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Rotation and tillage effects on yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and aspects of crop water balance and soil fertility in a semi-arid tropical environment

Part of: AGS Millet Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

M. C. Klaij  and
B. R. Ntare
M. C. Klaij
Affiliation:
ICRISAT Sahelian Center, Resource Management Program, BP 12404, Niamey, Niger
B. R. Ntare
Affiliation:
ICRISAT Sahelian Center, Resource Management Program, BP 12404, Niamey, Niger
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Summary

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A 4-year field experiment was conducted from 1986 to 1989 in Niger to determine the effects of pre- and post-harvest tillage and rotation of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. Br.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) on crop yield, crop water use and soil fertility on a sandy soil. Presowing tillage increased grain and crop residue yields over the traditional system of no tillage. Post-harvest tillage resulted in lower yields than pre-sowing tillage during the last 2 years of the experiment. Millet-cowpea rotation increased yield and there were no important tillage × rotation interactions. Crop water use was similar for a dry and a wet year, but less water was held in the profile after the harvest of cowpea. Compared to pre-sowing tillage and no tillage, post-harvest tillage increased the amount of water conserved until the next season. In all treatment combinations, soil organic matter and total N content both declined on average by 62%, and soil pH (KCI) decreased from 4·6 to 4·3.

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 124 , Issue 1 , February 1995 , pp. 39 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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