Integrated use of fertilizer micro-dosing and Acacia tumida mulching increases millet yield and water use efficiency in Sahelian semi-arid environment

摘要: Limited availability of soil organic amendments and unpredictable rainfall, decrease crop yields drastically in the Sahel. There is, therefore, a need to develop an improved technology for conserving moisture enhancing Sahelian semi-arid environment. A 2-year field experiment was conducted investigate mulching effects Acacia tumida pruning relative commonly applied materials Niger on millet growth, water use efficiency (WUE) under fertilizer micro-dosing technology. We hypothesized that (1) A. is suitable alternative residues biomass-scarce areas (2) combined application mulch increases yield efficiency. Two options (20 kg DAP ha−1, 60 kg NPK ha−1) three types mulches (millet straw, mulch, manure) relevant control treatments were arranged factorial organized randomized complete block design with four replications. Fertilizer increased grain average by 28 %. This further 37 % mulch. Grain un-mulched 51 % manure, 46 % 36 % Leaf area index root length density also greater mulched plots. WUE 24 %, while addition pruning, manure 55, 49 25 %, respectively. conclude effective fertilization strategy enhance low-input cropping systems could serve as appropriate increasing drought prone environment such However, economic social implications long-term agronomic this agroforestry tree based system have be explored further.