reported to reduce emerged striga numbers, but formal research into the potential for sesame to contribute to control of the parasite is lacking. Field trials were undertaken to evaluate the potential of sesame grown in rotation with pearl millet to reduce striga infestation of the cereal. Emerged striga numbers and striga fruiting were strongly reduced on pearl millet following sesame compared to sole millet. To maximize cereal yield, soil fertility enhancement and water conservation are indispensable elements of integrated striga control. The results can guide future research at a time where sesame is being promoted to diversify agricultural production in the Sahel.

Incidence of Millet Stem Borer, Coniesta ignefusalis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Farmers’ Fields in Northern Nigeria

Farmers’ millet fields in northern Nigeria were surveyed in 1995 and 1996 to determine the current status of stem borers on pearl millet. The surveys confirmed Coniesta ignefusalis Hampson as the predominant stem borer on millet. Sesamia sp. was recorded on millet only once in a sorghum/millet intercrop. C. ignefusalis attacked millet stems in all ecological zones (Guinea and Sudan savannas, and the Sahelian zone), and in all the northern states surveyed (Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe). Infestation ranged from 0 to 100%, depending on the millet variety, and was lower in the Sahel than in the Sudan, Northern Guinea and Southern Guinea Savanna ecological zones. Millet intercropped with legumes (cowpea and groundnut)had higher stem borer attack than sole millet or millet intercropped with cereals (maize’ and sorghum) or cereals plus legumes. Millet near villages where old millet stems were used for fencing and thatching had unusually high stem borer infestation levels, sometimes up to 100% with associated severe damage and yield loss Syzeuctus sp. was the most prevalent stem borer parasitoid. Mean natural infestation of the stem borer by parasitoids was 10.25%. Other insects recorded on millet included various flower and grain feeding beetles, sucking and spittle bugs, grasshoppers, the millet head miner, flies, earwigs, bees and wasps.

Evaluation of host plant resistance, sowing date modification and intercropping as methods for the control ofMylabris and Coryna species (Coleoptera: Meloidae) infesting pearl millet in the Nigerian Sudan savanna

Three experiments were laid out in 1997 and 1998 cropping seasons in Maiduguri (Sudan savanna), north-eastern Nigeria to assess damage by meloid beetles in six varieties (Ex-borno, Wame, Zongori, Gargasori, Mboderi and GB8735) of pearl millet sown as sole crops on 14, 21, 28 July and 5 August and as intercrops with cowpea (cv. Borno brown) or sorghum (cv. Gooseneck). Damage in pearl millet (cv. Ex-borno) arranged within rows of cowpea or sorghum in cropping patterns of 3:1, 2:1, 1:1 and 1:0 were also assessed. Four species, Mylabris afzelli (Bilb.), M. fimbriatus (Mars.), Coryna chevrolati (Blair.) and C. hermanniae (Fab.), were the only meloid beetles that attacked millet panicles in the duration of the study. Percentage damage by meloid beetles and grain yield loss were significantly higher in millets sown on 21 July or earlier (early sown millet) than in those sown later in both 1997 and 1998; damage and grain yield loss were also significantly higher in GB8735 than in the other varieties in both years. Grain yields were significantly higher in Wame in 1997 and in Gargasori in 1998. Grain yields were significantly higher in sole millet but lower in the millet-sorghum cropping system in 1997. Damage and grain yield loss caused by Mylabris spp. in GB8735 in both 1997 and 1998 and in Wame in 1998 and byCoryna spp. in GB8735 and Mboderi in 1998 were significantly higher than in the other varieties. Grain yields were significantly higher in Zongori but lower in GB8735 in both years; grain yields were highest in Zongori and Gargasori sown as sole crops or as intercrops in 1997 and 1998. Damage by Coryna spp. was significantly higher in the 1:0 cropping pattern in 1998 but grain yields were significantly higher in this cropping pattern in 1997. Grain yields were lowest in the 1:1 cropping pattern in both 1997 and 1998.

Efficacy of host plant resistance, sowing date modification and intercropping as methods for the control of Pachnoda interrupta (Olivier) in pearl millet in the Nigerian Sudan savanna

