Wafula, W N and Korir, N and Ojulong, H F and Siambi, M and Gweyi-Onyango, J P (2016) Nitrogen and Phosphorus Uptake and Partitioning in Finger Millet as Influenced by Phosphorus Fertilization. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International (Previously known as American Journal of Experimental Agriculture), 14 (4). pp. 1-11. ISSN 2231-0606
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Abstract
Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) production in Eastern Africa remains low due to a variety of factors including soil nutrient depletion. As intensive row-crop production evolves, improvements in managing soil nutrient quantity and availability of less renewable nutrients like P becomes increasingly important. The yields in Kenya are typical of low input systems ranging below 1.0 t ha-1 against a potential of 5.0 t ha-1 in a season. In an attempt to overcome this constraint, On-station experiments were conducted at the Alupe research station during the long and short rain seasons of 2015 to investigate the influence of phosphate fertilizer rates (0, 12.5, 25 and 37.5 kg ha-1 P2O5) on nutrient uptake and partitioning in finger millet. Partitioning of N and P was significantly influenced (P<.05) by phosphate rates and variety. Most phosphorus and nitrogen content was partitioned to the grains (>30%) while the least to the roots (<19%). Variety U-15 had the greatest partitioning of nitrogen to the grains while the local variety, Ikhulule had the least. Application of phosphorus led to increase in the nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in finger millet with the most in the grains with a maximum of 106.5 kg ha-1 on the 37.5 kg ha-1 P2O5 rate during the short rains while the roots had the lowest uptake with 16.9 kg ha-1 and 22.1 kg ha-1 in the long and short rains seasons respectively on the control. This study on nutrient use provides an opportunity to further improve P fertilization to specific rates in relation to crops needs as farmers will be assured of greater yields, profitable and sustainable production. Limited use of P fertilizer restricts the uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen as well as the balance in partitioning and recommends application of 25 kg ha-1 P2O5 with improved varieties.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Research Program : East & Southern Africa |
| CRP: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Eleusine coracana; Nutrient depletion; Renewable nutrients; Profitable; Finger Millet; Fertilization |
| Subjects: | Mandate crops > Millets > Finger Millet Others > Soil Fertility Others > Soil |
| Depositing User: | Mr Ramesh K |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Mar 2017 08:43 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Mar 2017 08:44 |
| URI: | http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/9907 |
| Official URL: | http://www.sciencedomain.org/abstract/16920 |
| Projects: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Funders: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Acknowledgement: | We would like to thank the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)-Nairobi for the financial support. The authors are also grateful to the Director-ESA and the Principal Scientist Dr. Eric Manyasa for their commitment to support the project. The entire ICRISAT staff in Nairobi and Alupe particularly Mr. Daniel Ajaku Otwani and Godfrey Wandera as well as the casuals in the field who made this work successful are also greatly appreciated. We are also much grateful to the Kenya Soil Survey for conducting the analysis and technical advice on analytical work. |
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