Mulching with branches of an indigenous shrub ( Guiera senegalensis) and yield of millet in semi-arid Niger

• Published in: Soil & tillage research Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 341 - 344
• Main Authors: Wezel, A, Böcker, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Crop residues; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; Fallow; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Soil fertility; Soil microvariability; Tending. Growth control; Tillage. Tending. Growth control; West Africa; Niger; West Africa; Sahel; Africa; Soil fertility; Soil microvariability; Crop residues; West Africa; Fallow; Monocotyledones; Arid environment; Tropical zone; Pennisetum glaucum; Shrub; Cereal crop; Combretaceae; Gramineae; Semi arid zone; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Yield; Mulching
• ISSN: 0167-1987; 1879-3444
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-1987(99)00008-2

Crop residues from millet production in southwest Niger are limited for their utilization as mulch because of many other uses. Thus, branches of an indigenous shrub ( Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel.) were tested with a randomised block design for their effect on millet ( Pennisetum glaucum L.) yield. Pearl millet was planted in 1995 and 1996 on a luvic Arenosol in southwest Niger. Three treatments were applied: control, 1000 kg ha −1 dry matter Guiera-mulch and 2000 kg ha −1 dry matter Guiera-mulch. Mulched plots had 68–94% higher millet yields compared to the control. Differences in soil properties before the treatments were applied, explained a high variability within the treatments. Significant differences of soil properties between blocks led to a distinction of infertile and fertile blocks. In infertile plots with 1000 kg ha −1 Guiera-mulch, millet yield was higher than in plots with 2000 kg ha −1 Guiera-mulch. Due to the many uses of Guiera senegalensis by the local farmers, an application of 1000 kg ha −1 Guiera-mulch, at least on infertile soils, seems a good possibility to increase millet production.