Three experiments were conducted in 1997 and repeated in 1998 cropping seasons in Maiduguri, Nigeria to assess damage caused by the scarab beetle, Pachnoda interrupta (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in six varieties (Exborno, Wame, Zongori, Gargasori, Mboderi and GB8735) of pearl millet sown as sole crops on 14, 21, 28 July and 5 August and as mixed crops with cowpea (var. Borno brown) or sorghum (var. Gooseneck). Damage in the local variety (Ex-borno) of pearl millet sown as a mixed crop with cowpea or sorghum in cropping patterns of 3:1, 2:1, 1:1 and 1:0 was also assessed. Damage and grain yield loss were significantly higher in millet sown on or before 21 July than in those sown later in both 1997 and 1998 cropping seasons; grain yields were, however, significantly higher in millet sown on 14 July or 5 August in 1997 and in millet sown on or before 28 July 1998. Damage and grain yield loss were significantly higher in GB8735 but lower in Gargasori in both years while grain yields were significantly higher in Wame in 1997 and in Gargasori in 1998 than in GB8735. The highest grain yields were obtained from Zongori sown on or before 21 July in 1997 and 1998. Damage and grain yield loss were significantly lower in the millet-sorghum intercrop than in the other cropping systems in 1998; grain yields were significantly higher in sole millet intercrop but lower in millet-sorghum than in the other systems in 1997. Damage and grain yield loss were significantly higher in GB8735 in both years and lower in Gargasori in 1998. The highest grain yields were obtained from sole Zongori in 1997 and Zongori-sorghum intercrop in 1998. Damage was significantly lower in the 1:1 cropping pattern than in the other patterns in 1998. Grain yields were significantly higher in the 1:0 cropping pattern but lower in the 1:1 pattern than in the other patterns in 1997. Similarly, grain yields were higher in the millet-cowpea than in the millet-sorghum intercrop in 1997.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF TILLAGE, PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZATION AND CROP ROTATION ON PEARL MILLET–COWPEA PRODUCTIVITY IN THE WEST-AFRICAN SAHEL

The millet (Pennisetum glaucum)-based cropping systems that dominate the Sudano–Sahelian Zone of West Africa cannot, as they are currently practised, meet the growing food needs of the region. They must therefore be intensified in a sustainable manner. The present study was initiated in 1986 and continued until 1996 to evaluate the effects of phosphorus (P) fertilization, tillage and rotation with sole cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) on an operational scale with two cropping systems, namely, sole millet and millet–cowpea intercropping. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used. The effects of P fertilization, ridging with animal traction and planting on ridges (AT), and rotation with sole cowpea increased the productivity of millet substantially in 10 of the 11 years. Based on the 11-year average, P fertilization alone improved grain yield by 52%, and AT with P fertilization improved grain yield by nearly 135%. Combining AT, P fertilization and the sole cowpea rotation resulted in a 200% increase in grain yield compared with the traditional system of production. Millet productivity did not show a significant decline when intercropped with cowpea. Stability and relative stability analysis showed that the traditional system was more stable than the various agronomic packages, but had the least yield. Conversely, the agronomic package with the highest yield advantage over the traditional system was the least stable. A major portion of the annual variation in the environmental index for grain yield and total dry matter was attributed to the seasonal variation in rainfall and organic matter depletion. Organic matter levels declined linearly with years of cultivation. Significant differences were found in the rate of depletion between the various agronomic treatments tested. After 11 years, nearly 60% of the organic matter was depleted irrespective of the agronomic treatments.

Water balance and water use of pearl millet-cowpea intercrops in north east Nigeria

An experiment was conducted in North East Nigeria to examine the water balance and water use of intercrops of pearl millet and two cowpea varieties as well as sole crops of the same cultivars. The crops were grown on a sandy loam soil in a spatial arrangement typical of husbandry practices of the region. The soil is characterised by rapid drainage and low water-holding capacity. Results indicate that intercropping cowpea with millet did not increase the water use rate over sole millet as transpiration by cowpea may be substituting for soil evaporation. Root zone water storage after the millet harvest was sufficient to maintain a long duration cowpea cultivar that was able to make use of water that otherwise would have been lost to drainage during the dry season. As there was no evidence of water stress up to millet harvest, intercropping cowpea with millet increased the efficiency of utilisation of rainfall. It is concluded that water supply may not be the most limiting constraint on agricultural production in such conditions. The implications of these findings for agriculture in the region are discussed.

The Effects of Sole and Traditional Intercropping of Millet and Cowpea on Soil and Crop Productivity

SummaryThe after effects of three years' continuous cropping with sole millet, sole cowpea or a traditional millet/cowpea intercrop were compared using five levels of nitrogen fertilizer. The continuous sole cowpea system had reduced the carbon to nitrogen ratio more than the continuous sole millet or the traditional intercrop. The test crop millet yielded much more, and its uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus was greater, when it followed sole cowpea than when it followed sole millet or the traditional millet/cowpea intercrop. The three years' continuous sole cowpea had an effect equivalent to the application of 205 kg N ha−1 on the test crop of millet. It also caused the greatest reduction in Striga infestation in the test crop. It is therefore recommended that cowpea cultivation be increased in the Sahel.