Beggi, F and Vadez, V and Buerkert, A (2020) Ammonium fertilization increases pearl millet yield by promoting early root growth, higher tillering, and water use during grain filling in a low P Sahelian soil. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 184 (1). pp. 123-131. ISSN 1436-8730
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Abstract
Background: Adaptation of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] to low soil phosphorus (P) at early seedling stages and efficient P fertilizer application are crucial for its survival in the West African Sahel. While addition of NHþ4-N to P in the microdose technique has been reported to stimulate early growth of pearl millet, there is little information regarding root length (RL) at different timings. Aims: Our study aimed at assessing the effects of added NHþ4 -N and NO3-N to P on (1) pearl millet agronomic traits such as root and shoot growth and (2) the water use dynamics during the cropping cycle. Methods: Twenty-four ‘‘RhizoTubes’’ filled with P-deficient soil were used to grow pearl millet under three treatments: (T1) placed P addition alone at 0.4 g per seed hole, Pplaced, (T2) Pplaced + NHþ4-N, and (T3) Pplaced + NO- 3-N. At 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after sowing (WAS) we took nondestructive measurements of RL. Water use (transpiration) was measured from 3.5 to 9 WAS. Results: At early growth, roots in the topsoil of T2 were longer than T3 and T1 roots (at 4 WAS: 129.3 cm for T2, 87.5 cm for T3, and 93.3 cm for T1, p < 0.05). Total RL at 2 WAS correlated positively with seedling height and final grain yield. Fertilization with NHþ4-N reduced the time to flowering and increased the number of tillers and grain yield, whereas addition of NO+3-N increased vegetative dry matter at harvest and water use efficiency. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that fertilization with NHþ4-N plays a critical root stimulating role at early growth stages, seemingly by increasing lateral root initiation, which carries through to a larger water use during grain filling and higher grain yield.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Research Program : Genetic Gains |
| CRP: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ammonium versus nitrate fertilization, pearl millet, root length, RhizoTubes, West Africa |
| Subjects: | Mandate crops > Millets > Pearl Millet Others > West Africa |
| Depositing User: | Mr Nagaraju T |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jun 2025 07:34 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Jun 2025 07:34 |
| URI: | http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13103 |
| Official URL: | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/j... |
| Projects: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Funders: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Acknowledgement: | FB acknowledges the financial support of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). We thank Charles Thomas Hash, Bettina Haussmann, and Falalou Hamidou for providing scientific support and research facilities, and Dorcus Chepkesis Gemenet for her valuable inputs during the field work. We also acknowledge the contribution of the technicians and the workers at ICRISAT Sahelian Centre at Sadoré (Niger) for their great commitment in supporting the RhizoTubes construction and measurements. The authors also thank J. Andres Cardoso Arango and two reviewers for their constructive input. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. The authors declare no conflict of interest. |
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