HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bationo, A. Articles by Baethgen, W. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bationo, A. Articles by Baethgen, W. E. Agricola Articles by Bationo, A. Articles by Baethgen, W. E.

Plant Density and Nitrogen Fertilizer Effects on Pearl Millet Production in Niger

West Africa Div., International Fertilizer Development Center(IFDC), seconded to The Sahelian Cent. Int. Crops Res. Inst. Semi-Arid Tropics, BP 12404, Niamey, Niger

C. B. Christianson^* and W. E. Baethgen

Agro-Economic Division, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Muscle Shoals, AL 35662

^* Corresponding author.

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br) is an important crop in many developing countries in West Africa and provides 80 to 90% of the food requirement for Niger. Farmers plant at a wide range of densities which may affect crop response to fertilizer. Studies were conducted for 3 yrs in a sandy soil in southern Niger to assess the effects of N fertilization (0–60 kg N ha^–1) and plant density (5000–40 000 pockets ha^–1, three plants per pocket) on millet yield and yield components. The effects of N and density on yield were influenced by midseason rainfall. With low midseason rainfall, highdensity planting reduced yield slightly and N had no effect. With average or above rainfall, N application and high plant density increased millet grain yield four- to fivefold. Nitrogen increased stover production 33% in a dry year and 100% in the wetter year. Plant density significantly affected stover yield only in 1983, a year with high early season rainfall. Increasing plant density tended to increase stover production in all years. Grain weight in 1983 decreased 14% when plant density exceeded 20 000 pockets ha^–1. Nitrogen fertilizer doubled the number of heads per pocket at low plant densities when rainfall was normal or above. A plant density of 15 000 to 20 000 pockets ha^–1 and N application of 30 kg N ha^–1 in two splits achieved good yields in average and wet years, with only a small yield reduction in the drought year.

Received for publication February 16, 1989.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Maman, S. C. Mason, T. Galusha, and M. D. Clegg Hybrid and Nitrogen Influence on Pearl Millet Production in Nebraska: Yield, Growth, and Nitrogen Uptake, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency Agron. J., September 1, 1999; 91(5): 737 - 743. [Abstract] [Full Text]