Combined use of millet glume-derived compost and mineral fertilizer enhances soil microbial biomass and pearl millet yields in a low-input millet cropping system in Niger
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Date
2019
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Taylor & Francis
Abstract
A two-year field experiment was conducted in Niger to explore the effects
of integrated use of millet glume-derived compost (MGD-Compost) and NP
fertilizer on soil microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), nitrogen (Nmic) and millet
yields. Three compost rates (3000 kg ha−11500 kg ha−1 and 0 kg ha−1) and
three NP fertilizer rates (100%, 50% and 0% of recommended NP fertilizer)
were arranged in a factorial experiment organized in a randomized com plete block
design with three replications. Combined application of com post and NP fertilizer
induced a synergistic effect on Cmic and Nmic. Compost
application increased millet grain yield from 59% to 91% compared to
control. Combined application of compost and NP fertilizer increased millet
grain yields from 57% to 70% in 2013 and from 36% to 82% in 2014
compared to sole application of mineral fertilizer. Agronomic efficiency
(AE) of nitrogen values increased by 3.7 and 2.3 times than those of sole
NP fertilizer application in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Phosphorus AE was
1.6 times higher than that of the sole application of NP fertilizer. These
findings indicate that integrated application of MGD-Compost and NP
fertilizer enhances soil microbial biomass content and increases millet
grain yield in a low-input cropping system.
Description
This article is Published by Taylor & Francis, 2019 and is also available at https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2018.1554247
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Citation
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE 2019, VOL. 65,