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

Wafula, W N and Korir, K N and Ojulong, H F and Siambi, M and Gweyi-Onyango, J P (2016) Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) grain yield and yield components as influenced by phosphorus application and variety in Western Kenya. Tropical Plant Research, 3 (3). pp. 673-680. ISSN 2349 – 1183

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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 P2O5 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 P2O5 ha-1 during the long rain seasons and 25 kg P2O5 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 P2O5 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.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Research Program : East & Southern Africa
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Finger millet, Potential cereal, Food security, Phosphorus supply, Judicious, Western Kenya
Subjects: Mandate crops > Millets > Finger Millet
Others > Soil Fertility
Others > Kenya
Depositing User: Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited: 13 Mar 2017 09:35
Last Modified: 13 Mar 2017 09:35
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/9911
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.22271/tpr.2016.v3.i3.088
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement: The authors are grateful to the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)- Nairobi for the financial support. The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and ICRISAT staff in Kakamega and Alupe are also highly appreciated for their support.
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