PHOSPHORUS SEED COATING INCREASES PHOSPHORUS UPTAKE, EARLY GROWTH ANDYIELD OF PEARL-MILLET (PENNISETUM-GLAUCUM (L) R BR) GROWN ON AN ACID SANDY SOIL IN NIGER, WEST-AFRICA
Fp. Rebafka et al., PHOSPHORUS SEED COATING INCREASES PHOSPHORUS UPTAKE, EARLY GROWTH ANDYIELD OF PEARL-MILLET (PENNISETUM-GLAUCUM (L) R BR) GROWN ON AN ACID SANDY SOIL IN NIGER, WEST-AFRICA, Fertilizer research, 35(3), 1993, pp. 151-160
In pot and field experiments conducted in 1990 and 1991 on an acid san
dy, phosphorus (P) deficient soil in Niger, West Africa, the effect of
seed coating on seedling emergence, early growth and grain yield of p
earl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) was studied. Seeds of pea
rl millet were coated with different rates (0; 0.5; 1.0; 2.0; 5.0; 10.
0 mg P seed-1) and types of P fertilizers (single superphosphate, ammo
nium dihydrogen phosphate; monocalcium phosphate, sodium dihydrogen ph
osphate and sodium triphosphate). Seedling emergence was generally red
uced at coating rates higher than 0.5 mg P seed-1 and prevented with s
ingle superphosphate and sodium triphosphate at rates higher than 5 mg
P seed-1. No correlation was found between the pH and osmomolity of t
he coatings and final emergence of millet seedlings. The most favourab
le effect on plant growth and P content was achieved with ammonium dih
ydrogen phosphate (AHP) as seed coating. This was attributed to the en
hancement effect of ammonium on P uptake. Compared to the untreated co
ntrol dry matter production at 20 days after planting (DAP) was increa
sed by 280%, P content per plant by 330%, total biomass at maturity by
30% and grain yield by 45%. Although seed coating with AHP may be har
mful to seedlings emergence, it represents a suitable method to enhanc
e early growth and increase yield of pearl millet.