2010 Volume 1 Issue 2 Pages 44-48
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions, as desertification has been advancing. In order to mitigate the degradation of crop productivity, this study aims to investigate how to apply pearl millet stalk residues for improving soil moisture condition and plant growth. The experiment was carried out at a greenhouse of Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) was cultivated at each plot of 6.5 m long and 0.8 m wide, and soil moisture was monitored with a TDR soil moisture meter. Nine plots were divided into 3 groups based on irrigation intensity; the first was irrigated at 3 to 6 mm/day as standard plots, the second at 2/3 of the standard as slightly water-saving plots and the third at 1/3 of the standard as water-saving plots. Each group was constituted with 3 different treatments; stubble mulching with pearl millet stalk residues, mixing soil with pearl millet stalk residues and non-treatment as control. The results from non-treatment indicated that plant growth of pearl millet above ground surface did not show a significant difference among the plots under the different irrigation intensities. Under non-treatment condition, pearl millet even in the 2/3 and 1/3 water-saving plots grew as well as that in the standard plots. However, the fresh weights of non-treatment were significantly lower than that of other treatments, stubble mulching or mixing soil with pearl millet stalk residues, at 95% confidence level. Additionally, there was a tendency for pearl millet growth of stubble mulching to be higher than that of mixing soil with pearl millet stalk residues. This implies that mulching with pearl millet stalk residues can be more effective for plant growth. The utilization of stubble mulching in the production of crops under low rainfall condition such as Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to play beneficial roles such as improving soil moisture condition and plant growth.
