This study was carried out to investigate the influence of phosphorus fertilizers on the concentrations of nutrients, particularly calcium, protein, zinc, and iron in finger millet grains grown in different agro-ecologies in Kenya. The on-station experiments were carried out at Kiboko (Eastern Kenya), Kakamega, and Alupe (Western Kenya) in 2015 during the short and long rainy seasons. The trials were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement with three replicates. The treatments comprised of four levels of phosphorus (0, 12.5, 25.0 and 37.5 kg ha −1 P 2 O 5) and three finger millet varieties (U-15, P-224 and a local variety). Application of phosphorus significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the protein content of finger millet grain in varieties in all the three sites. Variety U-15 had the highest protein content (11.0%) at 25 kg ha −1 P 2 O 5 with the control (zero P) on variety P-224 eliciting the lowest (4.4%) at Kiboko. At Kakamega, the 25 kg ha −1 P 2 O 5 treatment with U-15 variety had the highest protein content (15.3%) while the same variety at 12.5 kg ha −1 P 2 O 5 rate elicited the highest protein content (15.0%) at Alupe. Phosphorus application significantly enhanced the nutritional quality of finger millet grains specifically protein, calcium, iron, and zinc. Variety P-224 had the highest calcium content in all sites and highest iron content at Kakamega while the local varieties had the highest zinc content in all sites. The varieties responded differently to each quality component but generally, based on the protein content, the 25 kg ha −1 P 2 O 5 is recommended.

Abstract:Finger millet is one of the potential cereal crops that can contribute to the efforts of realization of food security in the Sub-Saharan Africa. However, scientific information available with regards to improving soil phosphorus supply and identification of P efficient varieties for the crops potential yield is limited. In order to investigate the effects of P levels on yield components and grain yield On-station field experiments were conducted in two sites of western Kenya during the long and short rain seasons of 2015. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design in factorial arrangement with four levels of P (0, 12.5, 25 and 37.5 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 and three finger millet varieties (U-15, P-224 and a local check-Ikhulule) and the treatments replicated three times. The increase of phosphorus levels significantly (P≤0.05) increased the grain yield over the control up to 25 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 during the long rain seasons and 25 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 during the short rain seasons in both sites. Interactions at P≤0.05 were revealed on the grain yield where improved variety P-224 at 25 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 produced the highest grain yield of 4.74 t.ha -1 in Alupe and 4.77 t.ha -1 in Kakamega and the consistent results suggest that the combination is highly recommended. Therefore the use of judicious and proper rates of P fertilizers can markedly increase the grain yield of finger millet in western Kenya.

The experiment was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effect of differential levels of P on finger millet accumulation of N and yield components. On-station experiments were conducted at the KALRO-Kiboko crops research station in Makueni County during the short and long rains of 2014 and 2015 respectively. There were 4 levels of P (0, 12.5, 25 and 37.5 kg ha-1 P 2 O 5) and three varieties (U-15, P-224 and Ekalakala). Ekalakala was the local check while 0 kg/ha P 2 O 5 was the control. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design and fitted in factorial arrangement with three replicates given a total of 36 plots. Soil sampling was at a depth of 0-30 cm on all the plots and analytical results showed moderately available P but very low N, organic carbon

Scarcity of fodder is the major limiting factor for increasing livestock production in Kenya. With rising energy costs and declining water levels in the semi-arid tropics and sub-tropics, crops that use less water like finger millet could become an alternate fodder crop. The fodder potential of three finger millet varieties (U-15, P-224 and a local check) were evaluated under four P fertilizer levels (0, 12.5, 25 and 37.5 kg ha -1 P 2 O 5 ) at three sites in Kenya for two cropping seasons. The trials were laid in randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement and replicated three times. A maximum of 28,189 kg ha -1 fresh stover yield was realized in the 25 kg ha -1 P 2 O 5 treatment and consequently 11,616 kg ha -1 dry stover yield. The 25 kg ha -1 rate elicited the highest fresh