Physical and chemical optimisation of the seedball technology addressing pearl millet under Sahelian conditions

Nwankwo, Charles Ikenna; Mühlena, Jan; Biegert, Konni; Butzer, Diana; Neumann, Günter; Sy, Ousmane; Herrmann, Ludger

doi:10.17170/kobra-2019011596

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 12 publications

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“…Efforts have been made to enhance millet productivity, with innovations such as the seed ball technology developed for Sahelian agrosystems to address water scarcity and optimize seed usage [13]. This technology, refined [14], and tested on certified millet varieties under farmers' conditions, has demonstrated a significant increase in pearl millet performance, encompassing aspects such as emergence, growth, grain yield, and phenology [15]. While many unregistered pearl millet varieties, mostly held by farmers and some under development by researchers, have shown promising performance in diverse conditions, their behavior in seed balls remains uncertain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Soil Parameters and Sowing Technics on Different Genotypes of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.). R. Br

Jangorzo,

Sabiou,

Sadda

et al. 2024

JEAI

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Productivity improvement by adapting varieties to their environment was a major concern in the Sahel countries. Climatic constraints and low soil fertility are the main factors conditioning millet yield. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of edaphic parameters, sowing technics, and fertilization on the improvement of eight genotypes of millet. For this, a trial including eight varieties of millet in split plot was installed on the experimental station of CERRA in Maradi in 2020 during the rainy season. Soil samples at a depth of 20 cm were collected at the beginning and the end of experiment. Soil pH, organic carbon, and assimilable phosphorus were determined. Two sowing technics, seed balls, and direct sowing were applied. In seed balls, two types of fertilizer were used: the NPK (15-15-15) and ash. Phenology parameters and grain yield of each variety was measured. A statistical analysis of these data showed that edaphic parameters do not significantly influence yield. However, a significant variation in grain yield was observed among genotypes. Specifically, the variety ICMV IS 89305 exhibited a significantly higher grain yield (789 +/- 590 kg ha-1) compared to ICVH 18 (348+/-289 kg ha-1). Moreover, the different types of treatments applied to the seedlings showed a significant difference in terms of grain yield. The SSB treatments yielded more (1101+/-541 kg ha-1) than the BSC (480+/-463 kg ha-1) and BSE (317+/-322 kg ha-1) ball treatments. These results highlight substantial variability both within and between treatments. The positive effect of seed balls and fertilizer included vary according to the context. Specifically, when rainfall is scarce, seed balls prove to be non-efficient in improving the yield of millet.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Soil Parameters and Sowing Technics on Different Genotypes of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.). R. Br

Jangorzo,

Sabiou,

Sadda

et al. 2024

JEAI

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Seedball technology enhances pearl millet yield in a Sahelian subsistence production system

Nwankwo

Oumarou

Maman

et al. 2022

Crop & Pasture Science

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Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) is the major staple crop produced by subsistence farmers in the West African Sahel, but its panicle yield is low because of poor seedling establishment in low-nutrient soils. Seedball is a cheap seed-pelleting technique that combines sand, loam, seeds and optionally wood ash or mineral fertiliser as an additive to enhance early growth of pearl millet under infertile soil conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seedball technology on pearl millet crop establishment and panicle yield on-farm under Sahelian subsistence conditions. Over 2000 on-farm (2015–18) trials were conducted in 65 villages of the Maradi region in Niger. Conventionally sown and seedball-derived pearl millet crops were grown by using ‘farmer-optimised’ simple split-plot designs with three treatments: (i) farmers’ practice as control; and seedballs (2.0 cm diameter, made from 80 g sand + 50 g loam + 25 mL water + 2.5 g seeds as standard recipe) that contained either (ii) 3 g wood ash or (iii) 1 g mineral fertiliser (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium; NPK) as effective nutrient compounds. In 2016–18, participating farmers could opt for one of the seedball treatments. Panicle as well as stover yield data were collected and compared with respect to seedball type (wood ash vs NPK), sowing depth (shallow vs deep), sowing time (wet vs dry), weed management (complete vs partial), local soil type (texture range sand to loamy sand), cropping system (sole vs mixed), and farmer. Results showed that seedballs do not suppress seedling emergence. Seedball treatments produced fewer but longer and denser panicles. Wood ash-amended seedballs showed a higher panicle yield increase relative to their site controls than NPK-amended seedballs. However, the average panicle yield of NPK-amended seedballs was higher than that of the wood ash-amended seedballs. The treatment factors wet sowing, partial weeding, sole cropping and farmers showed higher panicle yield. The seedball technology increases pearl millet panicle yield by ∼30% in the Sahel; it is simple and based on local materials.

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Development of an Interdisciplinary Master of Forestry Program Focused on Forest Management in a Changing Climate

Walentowski¹,

Kietz²,

Horsch³

et al. 2020

Forests

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Concerted efforts are required to achieve the essential UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. This concept paper is focused on the development of a new Master of Forestry (MF) degree program at our University of Applied Sciences (UAS). With this move, we want to outline how capacity building and valuable synergy effects can be obtained from close cooperation in teaching and research, in order to educate our scientifically trained and practice-oriented forestry students in applying new management responses to natural disturbance impacts and sustainable use of terrestrial natural resources for forest resource-dependent communities. Specifically, we show how the emergent issues of global warming and the associated increased vulnerability of temperate deciduous forests can be tackled. Actions to overcome knowledge transfer barriers will provide sound solutions for SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 15 (life on land), and SDG 17 (partnerships to achieve the goal). Focusing on the Global Sustainable Development Goals can trigger intra and inter-faculty processes of cooperation, exchange programs, and optimized interfaces of previously separated disciplines that complement each other perfectly to form a knowledge hub.

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Physical and chemical optimisation of the seedball technology addressing pearl millet under Sahelian conditions

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

Influence of Soil Parameters and Sowing Technics on Different Genotypes of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.). R. Br

Influence of Soil Parameters and Sowing Technics on Different Genotypes of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.). R. Br

Seedball technology enhances pearl millet yield in a Sahelian subsistence production system

Development of an Interdisciplinary Master of Forestry Program Focused on Forest Management in a Changing Climate

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