Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) grain yield and yield components as influenced by phosphorus application and variety in Western Kenya

Abstract

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.

Fertilizer Micro-dosing and Timing of Weeding for Enhancing Finger-Millet Production in Eastern Uganda

“…Specifically, P application is vital in initiation and growth of roots that are responsible for uptake of nutrients and moisture from the soil. Furthermore, P in the soil inhibits formation of excess roots leading to reduction in loss of carbon from the rooting system and reduction of energy production efficiency thereby increasing grain quantity (Wafula, Nicholas, Henry, & Siambi, 2016).…”

Evaluation of agronomic characters of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L) Gaertn) as influenced by poultry manure in the Northern Guinea Savanna agroecology, Nigeria

“…The inflorescence is a panicle with 4-19 finger-like spikes that resemble a first when mature hence the name finger millet [1]. It is one of the most important staple food cereals in Sub-Sahara Africa and in many countries in South Asia [2]. The crop is considered to be Indigenous to the highland areas of Uganda and Ethiopia and is majorly produced and locally consumed by the resource-poor farming households (3).…”

“…The crop is considered to be Indigenous to the highland areas of Uganda and Ethiopia and is majorly produced and locally consumed by the resource-poor farming households (3). Comparatively finger millet grains are considered nutritionally superior having contained more amounts of minerals such as calcium as well as essential amino acids than most other food grains [2].The grain is readily digestible and serve as a staple food, weaning food, or a cash crop which provides income generating opportunities. The sprouted grains are used to make liquor and beer and the byproducts used for livestock feeding [4].…”

“…Finger millet is an orphan crop and research work to provide the necessary agronomic information for enhanced productivity of the crop is still scanty. The crop is cultivated by peasant farmers in most parts of Africa including Nigeria and average yield of the crop remain as low as 1 t/ha which is below the potential compared with the yield of 5-6 t/ha obtained in other parts of the world like in Kenya and India [2,6,8].…”

Impact of three phosphate solubilizing species of Penicillium on growth of Piper longum L. under inoculated condition

“…In rhizosphere soil, these microbes play an ecophysiological role by mobilizing the insoluble inorganic phosphates so that they can be absorbed by plant roots and thus PSM can be used for biofertilization to improve crop yields (Richardson 2001, Khan et al 2007, Wafula et al 2016. Soil inoculation with phosphate solubilising organisms improves solubilisation of fixed soil P and applied phosphates so that P is available to the plant for growth and development.…”